Schools for Successful Communities: An Element of Smart GrowthThis publication explains why and how communities can employ smart growth planning principles to build schools that better serve and support students, staff, parents, and the entire community. Each community should use its education dollars to fulfill academic considerations and to express the values and vision of the community. When school districts collaborate with community leaders to find a location for a school, the community benefits socially, environmentally, and economically. This publication helps communities invest in schools that will give children the best possible education, use taxpayer dollars wisely, and improve the quality of life for all citizens. Published by the Council for Educational Facility Planning International (CEFPI) and the U.S. EPA
Download the booklet now
Click here to find out how to request a free hard copy
New Guide helps make the most of new development Choosing Our Community's Future is the rare resource designed specifically for regular citizens who want to make a positive contribution to shaping the growth and development of their neighborhoods, towns and regions. The guidebook from Smart Growth America will help readers make rational, compelling arguments against poorly conceived plans, but more importantly, it will help them paint a vision of the development that they would like to see take place in their community.
The guidebook will help you learn how to:
· Tame "big box" retail centers
[Read More] The 90-page book is available for purchase for $10.00
The Urban Revitalization Fund of RI (TURF)Although active in the marketplace for less than a year, the newly capitalized Urban Revitalization Fund of Rhode Island (TURF-RI) has already provided critical financing for two commercial real estate projects aimed at expanding job growth in distressed urban communities. TURF provides technical assistance and tailored financial products that make otherwise unfeasible projects feasible. TURF used initial funding from the CDFI Fund of the U.S. Department of the Treasury to leverage additional funding from Bank of America, Citizens Bank and Sovereign Bank.
More about TURF-RI
CommunityViz® now available at reduced costThe Orton Family Foundation is making CommunityViz® planning software available to communities at the new, reduced cost of $185, removing a significant barrier to access for communities in need of effective planning tools and methods. CommunityViz® provides GIS-based analysis and real-world 3D modeling that allow people to envision land use alternatives and understand their potential impacts, explore options and examine scenarios from all angles - environmental, economic, and social - and feel confident in their land use planning decisions.
See sample case studies and video
New tool for managing growth
The RI Statewide Planning Program is making it easier for community leaders to manage growth with a new tool for updating or amending Comprehensive Community Plans. The concept of "growth centers" (or priority investment areas) has been advanced by the Governors' Growth Planning Council as a way to "encourage compact, mixed-use development that preserves open space, conserves natural resources, ensures that development takes place on land capable of supporting such development, and that generally promotes a strong sense of community." As a result, the Office of Statewide Planning recently released an addendum (pdf) to "Handbook 16" that provides clear direction for how cities and towns can begin incorporating growth centers into municipal Comprehensive Plans.
Saving Rhode Island from Sprawl and Urban Decay
In an effort to influence public policy debate, Grow Smart published and distributed a Candidates' Briefing Book to all candidates for the Rhode Island General Assembly as well as candidates for city and town councils. Entitled "A Strategy for Saving Rhode Island from Sprawl and Urban Decay", the book profiles twelve policy issues, including smart economic development, local property tax, land conservation, affordable housing, transportation, historic preservation as well as sample smart growth policies that can be enacted at the local level. It is a non-partisan effort and was designed to influence the thinking and platforms of candidates for public office while also increasing awareness among citizens about Rhode Island's critical growth and economic challenges.
Click here to review it
New Report on Homebuying Preferences
The National Association of Realtors and Smart Growth America have released a new study indicating that a growing number of homebuyers favor shorter commutes and walkable neighborhoods. The prospect of lengthening commutes is leading more Americans to seek walkable neighborhoods in cities and close-in suburbs, according to the 2004 American Community Survey. These results provide some insight into current discussions in Rhode Island about growth and development trends, affordable housing and transportation priorities.
Read more about the report and the policy implications for Rhode Island
Pathways to Planning
Vermont Forum on Sprawl in partnership with the Orton Family Foundation, has developed a sophisticated new online tool called Pathways to Planning that acts as an interactive "consultant" to citizens and local planners.
