CPAC MINUTES
_______________________________________________ ___________________
Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Minutes
- Meeting #5-
773 Ten Rod Road, Exeter, RI 02822
Approved: January 25, 2023
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| CPAC Members | | Member Present Y – Yes N – No | PB Members | Member Present Y – Yes N – No | Other Staff/Consultant |
| Christopher | Ausura | Y |
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| Larissa Brown William DePasquale |
| Tom | McMillan | Y | |
| M. Dixie Foisy, Clerk |
| Scott Millar | Y | Olivia DeFrancesco, Council Liaison | |||
| Ben | Coerper | N | Michael P. DeFrancesco | N | |
| Rachael | Slattery | N | Bill Haas | Y | |
| Robert | Corriea | Y | Gina Thurn | Y | |
| Jenna | Cragan | N | Donna DiDonato | Y | |
| Jess | DeMartino | Y | Michael Viveiros | N | |
| Waverly | Findlay | Y | Joseph St Lawrence | N | |
| Charles | Franklin | N | |
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| Tracy | Hartman | Y | |
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| Maggie | LaPrise | Y | |
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| Claudia | Massa | N | |
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| Ray | Morrissey | N | |
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| Ted | Nataly | N | |
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| Noah | Thurn | N | |
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| Paul | Ward | N | |
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Facilitator(s): Larissa Brown, Consultant Larissa Brown + Associates LLC
William DePasquale Jr., Town Planner
Time begins: 6:34 pm
Time end: 8:14 pm
1. Planning Board adjourned to attend CPAC meeting.
2. CPAC meeting was called to order and roll call was taken; attendance noted above.
3. Town Planner DePasquale turned the meeting over to Facilitator Larissa Brown.
4. REVIEW/ACCEPT CPAC MINUTES OF 10/11/2022:
Before Ms. Brown began the discussion, Chairman Millar asked for a motion to approve the meeting minutes of October 11, 2022. Bill Haas made the motion and it was seconded by Gina Thurn; vote was all in favor. The minutes were approved as submitted.
5. INITIAL VISION DISCUSSION:
Larissa Brown wanted to hear from the CPAC members regarding the information they had received about the Vision and Mission for Exeter.
She noted that a Vision statement is about the future and the town’s aspirations. She also clarified that the Mission statement is about today and how the town is doing things today in order to achieve their mission.
She noted that they would be working to create a planning document which would include future goals and strategies, discussing the options and tradeoffs and in the end, deliver a plan of action which would include an implementation process.
Ms. Brown wanted to consider doing Zoom meetings and asked the CPAC members to recommend the best time/day of the week for this type of meeting. Chairman Millar asked what would be shared through these Zoom meetings. Ms. Brown indicated that each meeting would offer a prepared presentation topic. Gina Thurn suggested that Larissa should look into and avoid any scheduled sports activities, others offered staying away from town meetings and vacation schedules. Gina Thurn noted that they had learned during Covid that using Zoom made it so much more convenient for people and had also encouraged more participation.
Chairman Millar noted that they already had on their calendars the second Tuesday in December (13th) and suggested using that time. He also noted that avoiding the first Monday of the month, which is the regularly scheduled Town Council meeting. Ms. Brown indicated that although the session would be recorded, and available on the website, she would like to have people participate and talk to each other during the actual Zoom session.
Ms. Brown reviewed and discussed Vision submissions from CPAC members, which included suggestions from Claudia Massa, Tracy Hartman, Tom McMillan, Rob Corriera and Scott Millar. Their vision statements were included along with CPAC Vision comments turned in at the October 11 meeting plus comments from discussions that followed. The CPAC Members’ Responses to Vision Statement Worksheet and Online Reponses to Vision Statement Survey were handed out to those in attendance at the November 9, 2022 meeting.
6. DISCUSSION OF DRAFT/WORKING VISION STATEMENT:
Ms. Brown offered a Draft/Working Vision Statement for Exeter 2044. The Vision Statement was handed out to those in attendance.
The opening paragraph stated: In 2044…Exeter is a welcoming small town with a strong sense of community, a rural tradition, and a landscape of space and privacy. Residents cherish its forests, fields, and wildlife, streams and ponds, historic places, and the conservation lands and working lands—farms and forest enterprises—that anchor the town’s rural character. We protect environmentally sensitive places, wildlife corridors, and our clean water sources. To help preserve our open space tradition, new residential development within the landscape is focused in hamlets or villages. At the same time, we welcome nonresidential development in designated area that enhances our tax base and respects our character. We value Exeter’s location within Washington County, convenient to the natural, cultural, and economic opportunities in the rest of Rhode Island and New England.
The Draft included six bullet points and a closing paragraph which read: In the transition to new generations of leadership in Exeter, the town is committed to preserving the essential elements of our community’s unique heritage by managing the impacts of changing environmental, economic, and social conditions while seeking innovative solutions. Through an intentional process of planning and implementation, we renew our commitments to our special environment, to one another, and to future generations.
Discussion followed with comments and suggestions.
Town Planner William DePasquale noted that, “having lived a life building plans and executing the plans” he felt it was important to apply a test to their future selections to include: outcomes, choices and viability. He noted that going forward they will need to make choices. That maybe three items should be chosen and once decided upon, that there must be a commitment to delivering on the promise. The Comprehensive plan must have actionable items that are completed.
Ms. Brown noted that with a 20-year plan, the Vision should be reviewed after five years. That review should include looking at any obstacles that arose and learning of new opportunities that were unknown at the time.
Larissa went on to review the working farm and forest land maps showing the protected open space and the temporary protected open space, which offers tax benefits to the owners, amounting to nearly 70 percent of the land in Exeter. Chairman Millar noted that if you’re under the Farm, Forest and Open Space act, the land can be developed at any time. Larissa also mentioned that after 15 years there are no future taxes on that property. Under the Farm, Forest and Open Space program after 15 years there is no tax penalty for development of the property. If you’re in the program and decide to develop within that 15-year time frame there is a penalty.
Town Planner DePasquale noted that some communities purchase outright development rights, and some towns have hybrids where they purchase some development rights, but have overlay districts that promote a certain type of use that is consistent with the vision, but also preserves 40-50 percent of the land.
Chairman Millar noted that the State has a housing crisis—that there are two legislative commissions that are looking at housing currently and feels that Exeter will be asked to be more aggressive with encouraging housing.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT:
None
8. NEXT MEETING DATES:
The next CPAC meeting is scheduled for TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13,2022 which will be held via
Zoom. Details to follow.
9. The CPAC meeting was adjourned at 8:14 pm.
William J DePasquale Jr., AICP, Town Planner and Contact for the Comprehensive Plan Update