Land Use 2025 - RhodeMap RI

Centers and Corridors ScenarioThe Centers and Corridors Scenario would utilize 83,000 acres of undeveloped land, or13 percent of the State’s land area to meet the State’s future growth needs through 2025.By 2025, 41 percent of the State would be developed, and 59 percent undeveloped.Approximately 40 percent of this scenario’s land is classified for higher intensitydevelopment potential, but, as with the Trend Scenario, the bulk (~80 percent) of theCenters & Corridors Scenario’s land demand is anticipated to be in the lower intensitycategories. As with the Trend, this mismatch could be met by underutilization of highercapacity land, or by impacting upon conservation land, or both. This scenario would bemore efficient than the Trend, using 24 percent less land.Infill ScenarioThe Infill Scenario anticipates development of only 29,000 acres, or 4.5 percent of theState’s land area to meet the State’s growth needs through 2025. In 2025, the Statewould be 33 percent developed, and 67 percent undeveloped under this scenario.Approximately 55 percent of this scenario’s land is classified as potentially suited forhigher intensity development. The Infill Scenario does provide sufficient quantities ofland to satisfy estimated needs for different intensity-level development. This scenariowould make the most efficient use of land, accommodating the State’s needs while using73 percent less land than forecasted under the Trend option.Composite ScenarioThe Composite Scenario would use an estimated 51,000 acres, or 8 percent of the State’sland area, to meet growth needs through 2025. In 2025, the State would be 37 percentdeveloped, and 63 percent undeveloped under this alternative. Approximately 52 percentof this scenario’s land is classified as potentially suited for higher intensity development.Like the Infill Scenario, the Composite Scenario provides a good match between thequantities of land estimated to be needed for different intensity-level developments;surplus land would exist in all categories. The Composite Scenario would provide 53percent more efficient land utilization than the Trend alternative.Table 121-04(10) summarizes aspects of the quantitative comparison of the fouralternative scenarios. Both the Trend and Centers and Corridors scenarios would requiresubstantially more land to satisfy the State’s growth requirements than either the Infill orthe Composite scenarios. The Trend Scenario would require more than twice the landthan either the Composite or Infill scenario. The Infill and Composite scenarios wouldrequire only 5 percent or 8 percent (respectively) of the State’s land area to satisfy growthneeds through 2025. The Trend Scenario and the Centers and Corridors Scenario aresignificantly less effective than the other two scenarios in matching available landcapability with estimated land needs.4-24Land Use 2025: Rhode Island State Land Use Policies and Plan (April 2006)