The tool assesses your town's existing conditions, level of public involvement, and planning capacity by asking questions on a number of topics. It then generates commentary, advice and resources specifically matched to the needs of your community. The tool draws on a large database of resources, including downloadable files, web links, graphics and bibliographic resources, and has taken over a year to develop. Check it out
Residential Streets, Published by the Urban Land Institute in partnership with the National Association of Home Builders and the American Society of Civil Engineers, Residential Streets takes a practical approach to planning and designing streets in residential subdivisions.
Learn about street designs that can save on land costs, reduce the environmental impacts of runoff, provide a marketing
advantage, and win approval. It will be useful to developers, builders, designers, and local officials who wish to create streets in residential
communities that encourage walking and bicycling and that discourage speeding by through traffic.
See more about this book
Vacant & Abandonned Property, A new report by the Governor's Growth Planning Council (GPC) entitled "Vacant and Abandonned Property: Effective Solutions for Rhode Island" was released in March with 8 recommendations for state and municipal action to improve the system for returning these properties to productive use.
Download the 32-oage report (pdf)
Better Models for Commercial Development is a new publication that shows how communities can improve the design and siting of new commercial development. Published by The Conservation Fund in partnership with the The Planning Commissioners Journal and The Smart Growth Network, this booklet was written for elected officials, planning commissioners, developers and interested citizens around the country. Better Models shows how new commercial development can be made more attractive, more efficient and more profitable.
Download an order form (PDF).
Creating Great Neighborhoods: Density in Your Community is a grant product of the Local Government Commission, in cooperation with the US EPA, and sponsored by Local Government Commission, in cooperation with the National Association of Realtors. The document highlights
the success of nine community-led efforts to create
vibrant neighborhoods through density. Building
great dense places with good design is not just
an abstract theory -- it is a practical approach
to growth that is being used in diverse places
across the country.
Find
out more.
Affordable Housing Design Advisor
If you're part of the solution to America's critical affordable housing challenge, this site is for you. The Affordable Housing Design Advisor brings together experience and ideas from successful affordable housing projects all over the country, and the people who developed, designed and built them. This resource was completed under contract to the Office of Policy Development and Research of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Find out more.
POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS
Smart Growth 101
Grow Smart has prepared an overview of the smart growth movement illustrating the need and opportunity for land use reform at the state and municipal level. Advocates now have a tool for presenting smart growth concepts to civic and community groups. This presentation can be downloaded, complete with talking points and is ideal for presentation by municipal planners, members of planning or zoning boards and other interested citizens.
Download Presentation (1.5M).
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
"Smart Growth is Smart Business" offers latest evidence that revitalizing cities and curbing sprawl strengthens the economy.
Across America, communities are grappling with the economic, environmental and civic impacts of sprawl, including traffic congestion, crowded schools, pollution, loss of open space, and decaying infrastructure. Many community leaders and local government officials have discovered that partnering with the private sector can be critical to addressing the challenges of sprawling development.
The National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals and the Smart Growth Leadership Institute partnered to produce this report profiling 17 businesses and
organizations that are putting smart growth into action revitalizing communities, improving quality of life and boosting the bottom line. Mike Ryan, Grow Smart's Chairman and Scott Wolf, Executive Director, serve on NALGEP's Smart Growth Business Partnership Advisory Council.
Read more
Download the 60-page report (876kb)
A Rhode Island Economic Strategy: Ten Ways to Succeed Without Losing Our Soul
Published in September 2001 by the RI Economic Policy Council, this report provides communities with a solid foundation upon which to develop municipal economic development strategies.
View Summary Information
Statewide Organizations
RI Economic Development Corporation
RI Economic Policy Council
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Rhode Island Historic Preservation Tax Credits
The Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission administers two historic tax credit programs to encourage investment in historic properties. In addition to these financial incentives, restoration architects on the Commission staff help owners to plan their projects and make sure that the work meets preservation standards.
Commercial Tax Credits
Historic Homeowner Tax Credits
Rehab Building & Fire Code
The State of Rhode Island Rehabilitation Building and Fire Code for Existing Buildings and Structures was adopted by the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal & Review and the Building Code Standards Committee on January 22, 2002. The new Rehabilitation Code provides a single, uniform, statewide code with fire code and building code elements applicable to covered existing buildings and structures.
