CPAC MINUTES
Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Minutes
Meeting #13
675 Ten Rod Road, Exeter, RI 02822
Minutes Approved: February 27, 2024 by Exeter Planning Board
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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 | | | Larissa Brown William DePasquale |
| Tom | McMillan | Y | | | M. Dixie Foisy, Clerk |
| Scott Millar | Y | Olivia DeFrancesco, Council Liaison (N) | |||
| Ben | Coerper | N | Michael P. DeFrancesco | N | |
| Rachael | Slattery | N | Bill Haas | Y | |
| Robert | Corriea | Y | Gina Thurn | Y | |
| Jenna | Cragan | Y | Donna Di Donato | N | |
| 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. Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC) CALLED TO ORDER: William DePasquale, Town Planner, called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. Roll call was taken by the Planning Board Clerk and it was noted that we had a quorum to proceed.
2. MEETING MINUTES: Review and acceptance of CPAC minutes for July 11, 2023; Mr. DePasquale called for a voice vote on the July 11, 2023 meeting minutes and they were accepted as submitted.
3. TOWN PLANNER TURNS MEETING OVER TO FACILITATOR – LARISSA BROWN: William DePasquale turned the meeting over to Ms. Larissa Brown to review the agenda items.
4. UPCOMING SCHEDULE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND PUBLIC HEARING, AND CPAC ROLE: Ms. Brown shared that this will be the last official meeting of the CPAC and explained that she will review what the schedule will look like going forward. Ms. Brown will also review the results of the Community Open House that took place on November 2, 2023 at the Exeter Public Library and noted that this information had been shared with the group via email on a couple of occasions. She stated she will also review the draft of the Land Use element and some key points of this element. Lastly, Ms. Brown will discuss how the plan will be implemented and “putting the plan to work” and keeping it from collecting dust on the shelf.
Ms. Brown stated that all the elements are now available on the Dropbox (1-13) via the link she shared, plus what she refers to as the “front matter” which includes the Table of Contents, How to Use, Executive Summary and an Appendix will all be added soon. She shared that there will be color and graphics to make it more appealing to look at and understand. In discussions she has had with the Planning Board, they have agreed to provide any last written comments up until January 9, 2024 and offered the same to any of the CPAC members to do the same. Once all the comments are submitted, a “final draft” will be uploaded in PDF form to the Exeter 2044 website, and the public will be able to go in to review and make comments. Before this happens, another mailing will go out to all Exeter residents letting them know where to find the plan and will also include the date of the joint public hearing with the Town Council and Planning Board (date discussed is February 26, 2024) encouraging the public to come out.
At this time, Chair of the Planning Board, Scott Millar shared that he was at the Town Council meeting on January 2, 2024 and stated that he recommended to the council that they adopt the plan prior to March 1, 2024. Mr. Millar went on to explain the significance of this action was because the RI General Assembly amended the Comprehensive Planning Act which states that if your plan is older than 12 years (which Exeter’s is), and that as of March 1st, the Town will no longer be able to use the plan which could have significant negative ramifications. He stated that the council agreed to the date of February 26, 2024 for the public hearing.
Ms. Brown noted that the CPAC members will have the same ability to make their comments known online. She also encouraged the members of CPAC to attend the public meeting to support the process. Ms. Brown indicated that graphics will be used in the final layout to enhance the information within the Comprehensive Plan. She also noted that a hard copy will be available at the Exeter Public Library.
CPAC member Jenna Cragan asked if there was a way to take the Comprehensive Plan summary from the public meeting and turn it into an easily understood graphic instead of a long narrative? Ms. Brown noted that her graphic designer would be creating layouts that would help to make the Comprehensive Plan more understandable to the viewing audience.
5. BRIEF REVIEW – RESULTS OF OPEN HOUSE ON PLANNING DIRECTIONS
Ms. Brown noted that the most notable feedback was to create walking and riding trails in Town and the importance of communication between the Town and its residents. Ray Morrissey felt the Open House afforded them good feedback from the Exeter residents.
