Contact Information
Town of Portsmouth
Town Planner
2200 East Main Road
Portsmouth, RI 02871
Telephone: (401) 683-0888 or (401) 643-0332; fax (401) 683-6804
Robert Gilstein, Town Planner Gary Crosby, Assistant Planner / Zoning Enforcement Officer THE ROLE OF THE TOWN PLANNER Portsmouth is a growing community. Productively managing this growth has been the Town Council’s priority for over a decade. The Town Planner is charged with working on the Town’s future. Whether it is land use regulations whose benefits accumulate over the years, major physical projects that will benefit residents for decades, environmental protection, or economic development to provide jobs and balance the tax base, the Planner focuses the Town’s government on long-term projects. There is no "typical" role for a planner, a position that has little day-to-day routine. Planners are project oriented, future oriented, and primarily involved with long-term multi-year projects. The Planning Office consists of Town Planner Robert Gilstein and Assistant Town Planner Gary Crosby. Robert Gilstein, Town Planner, holds a B.A. in Economics (1971) and a Master of Community Planning (1975). Planner, Central Falls, RI 1973. Director of Planning, Central Falls, RI 1974 – 78. Community Development Director, East Providence, RI 1979 – 85; in real estate development field 1985 -89; Portsmouth Town Planner 1990 – present.
Gary Crosby, Assistant Planner/Zoning Enforcement Officer, holds a B.A. in Geography (1972) and a Master of Community Planning (2005). Aerial Surveyor, Great Basin Aerial Surveys, Reno, NV 1973 – 85. Project Development, Goetz Marine Technologies, Bristol, RI 1986 – 98. Project Development, New England Boat Works 1999 – 2000. Project Development, Henry Elliot LLC 2001 – 02.
Major current projects (in no particular order) include: PARK AVENUE "ENHANCEMENT" PROJECT $2.1 million in grants from RI Department of Transportation (RIDOT), matched by $60,000 of Town funds and in-kind services. Scope of work was negotiated between RIDOT and the Park Avenue Enhancement Committee. There are actually 6 grant sources (4 RIDOT, 2 CDBG) for this project; the first awarded in 1994, the most recent September 2004. The project includes new sidewalks and curbing on both sides of Park Ave. from Aquidneck Avenue to Teddy’s Beach. Most of the utility poles in front of the seawall have been replaced with an equal number on the north side of the street. 14 decorative lights have been installed in front of the seawall. The dilapidated retaining wall across from Edith Ave. has been replaced. Sidewalk and curbing replacement began in April 2006, and seems well on its way toward meeting the contract deadline of Nov. 2006. RIDOT runs the job. SEWERS VS. WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (WWMD) Considerable work has been done on this matter since 1998; including a town-wide survey conducted in October 2004 (results may be viewed under “News”). The results of that survey serve as the guide to which areas are being considered for possible sewers, that is, primarily north of Immokalee Dr. and east of East Main Road north through Common Fence Point, and over to the Mt. Hope Bridge area. It may also be possible to run a sewer main alongside the railroad tracks to a treatment plant in the Melville area, connecting adjacent economic development possibilities identified in the West Side Master Plan. The alternative is a Wastewater Management District (WWMD), which would feature mandatory inspections and pumpout of septic systems on a set schedule, and mandatory replacement of failing systems. The next major decision to be made by the Town Council is whether or not to go to a bond referendum to sewer all or portions of these areas. The following is a very brief summary of steps being taken to help the Town Council make that decision:
Should Town Council decide to work toward a sewer bond referendum:
ISLAND PARK/PORTSMOUTH PARK WASTEWATER FACILITIES PLAN This project deals with the wastewater problems specific to Island Park & Portsmouth Park. Plans on hold pending the town’s sewer decision.
SEPTIC REPAIR LOAN PROGRAM When the Wastewater Management Plan below is completed and an ordinance adopted, the not-to-be-sewered parts of town will become eligible for the State’s 2% septic repair loan program.
TOWN-WIDE WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN When completed and an ordinance adopted, this will make the entire not-to-be-sewered parts of town eligible for the State’s 2% septic repair loan program. To-Do’s below will be done for those areas not electing to go with sewers.
