Attachments

20241017-151450-31b-n-WARREN_COMP_PLAN_08072025_DRAFT.pdf

Worked on arduously for the last few years, especially, and highly anticipated by many interested parties in the community, the revised Warren Comprehensive Plan was the central topic of the October Council meeting held Tuesday night, Oct. 8, in the Town Hall Chamber.

There was an initial expectation of a potential vote to approve the draft as submitted, however with the absence of Council President John Hanley, who missed the proceedings due to a work commitment, and an error on the agenda the matter was moved to a future forum date. It will most likely be back on the docket for the body's November 12 meeting.

The public hearing as advertised for the meeting did still occur. Residents spoke both against and in favor of the draft, which was last updated some 20 years ago and has been adjusted over the previous two years.

Out-going Town Planner Herb Durfee, who the week prior had left his post in town to take over the corresponding role in neighboring Barrington, along with advisor Alison Ring led the audience through a presentation on the revised document.

Ring noted the amended version was the fruit of over two years of dedicated effort by the Warren Planning Board. She said it required such a substantial investment of time because the new plan necessitated basically a "complete rewrite" of the previous version due to changes in state law and present day standards for such things as the environment, housing and transportation.

Said Ring, the revised plan "addresses current and anticipated future needs of the community," that it's in practice a
land use planning and policy document and that it provides "a vision for future."

The so-called "major themes" of the revision focused on: Resiliency and "The Market to Metacom Plan," Affordable Housing, Historic Preservation, Transportation — Parking and Alternatives, Economic Development Focus Areas - Working Waterfront, Parker Mill.

The essential "elements" of the updated plan were as follows: Land Use, Housing, Economic Development, Cultural & Historic Resources, Natural Resources, Natural Hazards & Climate, Change, Recreation and Open Space, Transportation, Public Services and Facilities and Implementation Plan.

Among the public commentators was Planning Board chair Fred Massie, who called the two-year journey to completion a "long strange trip, but it was done the right way...done with transparency."

He continued, "It's clearly a plan that reflects thoughtful care and concern of the quality of life for the town of Warren not only for today, but for future generations."

He added, the revised comp plan is "fundamental to the protection of our town to the forces who would rather help themselves than for the betterment of the town...This plan is the beginning that we can use as a springboard to protect the town."

On the hot-button issue of low income housing, Massie said the plan is a blueprint of how to manage future construction "within the construct of what Warren residents want."

He concluded, the plan sets forth "how we meet the needs of people of Warren and our visitors in the best possible way."

Those who had issues with the draft plan centered their concerns on the removal of the word "voluntary" from the requirements made on residents who live in designated historic locations. The main thrust of the opposition was that any necessary maintenance or improvements made to structures might become too costly, that insurance would increase and people could potentially be forced out from their dwellings of places of business.

Davison Bolster, chair of the Warren Historic Commission, cited statistics to counter the criticisms. He said it's been 11 years since a review of exterior alterations within district have been requirement and "negative predications have not come true."

He continued, to date the Commission has fielded 325 work applications and 321 approved. Of those, 78 projects took advantage of the historic tax credit program.

Councilor Keri Cronin called the change "semantics," adding, "removing the word voluntary doesn't change the way the district has operated or will operate or the ability to live in your home as you do." She saw the amended language not as detriment, but an "opportunity for more funding, more opportunity for greater benefits."

On the matter of insurance, Council Vice President Steve Calenda, who chaired the October 8 meeting in Hanley's stead, said it's accepted that "historical homes are more expensive to insure" because the "cost of materials and building codes."

As mentioned, the body took no action on the plan during the session. And after a brief discussion on potentially holding a special meeting to take a vote, it was determined due to calendar conflicts the matter would likely be taken up at the Council's next regularly scheduled monthly forum set for the second week of November.

In a related move, the Council did give initial approval to several recommended updates to Chapter 15 of the Charter, "PLANNING." The changes require a second hearing and vote before the legislation becomes law.

Among the key changes were seating seven full members to the Planning Board with two alternate members instead of the existing nine full members. And in case of a vacancy occurring during a member's term, the Council "shall make an appointment to fill the unexpired" remaining time.