This document discusses strategies for village planning and implementation in Rhode Island. It outlines the state's 2002 growth center criteria and provides examples of villages that exemplify these criteria. It then discusses tools for village planning, including strategies, design approaches, case studies, and regulatory guidance. The document also addresses barriers to public participation and consensus building. It provides case studies of village planning from within and outside the region and discusses regulatory approaches in Rhode Island, including zoning insights and the state's Growth Centers Program.

1. Village
Planning and Implementation
in Rhode Island
SNEAPA 2014

4. 2002 RI Growth Center Criteria
•Compact mixed use development
•Diverse housing opportunities
•Transportation choice
•Protection of natural resources
•Design for sense of place

5. Rhode Island villages leading the way.
Harrisville Redevelopment, Burrillville

6. Harrisville/Stillwater Mill (Burrillville, RI)

7. South County Commons

10. A Vision for Exeter
A Game Plan for Our Future

14. What’s the potential for village development?

17. Village Planning Tools
•Planning Strategies
•Design Approaches
•Case Studies
•Regulatory Guidance

18. Village Planning Requires a Different Approach
Traditional process governed by Robert’s Rules of Order facilitates decision-making, but creates winners and losers.
Because planning and zoning decisions directly affect people’s property values and quality of life, losers get mad, then get even.

19. •We don’t trust you! Public Participation and Consensus Building Techniques.
•Density is Bad! Planning and Design Techniques
•This Can’t Work! Case Studies that show it can.
Barriers in Public Discussion

20. We don’t trust you! Getting Started with Consensus Building
•Reaching out to stakeholders.
•Shared fact-finding
•Mapping out problems and opportunities.
•Analyzing potential conflicts
•Defining community values and vision.
•Exploring alternatives.

21. Game-Playing Exercises
•Games are user-friendly.
•Games help people think outside the box.
•Games are less threatening.

22. A Vision for Exeter
Do we need a village? Where is the best location?

23. Buildout analysis shows 3,000+ new homes, more than doubling the existing population

24. Using GIS, the map of the town was transformed into a game board.

26. “Housing Hot Spots” identified by compiling the results of all game boards

27. Preferred locations for future village development

32. CENTER TYPES + TOD

33. Density is Bad! Start by showing them what it looks like…
3-5 units per acre
West Kingston
8 -10 units per acre Peace Dale
12 - 20 units per acre Wakefield
15 - 25 units per acre Westerly

34. Existing Conditions
How can density support conservation?

35. Conventional Large-Lot Development
Not like this…

37. Core Natural Systems
Rivers and Streams
Working Landscapes
Historic Roads and Villages
Historic Farms
Mapping Natural and Cultural Ecosystems
Supporting Natural Resources
Trails and Greenways

38. Conservation Development

39. Designing for Village Density

40. Great places balance a diversity of forms, uses and experiences within a unified composition.

44. Build the design around shared public space.

45. Connect the Village to the landscape
Agricultural Village:
Little Compton
Mill Village: Peacedale
Harbor Village: Wickford

46. A street hierarchy provides for access and parking while keeping the village pedestrian-friendly.
Design of Streets

47. Complete Street in Hamburg, NY (Dan Burden)

48. This Can’t Work! Use Case Studies from Outside the Region
Weatherstone, Chester County, PA
Cherry Hill, Canton, MI
White River Junction, VT
Revitalization
New Villages
Old York Village
Chesterfield Twp, NJ
Middle Green Valley, Solano County, CA
Clarksburg, Montgomery County, MD

49. Regulatory and Program Development in Rhode Island
•Zoning Insights
•The RI Growth Centers Program

50. Zoning Insights: Nuts and Bolts
•Mix Uses
•Achieve Density
•Flexibility in Dimension
•Flexibility in Parking
•Design Guidelines or Standards
•By-Right Permits

