CPAC MINUTES
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Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Minutes
- Meeting #7-
773 Ten Rod Road, Exeter, RI 02822
Minutes Approved: March 30, 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 | N | | | Larissa Brown William DePasquale |
| Tom | McMillan | Y | | | M. Dixie Foisy, Clerk |
| Scott Millar | Y | Olivia DeFrancesco, Council Liaison | |||
| Ben | Coerper | N | Michael P. DeFrancesco | Y | |
| Rachael | Slattery | N | Bill Haas | Y | |
| Robert | Corriea | Y | Gina Thurn | Y | |
| Jenna | Cragan | Y | Donna Di Donato | Y | |
| Jess | DeMartino | Y | Michael Viveiros | Y | |
| Joseph St Lawrence | N | | |||
| Charles | Franklin | N | |
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| Tracy | Hartman | Y | |
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| Maggie | LaPrise | N | |
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| Ray | Morrissey | Y | |
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| Ted | Nataly | N | |
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| Noah | Thurn | Y | |
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| Paul | Ward | N | |
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1. CPAC CALL TO ORDER – William DePasquale, Town Planner, called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. and roll call was taken by the Planning Board Clerk.
2. Town Planner William DePasquale called for a voice vote to approve the meeting minutes of January 25, 2023. A vote was taken and the minutes were approved as submitted.
At this time, William DePasquale turned the meeting over to Ms. Larissa Brown. Ms. Brown reviewed her memorandum of February 7, 2023: Draft Existing Conditions – Understanding Exeter Today. She asked CPAC members to please leave their comments with Bill DePasquale and stated that she had received a few comments from the members via email. She asked if anyone had any surprising take aways. Robert Corriea shared his feedback noting that the population had increased in town between 2010—2020, yet housing and school enrollment decreased, although housing units increased. Mr. Corriea felt this indicated that something was wrong in the type of housing the town is offering and maybe the town needed to adjust their housing interests for the empty nesters and young people getting started. Ms. Brown noted that the number of housing units increased faster than the population. Discussion continued around this topic. The group went on to review and discuss the History, Growth, and Development of the Town of Exeter.
Town Planner DePasquale noted that the Rhode Island Speaker has some 14 bills of legislation regarding housing, affordable and moderate/low-income housing. Ms. Brown added that Exeter needs to be more proactive going forward and the need to incentivize builders to construct desired projects/developments. Scott Millar mentioned that the Town of Exeter had spent four years developing a vision with a proposed village and that all the zoning was put in place but the town did not receive any help from the state and without their partnership this plan could not be realized.
Michael Viveiros asked, “What is the goal?” Why is the goal to build more houses in Exeter? He felt Exeter would meet the mandate for affordable housing without too much difficulty. He felt there were a number of growth centers in Rhode Island, mentioning North Kingstown as one of them. Michael Viveiros did want to be clear that the state is not building enough housing that people can afford to buy and the more that housing becomes unaffordable the state will become economically stagnant.
Ms. Brown suggested that meeting the 10 percent mandate for affordable housing in the Comprehensive Plan would eliminate the need for comprehensive permits. She also suggested other types of housing could be made mandatory in the plan only allowing conservation subdivisions or village overlays.
Planner DePasquale noted that throughout the state it is about being competitive by having a diverse set of housing options that meet the needs of the population. The state feels that this is not happening and there are only high end and low-end housing offerings.
Planner DePasquale suggested looking at the Red Zones/Business Districts and reinvent the way we think about the business districts. Maybe we expand on the village idea in a different way talking about a mixed-use density.
Scott Millar stated that the only site right now that has potential for density is the village site right outside the Ladd Center because they have access to water. He also stated that the zoning is already in place for this type of development.
It was also discussed that the Town of Exeter should consider having a Housing Authority that would monitor what is going on in the town. Planner DePasquale noted that the Zoning Use Table needs to be entirely rewritten for those areas that don’t have an assigned use.
Land Use Trends and Development Patterns Key Findings:
1. During 2010-2020 decade, the number of housing units in Exeter grew 5.4%, ten times faster than the growth in population—0.5%.
2. More than one third of Exeter land is permanently protected from development, much of it west of I-95.
3. Private land uses are predominantly single-family residential within a matrix of forest and some agriculture. Residential development patterns include a few locations of small-lot residential; large-lot exurban residential; a limited number of small multifamily structures, condominiums, and a mobile home park; and very large properties with residential uses and, in some cases, forestry and agricultural enterprises.
