I wish to correct the misunderstanding and misinformation regarding the draft ordinance for Farm Promotion Accessory Uses and the ​work of the Little Compton Planning Board.

The planning board meets the first Tuesday of every month.

At its June 2nd meeting​, it received a request from the town council to review a proposed zoning ordinance change drafted by the town solicitor at the request of the town council. The draft ordinance would expand permitted uses for all farms (>100) in Little Compton by a special use granted by the zoning board. The planning board had many questions and voted to have a special meeting devoted to the subject. A meeting was scheduled and posted for 7 p.m. June 12th in town hall.​ At that meeting, for approximately two hours​ the board discussed the ​proposed ordinance regarding the extent of permitted uses, the ability to control activity after a special use permit was granted, ​whether the approval ​went with the title of the land, and the role of the entertainment license​. The board voted to continue the subject to its July 7th meeting and receive clarification of it’s questions.

The July meeting agenda also included a public hearing for a Commons Foundation subdivision at 209 Long H​ighway. The hearing was canceled and the planning board continued with it’s published agenda.

Regular business was conducted and the board took up the subject of Farm Promotion Accessory Uses, as listed.

The board reviewed the instructions from the town solicitor​: “ … that the town council has charged the planning board with, which is to determine whether the proposed ordinance is consistent with the Little Compton ​Comprehensive Plan​.” ​The board reread the Comp​rehensive Plan statement​, which says: "... that it is the strong desire of the town to ensure that commercial activities on farmland are of an appropriate scale and are directly related to the agricultural production or principle use of the land. The town should consider regulations that will support desired and appropriate commercial activities on farms and discourage or set limits on types of activities which may create a nuisance for surrounding residential properties or compromise the rural peaceful nature of the community."

The board additionally reviewed the Youngs' entertainment license that was approved by the ​town council.

 The following motion was drafted and ​the board voted to send ​it to the town council​: 

“That a letter be sent to the town council stating that the activities specified in the Young Family Farm application for an entertainment license are compliant with the Comprehensive Plan with the exception of weddings. We do not believe that the establishment of a special use permit that would live with the property comports with the Comprehensive Plan​."

Voting in favor: Sal Marinosci, Bob Torchia, Carter Wilkie, David Sloan and Mike Steers.

Recused: Shiela Macintosh and Ed Bowen (farm ownership conflict). Opposed: none.

A. Michael Steers

Little Compton

Steers, chairman of the Little Compton Planning Board, noted with his submission of this letter that he was writing as an individual.