Download PDF (1256 kb)
Mill Building Reuse Survey
Technical Paper 150: A Survey of Current Mill Conditions and the Market for Mill Space published by the RI Statewide Planning Program, February 2001.
Click here to view it
National Register of Historic Places - Vacant / Not in Use Properties
Opportunities rather than places to avoid? Places designated as 'vacant' or 'not in use' may be an ideal business location, your next home, or perhaps a location that needs restoration assistance. Currently there are approximately 8,995 places listed as vacant or not in use.
Click here to view it
National Trust for Historic Preservation - A Best Practices Toolkit for Historic Preservation & Redevelopment
Statewide Organizations
Preserve Rhode Island
RI Historic Preservation & Heritage Commission
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
RI's New Affordable Housing Law
During its 2004 session, the Rhode Island General Assembly updated Rhode Island's principal affordable housing law. The following documents and links are intended to provide information and technical assistance relating to those changes.
H-8574A,
S-3148A
These twin acts make various amendments relating to the implementation of a statewide plan to provide safe and affordable housing to low and moderate income families,
the elderly, and workers and their families.
View Our Summary of RI's New Affordable Housing Law
RI Low and Moderate Income Housing Act "10%" Chart (PDF, 22KB)
Model Affordable Housing Plan (PDF, 118KB)
Statewide Planning's Guidance Memo on Affordable Housing Planning (PDF, 120 KB)
LMI Housing Act and Housing Plans Workshop Presentations
These materials are the product of a series of workshops developed by Grow Smart Rhode Island, the Office of Statewide Planning, The Rhode Island Foundation, the United Way of Rhode Island and Rhode Island Housing to help municipalities implement the LMI Housing Act and develop their Affordable Housing Plans.
LMI Housing Act Overview (PDF, 247 KB)
Developing an Affordable Housing Plan (PDF, 1 MB)
Affordable Housing Plan Review Criteria (PDF, 224 KB)
Burrillville's Affordable Housing Plan (PDF, 1.3 MB)
Land Trust Models (PDF, 133 KB)
Water and Wastewater Matters (PDF, 4.9 MB)
Data, Research and Reports
Housing Goals for RI Cities and Towns (PDF, 814 KB)
Fleet /RIPEC Economic Impact Study (PDF, 1.4 MB)
Average Rents in RI Cities and Towns (PDF, 23 KB)
HUD's RI Income Limits (PDF, 10KB)
HUD's RI Utility Allowance (PDF, 36KB)
HUD's Fair Market Rents (PDF, 10KB)
Open Doors RI Coalition
The Open Doors RI Coalition is a group of public advocacy organizations and concerned citizens who are determined to help increase housing production in Rhode Island and provide access to housing to people of low and moderate means.
Visit the website
Handbook 16: State Guidelines for Affordable Housing Plans
The Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program provides guidance to municipalities in the development of state-approved affordable housing plans. Handbook 16, a reference guide to the Local Comprehensive Plan process and includes an element specific to the development of affordable housing plans. This publication was updated in late 2003.
Handbook 16
Housing Database: 2003 Update
This report presents housing-related data for the State of Rhode Island and cities and towns in five categories: Demographics, Populations At Risk, Housing Infrastructure, Housing Affordability, and Housing Availability.
View its Contents
Affordable Housing Design Advisor
If you're part of the solution to America's critical affordable housing challenge, this site is for you. The Affordable Housing Design Advisor brings together experience and
ideas from successful affordable housing projects all ov er the country, and the people who developed, designed and built them. Good design can make a world of difference for the people who will live in
the affordable housing you help build, and for the neighborhood surrounding it. The Affordable Housing Design Advisor is here to help you at every step. Check out their website
Statewide Organizations
Housing Network of Rhode Island
RI Housing & Mortgage Finance Corporation
OPEN SPACE
2004 Open Space, Recreation, Bay and Watershed Bond Referendum
The Rhode Island General Assembly approved a $70 million Open Space, Recreation, Bay and Watershed Bond referendum for the November 2, 2004 ballot. Grow Smart
is an enthusiastic backer of this bond referendum because it proposes significant funding for recreational facilities throughout the state along with
protection of our threatened open spaces and coastal and inland waters.
