Land Use and Open Space Preservation

Approaching land use from the regional perspective, versus town-by-town, allows Washington County municipalities to more effectively manage development and preservation, by taking into account watershed boundaries, natural corridors, and the broader ecological and developed-land context.

To meet those goals the WCRPC collaborated with Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management on the South County Greenspace Project. This project was designed to engage local, state, and federal participants in a comprehensive greenspace identification and preservation effort. The project assisted communities in inventorying and prioritizing natural, cultural and recreational resources on a town-by-town basis, which was then also compiled into a regional map and inventory. The final report assists in linking greenspace priorities throughout each town and region to create unfragmented corridors of open space. In March of 2003 the findings of the South County Greenspace Project and South County Sustainable Economy Report (see Economic Development Program) were presented to all town councils, to ensure support and use of the report’s resources and tools. A copy of the South County Greenspace Project is available at: http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/suswshed/pubs.htm.

Currently, the WCRPC is engaged in studying TDR, or the Transfer of Development Rights, as a means to preserve open space (farm or forest) while fostering development in areas where towns wish higher density. It utilizes market forces, and does not require public funds to purchase property or development rights. In RI, only North Kingstown has such a program, although it has been discussed for years and works well in other parts of the county. The WCRPC was awarded a grant by RI Statewide Planning Program, for $51,000 to hold several public meetings about TDR, and to have a report prepared that will show the benefits of the program. The study will assess not only TDR in Washington County, but a statewide program, where land in outlying areas could be preserved while fostering development in needy central city areas.