In the face of ever-increasing worries over Tiverton’s ability to support new residential development, the town council voted unanimously at its last December meeting to institute a six-month moratorium on applications for housing projects and subdivisions that exceed four residential units.

Excluded are projects designated as comprehensive permit applications — those that propose dedicating a percentage of units as affordable — which by state law cannot be blocked by a moratorium, and those projects currently beyond the preliminary application stage.

Officials said the pause will allow them to take a closer look at the impact of development on water and sewer services, infrastructure, traffic, and school enrollment — topics that invariably come up each time the planning board considers or approves new proposals.

Town administrator Chris Cotta said the moratorium is not intended to stop development. Rather, he said, it will provide some breathing room for officials to look more closely at the town’s ability to actually support residential projects in the future.

“We need to look at this comprehensively to ensure we are protecting the people in this community for many years to come,” he said.

To address questions about water capacity, a concern often mentioned by critics of new development, Cotta said a major hydrology study is about to begin, and he is involved in a subcommittee that is working closely on the issue with two water districts in town and the state’s Water Resources Board. 

Prior to the council's vote, audience members expressed their wholehearted approval for the measure,  although some suggested six months is not long enough.

North end resident Cathy Calabrese told councilors she favors a moratorium “probably for the next 20 years,” and then described how dramatically her neighborhood has changed since she moved in 43 years ago.

Susan Anderson of Main Road echoed concerns about the proposed timeline, saying it is not long enough in light of the massive research needed, particularly in the area of water capacity.

Cotta said the council opted only for six months because, even with that limited timeframe, lawsuits against the town are possible.

“Some of the developers will say we’ve impaired them and taken financial gain away from them because we’ve created a moratorium.”