6. CPAC COMMENTS/DISCUSSION ON DRAFT LAND USE ELEMENT 12
Ms. Brown went on to review Element 12—Land Use. She reviewed some of the key points with the group and noted that Town Planner William DePasquale has seen more applications as of late for development. CPAC member Ray Morrissey then asked how much more? Mr. DePasquale stated significant increase, such as Micro units at Oak Harbor Village; Asa Davis’s 120-unit buildout; the Scungio property of 8 or 9 lots; and grandchildren doing some estate planning.
Ms. Brown stated in terms of the findings, how many acres of unconstrained land are available for possible development and also that nearly 60 percent of the unconstrained land is already developed and would need to be subdivided in order for it to be developed further, and that over three-quarters of the buildout land is currently enrolled in the farm, forest and open space program. She noted that the potential is there for future development. Ms. Brown recommended a Conservation Commission.
CPAC member Jenna Cragen asked if the numbers within the report are updated to include the new State changes? Planner DePasquale noted that these are existing numbers and the changes are coming.
Ms. Brown noted the 2023 State legislative session focused on policies and legislation intended to promote housing development and other statewide land use policy changes. Noting that Exeter has already addressed some of these new changes. With regards to the future of large parcels of land, Ms. Brown felt strongly that Exeter needed to take a more proactive approach regarding future transition planning.
Ms. Brown went on to discuss the Future Land Use Map (FLUM). She indicated that the distribution of desired land use categories would remain in place, but that they would produce an additional map that would take a look at certain areas within Exeter that would require future planning and consideration. Ms. Brown felt strongly that the Town of Exeter needed to have a masterplan, mentioning accessory uses for farm and forest landowners, planned districts, floating zones, special planned districts, etc.
Larissa Brown noted that the Exeter zoning ordinances need to be updated, modernized, and reorganized to make them more user-friendly and functional with cross references, modern use categories, and improved design standards clarified with diagrams and illustrations as well as complying with the laws the RI General Assembly enacted in the 2023.
CPAC member Robert Corriea commented that Exeter should be adding into their ordinances allowances for farmers to branch out, affording them additional opportunities to earn income. Ms. Brown suggested looking at other communities in Rhode Island offering “accessory uses.”
CPAC member Ray Morrissey mentioned home-based businesses and the taxes associated with additional uses.
CPAC member Robert Corriea also mentioned his excitement for the future plans of the I-95 corridor.
CPAC member Christopher Ausura noted that without some level of support it would be hard to deliver on some of the proposed objectives.
Planner DePasquale addressed that concern stating that there are a couple of ways to move the Town’s objectives through grants, purchasing developing rights, estate planning, state monies, etc.
Planning Board Chairman Scott Millar noted that these are all fine ideas, but the Town does not have a Conservation Commission and no longer has a full rural Land Trust, which currently has two vacancies. He suggested to the members of CPAC that they promote these opportunities in the Town. Planner DePasquale suggested the possibility of a stipend in order to incentivize these positions.
Planner DePasquale spoke about the master plan(s) for the Ladd Center, Route 3, Rt 102 and I-95/potential uses and zoning changes.
STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS:
GOAL 1: Land use regulations are used to protect water quality, prevent flooding, maintain farms/forests and preserve environmentally sensitive lands in connected networks.
Policies:
· Continue to use land use regulations to protect groundwater and surface water, wildlife habitat and corridors, most important forests and open space.
· Promote the use of conservation subdivisions in new development to encourage preservation of open space and avoid impacts to wetland and water quality. Create connected corridors for habitat and recreation, and to preserve community character.
GOAL 2: Exeter preserves opportunities for the financial sustainability of agricultural and forestry land uses.
Policies:
· Continue municipal support for the FFOS tax incentive program.
· Continue support for agriculture and forestry zoning in rural zoning districts.