4. Since 2012, the annual number of residential building permits has been restricted (with exceptions for affordable housing) and impact fees applied to new residential construction.
5. There is very limited community-serving retail and services, which are located, along with some office and other commercial uses and light industrial uses, predominantly along or near major arterials, Routes 2 and 3.
6. There is no town center, though zoning was adopted in 2012 to enable creation of a mixed-use town center linked to a Transfer of Development Rights program.
Housing Key Findings:
1. Exeter housing is majority single-family and owner-occupied.
2. Between 2010 and 2020, 136 housing units were added in town, for a total of 2,647, while the population of the town grew by only 35 residents (approximately 12 households based on average household size).
3. Housing in Exeter is expensive. The median price of a single-family home reached $505,000 in November 2022, compared to $411,000 in the state as a whole. HousingWorks RI estimates that it takes an annual household salary of nearly $123,000 to buy a median-priced home without spending more than 30 percent of income on housing.
4. The median price of condominiums (of which there are few) in Exeter, at $529,950, was more than the median price of a single-family home in late 2022. While condos are entry level housing for first-time homebuyers in many communities, that is not the case in Exeter.
5. The Growth Management Ordinance has reduced the number of building permits for single family homes since 2013 (even though they had not met the cap).
6. With the opening of 40 affordable apartments for income-eligible tenants at Pine View this year (2023), Exeter now has 7 percent affordable housing. Significant progress toward the state goal of 10 percent for municipalities.
The group went on to discuss the economy in Exeter and the following key findings:
1. Very limited community-serving retail and services. Low population and geographic dispersal of population provides limited market.
2. Investment is also limited because of competition from nearby existing commercial centers in other towns, plus new competition such as the North Kingstown development at Routes 2 and 102.
3. Lack of consensus on acceptable economic development.
4. No inventory of land and other conditions for economic development.
5. No municipal point person for economic development.
6. Lack of engagement with the business community, owners of commercial real estate, and potential investors.
7. No marketing of the town’s attractions to visitors.
Robert Corriea noted that there are a number of things the Town doesn’t have, such as a Town Manager. He went on to say that Exeter needs someone in a leadership role that is experienced in town management, grant writing, working with state agencies, such as the economic development commission, someone who knows how to attract business into their community. Mike Viveiros agreed with Mr. Correia’s assessment, noting that it will cost money--but that the town needs to address what kind of investment the town wants to make in order to exceed long term.
The committee went on to review what the 2004 Comprehensive Plan contained. Next the committee examined the Natural Resources and Conservation in the Town of Exeter (Pages 26 through 37 of Ms. Brown’s memorandum, Existing Conditions -- Understanding Exeter Today).
Open Space and Outdoor Recreation Key Findings:
1. Over 13,000 acres of land are permanently conserved. Over 14,00 acres of private land are enrolled in the farm, forest, and open space tax incentive program.
2. The Exeter Rural Land Conservation Trust advises the town on acquiring open space for conservation, but no land has been acquired yet.
3. The town owns no conservation land.
4. The Conservation Commission does not function because of lack of volunteers, so there is no town open space plan.
5. The town maintains a playground at Chelsea Park near the library, a baseball field, and a basketball court.
6. Nature recreation of various types is available in the Arcadia Management Area and some of the private conservation area, including boating, fishing, hunting, and mountain bike riding.
Ms. Brown noted that there is no Conservation Commission, which means there is no town open space plan. She felt this would be an asset for the Town of Exeter.
Ms. Thurn spoke to the possibilities that the Arcadia Management property offers and the many programs that are available through the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) that would encourage use of this property.
Planner DePasquale felt that the town’s website needed a major upgrade and should include a page that promotes all the recreational opportunities that can be enjoyed in Exeter. Mr. DePasquale also suggested since the town already has a very nice Geographical Information System (GIS) that the town should consider hiring a F/T or a consultant to enhance this platform.
Mr. DePasquale noted that in the Comprehensive Plan we will need to have their top three priorities on both the recreational and open space side so that the town may be able to obtain some DEM grant monies.
Historic and Cultural Resources Key Findings:
1. Exeter has a substantial inventory of archeological and historic resources with varying levels of recognition and states of repair.
2. The town has no official committee or commission that focuses on historic resources. The Exeter Historical Association, made up of volunteers, works to raise awareness about the town’s history and preservation of historic resources.
