DEM offers some interesting planning guides
To date, one-fifth of Rhode Island's land area has been protected for future generations to enjoy. Approximately three-fifths of our State is undeveloped and unprotected. Many of our important farms, drinking water supplies and habitats are on lands that can be developed, placing critical resources at risk.
While in the past unplanned growth has negatively impacted
many of our natural areas, the goals of growing our economy and protecting our
environment are not mutually exclusive.
Development of villages leads to a "win-win" scenario. Villages help communities accommodate the growth needed to prosper without degrading quality of life or natural resources. Village development is very beneficial to the local tax base and helps to protect our environment by:
guiding
growth away from our farms, forests and habitat;
- protecting water quality by reducing impervious cover;
- reducing greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging walking, biking and mass transportation;
- decreasing the land needed to support new housing and businesses.
Transfer of development rights (TDR) is an innovative way to
direct growth away from lands that communities want to preserve to locations
well suited to support development. TDR is a voluntary market-based land use
tool that allows a property owner in a "preservation area" to sell
their property's development rights in exchange for a permanent conservation
easement that allows the land to stay undeveloped in perpetuity. In turn, a
property owner in a "growth area" can buy those rights to build at
densities higher than allowed under the current zoning.
Developers are willing to purchase development rights in preservation areas that are desirable to preserve to get bonus density where the community wants more growth. Therefore, new development can help pay for the preservation of meaningful open space. While there are over 200 successful TDR programs across the country, TDR historically has not been successful in New England.
Developers are willing to purchase development rights in preservation areas that are desirable to preserve to get bonus density where the community wants more growth. Therefore, new development can help pay for the preservation of meaningful open space. While there are over 200 successful TDR programs across the country, TDR historically has not been successful in New England.
The new DEM TDR guidance makes important changes to
customize the approach to enable it to work effectively in Rhode Island.
Moreover, there are market trends and fiscal benefits to communities that
support the success of TDR in Rhode Island.
Through villages and the use of transfer of development rights, local officials and developers can work together to guide and promote growth where it is most suitable. This guidance was supported by the Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program with funding provided by the US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.
Both documents are available online on DEM's website at dem.ri.gov at the following links:
www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/suswshed/pdfs/vilgyde.pdf
www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/suswshed/pdfs/devright.pdf
Through villages and the use of transfer of development rights, local officials and developers can work together to guide and promote growth where it is most suitable. This guidance was supported by the Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program with funding provided by the US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.
Both documents are available online on DEM's website at dem.ri.gov at the following links:
www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/suswshed/pdfs/vilgyde.pdf
www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/suswshed/pdfs/devright.pdf