51. •Key questions…
1.Where will guidelines or standards be applied?
2.New district or overlay district?
3.Which permit process(es) may be applied?
4.What is the role (if any) of the Land Development Regulations?
5.How strict should the standards be?
6.How much is too much?
Zoning Insights: Getting Started with Reform

52. Is something simple all you need?

53. Or do you need this…

54. Or this…

55. Or this?

56. Zoning Insights: Single Family Homes for Villages
•Cottage Zoning
•Conservation TDR

57. Cottage Zoning: What does it look like?
Basic characteristics – SITE DESIGN
•Cottage development establishes a full “community”. Not one lot at a time.
•A group of cottage-style homes face a central common area.
•Generally includes about 8-20 units.
•Often designed to transition from “Main Street” to lower density neighborhoods.
•Individual lots may or may not be established.
•Parking is often centralized, adjacent to the housing.
•Ornamental landscaping and walkways are important features.

58. Image Source: Union Studio Architects

59. Cottage Zoning: What does it look like?
Basic characteristics – ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
•Cottages typically have 900 to 1,200 sq. ft. footprint
•Two-story units with limited second story space under a pitched roof.
•Porches facing into common area.
•Trim and other decorative accents are common.
•Ornamental landscaping and walkways are important features.
•Some models incorporate 2-3 family units.

60. Image Source: Union Studio Architects

61. Conservation TDR Subdivision: What does it look like?
Basic characteristics – SITE DESIGN
•Similar to standard conservation design. Preserves the best natural features and “designs around them”.
•Moves the development rights for single family units on one parcel to another parcel to develop single family units at higher density.
•Often a dramatic reduction in the allowable minimum lot size is required.
•Excellent opportunity to use Low Impact Development (LID) stormwater management techniques.

62. The Concept: Existing Site

63. Conventional Buildout: Approximately 100 lots

64. Conservation Subdivision Design: Cluster the units to protect natural features

65. Conservation TDR Subdivision: Transfers additional units from off site.

66. More compact housing, more open space…
Image Source: Union Studio Architects

67. Zoning Insights: TDR Success
1.Demand for Bonus Development
2.Customized Receiving Areas
3.Strict Sending Area Regulations
4.Few Alternatives to TDR
5.Market Incentives
6.Certainty of TDR Use
7.Strong Public Preservation Support
8.Simplicity
9.Promotion & Facilitation
10.TDR Bank

68. Zoning Insights: TDR New Approach
Density Transfer Credit or “Fee-In-Lieu of TDR”
•Municipality performs a real estate analysis to determine the financial relationship between the Sending Area and the Receiving Area. Example: One single family home will provide the rights to four multi-family units Every multi-family unit will require a payment of $8,000.

69. Zoning Insights: TDR New Approach
Density Transfer Credit or “Fee-In-Lieu of TDR”
•Money goes into an account that’s dedicated to open space preservation
•The account is usually managed by the municipality
•Money can be “coupled” with other contributions to increase its value.

70. RI’s Growth Centers Program
•State Plan called for these long ago.
•Limited guidance on how to establish them.
•What’s in it for me?

71. CENTER TYPES + TOD

72. Status
•Program is not finalized
•Adoption very early 2015

73. Establishing the Growth Center
Tier One
•Simple identification in the Comprehensive Plan Tier Two
•Public process
•Vision
•Typology identified
•Boundary in place
•Constraints analysis (e.g., infrastructure)
•Zoning adopted or deadline set

74. What’s in it for the Town?
Tier One
•Technical Assistance to get to Tier Two
•Funding Tier Two
•Opens doors to tax incentives not available elsewhere
•Streamline permitting
•Priority funding from state programs (infrastructure, housing, etc.)
•Access to loans

75. Discussion
Scott Millar Division of Planning and Development RIDEM 401-222-4700 ext 4419 Peter Flinker Dodson & Flinker 413-628-4496 Nathan Kelly Horsley Witten Group, Inc. 401-272-1717