EDITOR'S NOTE: previously covered in Progressive Charlestown, here.
PROVIDENCE — A bill (pdf) that strips cities and towns from enacting setbacks near wetlands and septic systems is again creating a rift.
Environmentalists see the legislation as a threat to drinking-water supplies and believe it opens the door for new construction in sensitive habitats, particularly in coastal areas and other wetlands.
PROVIDENCE — A bill (pdf) that strips cities and towns from enacting setbacks near wetlands and septic systems is again creating a rift.
Environmentalists see the legislation as a threat to drinking-water supplies and believe it opens the door for new construction in sensitive habitats, particularly in coastal areas and other wetlands.
Proponents
say the bill gives developers uniform guidelines for building across Rhode
Island.
Sen. Stephen Archambault, D-Smithfield, consistently challenged opponents of the bill during a March 13 hearing. “We want to take away the onerous hurdles that put too many regulations on our state,” he said.
Paul
Roselli of the Burrillville Land Trust spoke againgt the legislation, saying
the bill is a reprise of the “Dry Lands” bills put forth by the construction
industry in 2011 and 2012. Legislation last year sought to include slopes and
wetlands in determining buildable lot sizes. Both efforts
failed to get out of committee.
“I
feel like I’m in a movie and the film is ‘Groundhog Day,’” Roselli said.
Sen.
Susan Sosnowski, D-Charlestown, chair of the Senate Committee on the
Environment and Natural Resources, bristled at the comparison. “It’s not a dry
lands bill,” she said emphatically.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Sue Sosnowski’s district does not include any part of Charlestown. It’s largely centered on South Kingstown.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Sue Sosnowski’s district does not include any part of Charlestown. It’s largely centered on South Kingstown.
Opponents
of the most recent bill repeatedly described the drawback of a
“one-size-fits-all” approach that ignores the state’s varied topography and
types of soil.
Thomas
Gentz, president of the Charlestown Town Council, noted that his council voted
in opposition to the legislation Monday night. Gentz said the town fears the
legislation would threaten saltwater ponds protections and threaten tourism.
“If you take away our town’s ability to do as we see fit, you’ll be taking away
our economic development,” he said.
Gary
Ezovsky of the U.S. Small Business Administration said consistent state
standards would speed up the construction process. “It will help make Rhode
Island a better place to do business,” he said
Sosnowski
favored the bill, saying that existing state laws are likely outdated.
“Sometimes we have to change with the times,” she said.
The
bill requires a two-year review of existing septic and wetland setback
regulations before creating statewide standards that would be enforced by the
state Department of Environmental Management (DEM).
A
similar bill (pdf) in the House has yet to be
heard in committee. The Senate bill was held for further study by the committee
until a hearing at a later date.