WEST SIDE MASTER PLAN A cooperative effort of the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission, Portsmouth, Newport, Middletown, URI Coastal Resources Center, and Naval Station Newport. Project area is west of West Main Road from the Mt. Hope Bridge to the Gateway Center in Newport. The Plan is nearly complete, and will be published in Dec. 2005. Plan is financed with a $600,000 federal grant, primarily through the efforts of Sen. Jack Reed. Plan includes potential uses of surplus of Navy land and other major parcels, market feasibility, use of rail corridor for transportation and bicycle path, methods and regulations to guide future development, transportation improvements, open space preservation, new recreation opportunities, etc. Could mean millions of dollars in tax revenue and many new jobs. For further information, go to www.aquidneckplanning.org. Work during 2006 will include:
TOWN CENTER Project area is East Main Road approximately from Freeborn Street to Town Hall. RIDOT is extending an existing consultant contract to do the necessary transportation planning and engineering work, to evaluate feasibility of transportation plan elements (roundabouts, lights, turn lanes, median strips, utility services, etc.) If “traffic calming” cannot be accomplished with significantly reduced speeds, the success of a town center in this location is problematic. Actual construction of significant improvements would be in the 2010 – 2015 time period.
· RIDOT had their consultant prepare a basic template for roundabouts and medians, but much more work needed. More detailed planning for roundabouts needed to determine if they will work here to both calm traffic speeds and get the traffic through the project area. · Drainage study (increased stormwater runoff from increased development). · Bicycle & walking path study along utility corridor.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN RIDEM approved our February 2003 Stormwater Management Plan in June 2005 with minor changes. Five-year plan to 2008 will include education, elimination of illicit discharges, and correction of more urgent pollution and flooding problems
LOW-MODERATE INCOME HOUSING PLANZoning amendments are the primary vehicle, which must be done within one year of approval of the Plan by the State, or by July 6, 2006.
DESIGN REVIEWCommercial Design Review Guidelines were adopted in 2004. More definitive and restrictive design guidelines are being developed for the Town Center. ENTERPRISE ZONE – Program is administered by Bill Clark; the part-time Business Development Director position established Winter 2002. Originally designated in 1995, program has been extended to 12/31/2009. Planner is Enterprise Zone contact when Mr. Clark is not in the office. PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD) ORDINANCE
A PUD allows specific types of long term multi-phase developments to be reviewed as a whole "master plan", with review of individual phases as the project proceeds. It provides for public benefit negotiations with developers in trade for benefits to the developer, within parameters set within the PUD regulations. Currently Portsmouth has "corporate", "industrial", "marine trades", and "retail/service". We are working on writing PUD regulations for "planned marina village" and "planned resort" developments.
Planner will review/advise on specific PUD proposals with the Planning Board. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
The five-year
comprehensive Community Plan update, required by State law, is due by
August 2007. Included will be updates to reflect comprehensive plan items
now accomplished, as well as significant changes in the Town's plans
for land use regulations and development since the latest iteration of the
full plan adopted in 2001-02.
HAZARD MITIGATION PLANComplete the plan; required to make Town eligible for disaster relief if needed. HARBOR MANAGEMENT PLAN CRMC requires an update of the 1993 plan. Office is working with a harbor Management Committee in doing so. PRUDENCE ISLAND PLANNING INITIATIVE Prudence Island Planning Board wishes to update its portion of the comprehensive plan and find ways to limit growth. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE AND MAP Selected technical updates to make ordinance internally consistent, integrate new amendments, include list of new non-residential lots created and update the zoning map since the last revision. (A never-ending task.)
IMPACT FEES
Impact Fees for residential development were adopted in 2002 to support expansion of school facilities. (They may not be used for operations.) Revised fees are adopted each March, effective the following July 1.
CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE
Purpose is to encourage preservation of open space within developments, in trade for smaller required lot sizes and dimensions. Conservation Developments typically cluster housing a bit closer than in conventional subdivisions, while the open space preserved is located adjacent to nearby open space to form a linkage of environmentally important lands. POTENTIAL MISCELLANEOUS ZONING AMENDMENTS · Replacing the "Heavy Industrial" category with something more appropriate for the Town; · Requiring off-site improvements by subdivision developers for impacts from development. · Mandatory open space set-aside for residential developments. · In-law (accessory) apartments ordinance.
Home | Why Portsmouth | Offices/Services | Meetings/Budget | Enterprise Zone | Business Directory | Area Links | Available Properties | More Info
Questions? E-mail us at info@portsmouthri.com |