Among the last minute amendments to the referendum language, land trusts
and other nonprofit conservation organizations will remain eligible for funding through RIDEM's Local Open Space Grants Program.
See How the Money Would Be Divided
South County Design Manual
Not just for Rhode Island! This award-winning publication published by the RI Department of Environmental Management illustrates how methods to control suburban sprawl ("smart growth, sustainable design," etc.) can be implemented in local towns, and depicts projected results.
Click here to view it
Transfer of Development Rights
Everything you ever needed to know about TDRs! Published by RI Department of Environmental Management, this 58-page report details how TDR's work, where they have been successful, how to develop a TDR ordinance, and examples from Acton, MA, the Cape Cod Commission, the NJ Pinelands, and Bounder County, CO.
Download PDF (683 kb)
Conservation Development Manual
Conservation development is a creative land use technique that allows a community to guide
growth to the most appropriate areas within a parcel of land in order to minimize negative impacts to the environment and preserve community character.
The goal is to protect at least 50% of the parcel in perpetuity as meaningful open space, with no cost to the community.
Conservation Development Manual (pdf)
Land Conservation Financing, published by The Conservation Fund, provides a comprehensive overview of successful land conservation programs along with detailed case studies from across the United States. This 223-page book presents important new information on state-of-the-art approaches to financing land conservation. It showcases
state programs and looks at key local land protection efforts by examining model programs in many areas across the country. Download an order form (PDF).
Statewide Organizations
RI Chapter of the Sierra Club
RI Chapter of the Nature Conservancy
RI Department of Environmental Management
SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT
RI Department of Education Guidelines For School Construction Aid
Following a recommendation of the Governor's Growth Planning Council, the Rhode Island Department of Education amended its school siting guidelines in 2002 for communities that wish to implement smart growth solutions. The guidelines encourage the renovation
of existing facilities where feasible and the siting of new schools away from remote locations and closer to neighborhoods where more children can walk. The revised guidelines (August, 2005) also remove “minimum acreage standards” that may have caused some municipalities to overlook urban or town center locations in favor
of more sprawling, auto-dependent sites, near the edge of communities where larger, undeveloped land often exists.
Download the RIDE School Construction Aid Guidelines
These policies also compliment a new federal program to invest $612 million over five years throughout the U.S. to improve the safety of children walking or bicycling to school. The Safe Routes to School Program, approved August 10, 2005 as part of the far-reaching federal transportation spending package, will provide 90% federal funding for projects such as sidewalk improvements, traffic calming and off-street bicycle facilities in the vicinity of schools.
A concise overview of resources provided by the Planning Commissioner's Journal
Schools are an important community asset, and represent one of the largest capital outlays many local governments make. Decisions about school construction and renovation have profound implications for towns, cities, and counties nationwide. Schools can also be a major contributor to sprawl. A look at trends and opportunities, impacts schools have, and the positive role
planners and planning commissioners can play..
Click here to review
Special Issue on Schools and Planning
"Creating more neighborhood schools is one of the most important
avenues for advancing quality of life ... It makes sense from a learning standpoint, an economic standpoint, and it makes sense if you want to have schools that are part of a community's fabric as opposed to part of its sprawl."
Those words by South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford reflect the growing challenge facing both planners and school officials: how to make today's schools an integral part of the community.
The just published Fall issue of the Planning Commissioners Journal (PCJ) focuses on schools and planning. It provides an
excellent introduction to some of the issues facing citizens interested in ensuring that the siting and design of schools advances both smart growth and educational goals.
Safe Routes to School Thirty years ago, 66 percent of all children
walked to school. Today, only 13 percent of American children walk or bike to
school. This toolkit, published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will help you develop a plan with your school, community,
and local government to create a healthy lifestyle for children and a safer,
cleaner environment for everyone.
Find
out more.