· Reexamine regulations to provide accessory use options to enhance the financial sustainability of agricultural and forestry land. Revisit a 2017 Exeter study and draft ordinance as a starting point to assess appropriate regulations to allow small scale accessory business options for farm and forest landowners.
GOAL 3: Encourage growth in planned districts that can support more density to provide balanced housing, economic development or community services.
Policies:
· Continue to pursue options for development of a walkable multi-use village in the vicinity of Route 2 and Exeter Road.
· Support planning and construction of a modern Town Hall and a Community Center at a planned development municipal center location, integrating the community center within a multi-use environment that provides for a future new Town Hall, community center and other supportive uses to create a sense of place that hosts community activities and gatherings, connects residents with programming and resources, and enhances a sense of community.
· Support the restoration of old Town Hall and moving the building to the Municipal Center.
· Consider opportunities to purchase properties that are proximate to the Municipal Center that could support government operations in the immediate and medium term.
· Continue to work with the State of Rhode Island on: a joint land use and infrastructure master plan for the Ladd Center area that includes a percentage of land area dedicated to workforce, senior and/or low mod housing; and a memorandum of understanding with the Town about development review process including public hearings for the state-controlled Ladd Center.
· Support a public institutional (PI) zoning district to replace the PD district governed by a master plan and memorandum of agreement between the State and Town for the Ladd Center.
· Support a Route 2 corridor plan compatible with the plans for a village center, and any other nearby planned districts.
· Support a planned district for the Yawgoo Valley recreational area.
GOAL 4: The Route 3 corridor is revitalized to serve as an attractive area with a mixture of uses, especially for tax-paying nonresidential development in a gateway to I-95, and a visitor gateway to the Arcadia Management Area.
Policies:
· Create a Route 3 corridor plan that takes advantage of quick access to I-95 and provides for an enhanced visitor hub as a gateway to the Arcadia Management Area and promotes improved road conditions with bicycle and pedestrian facilities in part of the corridor. Reimagine the Route 3 corridor with design standards and land uses that support the local economy, reflect heavy industry, junkyards and similar land uses with potential impacts that can cause irreparable harm to the area groundwater and natural subsystems.
· Create an interstate Floating Overlay District to regulate potential economic development uses for properties with access to I-95.
· Create a Route 3 Enhancement Floating Overlay District to regulate the potential for economic development uses and multi-family housing along Route 3.
· Work with RI Commerce to enroll appropriate Route 3 corridor properties in the RI Ready program.
GOAL 5: The Exeter zoning ordinance complies with State legislation.
Policies:
· Amend the zoning ordinance to comply with2023 state legislation in 18 months and in a timely manner with any future requirements.
GOAL 6: Exeter has a new, modern zoning ordinance.
Policies:
· Support a rewrite of Exeter’s zoning ordinance over the medium and long term to make it more user-friendly and functional.
7. CPAC COMMENTS/DISCUSSION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
ELEMENT 13 – STEWARDSHIP AND IMPLEMENTATION
Ms. Brown noted that the Comprehensive Plan is designed to be a “living plan” that keeps the plan useful and current, incorporating it into day-to-day decision making, assess progress, and making any amendments so that the plan can evolve with unforeseen opportunities and challenges over the next 20 years. That the Planning Board and the Town Council are the stewards of the Comprehensive Plan. She noted that the twenty-year plan, includes many goals, strategies, and implementation actions, some of which can be implemented quickly and others that may require new levels of organization, collaboration, transparency and funding.
Ms. Brown touched on new activities, such as an annual Exeter Town Report which would include town data and activity reports from boards and commissions; a redesign of the Town website for better communication, functionality, and staff training to keep the website up-to-date; recruitment of volunteers to reactivate the Conservation Commission, Affordable Housing Advisory Commission, and create an Economic Development Commission.