3. Exeter has limited cultural resources. The most important cultural institution, The Tomaquag Museum, is moving in 2024 to a new location in South Kingstown on the URI campus.
Town Planner DePasquale noted the disconnect with the historical cultural resources and planning for the community. He stated he would love to see the Comprehensive Plan be more of an action document to drive regulations within land development regulations that mandate lot development, look at historical and cultural resources and how they are impacted and celebrate them. We should not be giving away cultural and historical resources, such as native American culture. Ms. Brown noted that landmarks should be designated and signed.
They went on to review Transportation and Circulation data; followed by Public Facilities, Services and
Infrastructure; Sustainability, Climate Change Resilience, and Hazard Mitigation.
It was noted that the Town Council has been talking to the DPW Director regarding Exeter’s 102, (7.3 miles along Ten Rod Road between Routes 2 and 3, was designated in 1993 as one of Rhode Island’s eight Scenic Roadways) and ways to protect it locally. Discussion ensued around how to improve Exeter’s 102 and particularly how to get drivers to slow down.
Ms. Brown’s memorandum summed up the strengths and weaknesses and opportunities for the Town of Exeter:
Strengths: (Page 69)
1. High quality natural resources.
2. About forty percent of the town’s total land area is private land enrolled in the state’s tax incentive program to keep land in agriculture, forestry, or open space.
3. The town has a functioning agriculture and forestry sectors, with some successful and innovative operators.
4. Exeter has preserved rural landscapes and vistas that are valued by residents and are relatively rare in Rhode Island.
5. Residents are strongly invested in the idea of Exeter’s rural character, values, and identity.
6. The Public Library functions well as a center of community.
7. Exeter residents tend to have strong resources on the individual and household levels, as they are well-educated and have good incomes in comparison to state averages.
Weaknesses: (Page 69)
1. Exeter lacks both official and unofficial community gathering spaces.
2. Almost no effective communication vehicles exist to keep resident and businesses informed about town government, events, and opportunities.
3. Low-density, geographically dispersed housing means that people are oriented to different neighboring towns depending on where they live.
4. Newer residents say that it’s hard to get to know people.
5. Economy: Very limited commercial and light industrial businesses to serve community needs and to provide non-residential tax revenue.
6. Town Government Capacity: Small town government with town council elections every two years limits capacity for proactive planning and implementation.
7. Limited town staff available to implement special projects.
Opportunities: (Page 70)
1. Identity: Focus identity on being a resilient and innovative rural community that contributes to state policy goals through conservation, agriculture, forestry, and other rural pursuits—rather than being more identified as an exurban bedroom community.
2. Support viability of the agricultural and forestry economy.
3. Pursue visitor attractions consistent with the innovative rural community identity.
4. Village or Town center: Pursue and attract desired development through discussion with potential developers to find out what incentives are needed, e.g., grant-funded water and wastewater system design.
5. Ladd Center master plan in partnership with state government: Work with state government to establish a master plan for the area that can ultimately benefit Exeter.
6. Housing Diversity: Pursuit of town center or village development can provide more housing diversity.
7. Exeter still needs to meet the 10 percent affordable housing goal.
8. Non-residential development: Create a plan and pursue/promote nonresidential development and redevelopment at Exit 13A (old Exit 5A) and in the Route 3 corridor.
Threats: (Page 70)
1. Fragmentation of large properties.
2. Economic viability of farm and forest enterprises: Potential for decline in agriculture and forestry replaced by house lots.
3. Generational transition: Town government is very dependent on volunteers, many of whom are aging.
4. Town staff are dedicated but also aging and the majority work is part time. The town has to prepare to find new staff.
5. Over the next 20 years, there is likely to be a generational transition in the ownership of large parcels of rural land with base zoning for large-lot residential development.
6. Climate Change: Climate change impact will increasingly affect Exeter and its natural resources.
7. The state has not always had the ability to adequately mange the natural lands that it owns in Exeter. Effective management of those lands can impact Exeter environmentally and economically.
Ms. Brown asked Committee Members to please send any additional written comments to her attention as soon as possible.
3. Public Comment: There was no public comment.
4. ADJOURNMENT:
Scott Millar made a motion to adjourn the CPAC meeting; Gina Thurn seconded the motion. The vote was all in favor. The CPAC meeting was adjourned at 9:16 p.m.
The next CPAC meeting will be on Thursday, March 30, 2023.
William J DePasquale Jr., AICP, Town Planner and Contact for the Comprehensive Plan Update