Smart Growth Schools Power Point Presentation with Talking Points
Presented by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Smart Growth America and funded by the Environmental Protection Agency. Creating “smart growth schools” may seem a side issue, a mere distraction as educators struggle with national testing standards and budget cuts. In fact, smart growth schools can help
school districts improve student performance and cut costs. School districts looking to create innovative, quality schools should recognize that they have a new ally in the smart growth movement. The movement includes historic preservationists, environmentalists, public officials, urban planners, public health officials, developers and citizen advocates for more livable communities, all of whom share the desire of many
educators to create small, community-based quality schools. Smart Growth Scools Power Point with talking points:
Schools as Centers of Community: A Citizens Guide for Planning & Design
In the summer of 1998, the U.S. Department of Education organized a small symposium of educators, architects, planners and other professionals involved in the planning and design of the physical
environments that support learning. The outcome of the symposium was a forum on the design of Schools as Centers of Community held in Washington D.C. in October, 1998. The Citizen’s Guide for planning Schools as Centers of Community was developed to communicate
some ideas generated by the forum. These ideas have been established in a set of national Design Principles. In addition to the U.S. Department of Education, these design principles have been
subsequently endorsed by the Council for Educational Facilities Planners International; the American Institute of Architects; the American Association of School Administrators; and the Construction Managers Association of America.
The Citizen’s Guide outlines a practical introduction to a process for engaging all educational
stakeholders in the process of planning schools that more adequately address the needs of the whole
learning community.
Download PDF
Historic Neighborhood Schools in the Age of Sprawl: Why Johnny Can't Walk to School
An important part of America - the small school you could walk to in a neighborhood where you knew your neighbors — is disappearing. It ’s being
replaced by mega-school sprawl — giant educational facilities in remote, middle-of-nowhere locations that no child can walk to. Across the country, parents
and teachers are clamoring for smaller, community-centered schools on the basis that they are better for kids and better or learning.
This report, published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, looks at how some public policies are contributing to these problems and at what citizens and public officials are doing to solve them. It ends with an Agenda for Change — recommendations for public policy reforms.
Learn More
Statewide Organizations
RI Department of Education
MODEL ORDINANCES
Mixed-Use Village Style Development
Burrillville's "Village Planned Development" ordinance
A Village Planned Development (VPD) is a Land Development Project developed by a single owner or a group of owners
that is fully planned and developed as a comprehensive site. Village Planned Developments allow the developer greater flexibility in terms of the arrangement of buildings on the
land while providing the Town with a method of directing higher density growth towards existing village areas and providing a continuation of pedestrian
circulation within those areas.
The intent of this ordinance is to encourage development that promotes a harmonious variety of uses within a concentrated area thereby providing developers with development options not
ordinarily allowed through conventional zoning. The mix and orientation of the allowed uses in the VPD shall be compatible within the proposed development and
compliment adjacent village area neighborhoods.
Open Space Protection through Higher Density Residential
Cumberland Residential Cluster Overlay
Commercial Design Review Regulation
First ordinance in New England to regulate "formula" chain businesses as a way to protect town character
Bristol, RI - In an effort to preserve Bristol's historic character, the Town Council adopted regulations that will force chain stores and franchises to meet a
strict set of guidelines before they can open branches downtown. By doing so, the town became the first community in New England and one of a handful across the country to clamp down on so-called formula businesses --
Banana Republic, Starbucks and similar companies that are required by contract to have standardized menus, decor, uniforms and other features.
Tiverton ordinance establishing Design Review regulations
Tiverton ordinance restricting Big Box retail
Smart Growth Zoning Codes: A Resource Guide from The Local Government Commission will help planners design a zoning code that encourages the
construction of walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods and the revitalization of existing places. Includes a CD-ROM with additional resources.
Find
out more.
Getting to Smart Growth II: 100 More Policies for Implementation
is the new primer from the Smart Growth
Network and the International City/County Management Association that provides states and communities with policy options that can be mixed and matched to fit local circumstances, visions, and values; and highlights steps that the private sector can take to encourage more livable communities.
Download
a copy now (2.1mb).
Order
a print copy.
Getting to Smart Growth: 100 Policies for Implementation
This primer from the Smart Growth Network and International City/County Management
Association (ICMA) serves as a roadmap for states and communities that have recognized the need
for smart growth, but are unclear on how to achieve it.
Download
a copy now (2.1mb).
Order a print copy.