She again talked about a Municipal Center Master Plan with a New Town Hall and Community Center; the Ladd Center joint State-Town Master Plan; Route 3 Corridor Revitalization Master Plan; Route 2 Corridor South Master Plan and the Yawgoo Ski and Water Park Master Plan.
Ms. Brown spoke about revenue sources that included traditional revenue, such as property taxes, fees, miscellaneous payments to newer sources of revenue including—adult use cannabis tax, federal funding opportunities and new development opportunities.
Planning Board member Gina Thurn asked if there was a way to earmark a certain percentage of new funds that come into the Town into a capital account that carries over from year to year, thus creating a dedicated funding stream in order to make these suggested initiatives happen?
Planner DePasquale indicated that the Town Charter would drive this suggestion; each department is required to put a Capital Improvement budget together. The Comprehensive Plan has been added to the Capital budget. He mentioned that the Town is expecting to have a lot of building permit money come in, $140,000, for two large solar projects and that he is a big proponent of taking a percentage of those dollars and creating an investment/trust account for future needs.
CPAC member Christopher Ausura stated that the Town could create a fund of $100,000, have the townspeople come out to vote on it, informing them how the money would be used.
Planning Board member Donna Di Donato suggested another mailing to the people of Exeter promoting volunteer opportunities.
CPAC member Jessica DeMartino suggested holding another open house to encourage participation.
Larissa Brown noted she will have an Executive Summary and will add the handout to the Dropbox site.
Planning Board Chairman Millar asked to forward the summary to the Planning Board before Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
Planner William DePasquale thanked Ms. Brown and everyone for their commitment to the Comprehensive Plan process.
Planning Board member Michael Viveiros thanked Ms. Brown for all her hard work.
Planning Board Chairman Scott Millar also thanked Ms. Brown for her work and extended his gratitude to the members of the CPAC committee--recognizing their time and their continued feedback during the entire process.
Mr. Millar offered a special thanks to Robert Corriea, saying that he deserves a gold star for having prepared written comments.
STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS
Goal 1: The Comprehensive Plan guides Town decision making.
Policies:
· Create a Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee to assist Town government in implementing the plan.
· Review implementation of the plan annually in a public hearing.
· Use a public process every five years to review the vision, goals, policies, and implementation progress of the plan.
· As required by state law, submit a five-year implementation report to the State Planning Office.
Strategy A: Appoint a Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee to support the Planning Board and Town Council in assessing implementation progress.
Action: Appoint a small citizen committee (5-6 people) to serve as a Comprehensive Plan Implementation Advisory Committee (CPIAC).
Goal 2: The Comprehensive Plan is incorporated into decision making in multiple ways.
Policies:
· Use the plan in preparing and approving other planning and implementation actions by other town staff and officials.
· Make the Capital Plan consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
· Reactivate commissions or committees to focus on specific issues, such as a Conservation Commission to focus on an overall town open space plan, maintaining affordable housing percentages, and overseeing economic development activities.
· As needed, create shorter-term proactive advisory committees or subcommittees to provide input on specific area master plans (such as Municipal Center, Ladd Center, Route 3) and issues such as promotion of the village center concept.
Goal 3: Town government provides effective and meaningful access to information about government activities and performance.
Policies:
· Publicize actions and activities that implement the Comprehensive Plan.
· Make a wide array of user-friendly information, services, electronic forms, financial and project information easily available to residents, businesses, and others.
· Measure government performance.
Under Actions:
· Use an Exeter 2044 logo or icon on Town Council, Planning Board, and other agendas for Comprehensive Plan-related actions on the agenda.
8. Public Comment: None.
In conclusion, Ms. Brown reminded the committee members for any last written comments by January 9, 2024.
9. ADJOURNMENT:
Ray Morrissey made a motion to adjourn the CPAC meeting; Tom McMillan seconded the motion. The vote was all in favor. The CPAC meeting was adjourned at 8:47 p.m.
William J DePasquale Jr., AICP, Town Planner and Contact for the Comprehensive Plan Update