CASE STUDIES
Adaptive Re-use of the Palisades Mill Complex in Peacedale, RI
The Town of South Kingstown hired the Newport Collaborative Architects (NCA) to undertake a reuse analysis of the historic Peace Dale Manufacturing
Company complex (now the Palisades Mill) in the village of Peace Dale, Rhode Island. The town is taking a proactive role in the planning for a major
redevelopment in the mill complex. As part of the reuse analysis, NCA prepared a vision statement and development guidelines that were accepted by the
Palisades Mill Reuse Committee.
Read the Study (pdf)
Central Newport Urban Design Draft Plan
Taylor & Partners provided a series of coordinated "before and after images" to demonstrate proposed design enhancements for improving downtown Newport
Review the Plan (pdf)
Portsmouth Town Center Plan
The Portsmouth Economic Development Committee and the Newport County Chamber of Commerce in June, 2003 commissioned Taylor & Partners' Town Center Team to prepare a preliminary land-use, design
and traffic plan in support of the creation of a district for the Town of Portsmouth, RI. The implicit goal of this project from the outset was to create a town center that met the community's needs
and desires and to create economic opportunities for business to broaden Portsmouth's tax base. This report describes the plan and the process that led to its creation.
Read the Study (pdf)
Downcity Providence
Cornish Associates of Providence has a number of redevelopment projects underway throughout Downcity Providence successfully integrating new and exciting uses with Providence's historic urban fabric to create a dynamic and diverse downtown.
Cornish Associates
Rising Sun Mills - Providence
Once the site of high-churning spindles that created the nation's largest supply of worsted wool, the spirit of high production remains today with the dynamic mixed-use renovation of Rising Sun Mills. The project ushers in a new definition of community lifestyle, blending highly efficient, smartly designed office space with the finest loft-style living options offered in Rhode Island today.
Rising Sun Mills
Royal Mills - West Warwick
Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, Inc. has site control of the Royal and Ace Dye Mills site, located at the crossroads of Routes 115 and 33 in the in the Pawtuxet Valley town of West Warwick in Rhode Island. The development programs calls for the renovation of the 500,000 square foot site, once a high production textile mill located 4 miles from the heart of Providence's downtown. Plans include conversion of the complex into market-rate housing, including a mix of apartment homes and condominiums. In addition, the grounds will be developed for public use, facilitating the extension of West Warwick's Riverwalk through the site.
.
Royal Mills
Riverfront Lofts - Pawtucket
More than just a place to live and work, Riverfront Lofts is a community which supports creative artists. Where all the work you create and sell is exempt from state income and sales tax. Where daily interactions with fellow artists keeps your imagination sharp. Where gallery spaces give you places to show and sell your work.
Riverfront Lofts
Monohasset Mills - Providence
Located in a historic mill complex on the Woonasquatucket National Heritage River. Designed by noted architect James Bucklin and built in 1866. Home of former Armington & Sims Mfg., builders of engines for Thomas Edison. MMP Is a development concept with a strong commitment to the surrounding community, providing a mix of affordable and market rate units for artists.
Monohasset Mills
Other Organizations
There are a number of state, regional and national organizations that are smart growth friendly and/or are engaged in work that you may find interesting if you're reading this.
Statewide:
Audubon Society of Rhode Island
LISC - Rhode Island
Housing Network of Rhode Island
Preserve Rhode Island
RI Association of Conservation Commissions
RI Chapter of the American Planning Association
RI Chapter of the Sierra Club
RI Economic Development Corporation
RI Economic Policy Council
RI Department of Environmental Management
RI Historic Preservation & Heritage Commission
RI Housing & Mortgage Finance Corporation
RI Statewide Planning Program
RI Public Transit Authority
RI Public Expenditure Council
Save the Bay
URI Coastal Resources Center
URI Sustainable Communities Initiative
Regional:
John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission
Washington County Regional Planning Council
National:
American Farmland Trust
Growth Management Leadership Alliance
John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission
Land Trust Alliance
National Association of Realtors Smart Growth Page
National Association of Home Builders Smart Growth Page
U.S. EPA Smart Growth Page
National Governors' Associatione
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POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS: