T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationCity of Warwick Comprehensive PlanThe Improvement Program addresses the recommendation in the 2002 City of Warwick Comprehensive Plan tominimize traffic congestion between Warwick Avenue and the Airport property boundary by improving access toRoute 37 through the proposed Fully Relocated Airport Road under Alternative B2. 318 Also, Alternative B2addresses the T.F. Green Airport Area Economic Redevelopment Plan recommendation to provide a connectionbetween Airport Road and Route 37 to facilitate easier access to the area and alleviate traffic congestion byproviding a new direct connection and discontinuing existing Airport Road. 319 Regarding wetland mitigation,the proposed mitigation for Alternative B4 would improve resources that are listed as priority resources in theComprehensive Plan under the Open Space and Recreation element (specifically, the Three Ponds Wetlandsystem and Mill Cove). Proposed wetland mitigation sites 8 and 12, if selected as part of the proposedmitigation program, would preserve and enhance these priority sites. Refer to Chapter 6, Mitigation, Section 6.9,Wetlands and Waterways for further details.While the City of Warwick Comprehensive Plan supports the creation of a direct connection between the Airportand the WSRD, as indicated under the “Services and Facilities” element, and implementation of noiseabatement programs and land use compatibility measures, including selective rezoning and establishment ofbuffer areas, it discourages the physical expansion of the Airport beyond the current fence line. 320 TheComprehensive Plan does not currently include provisions for rezoning airport noise lands (previous andfuture acquisition areas) or residential areas surrounding the Airport to allow commercial, retail, or othercompatible (non-residential) uses. At the time of the filing of this FEIS, the City of Warwick was in the processof updating its Comprehensive Plan (discussed further below). It is assumed that the Airport-related policies ofthe Comprehensive Plan would be amended in consideration of this FEIS and the revised State Guide Plan,Airport System Plan, Element 640 as part of the Comprehensive Plan update.Warwick Comprehensive Plan UpdateIn 2009, $85,000 in funding was awarded to the City of Warwick to update the Comprehensive Plan under theStatewide Planning Program’s Planning Challenge Grant Program. 321 Planning Challenge Grants areadministered by the Statewide Planning Program and funded with Federal Highway AdministrationMetropolitan Planning funds received by the state and allocated to the Statewide Planning Program, thedesignated Metropolitan Planning Organization for Rhode Island. The purpose of the grant program is toprovide funding for statewide, regional and local planning studies leading to the implementation of the StateGuide Plan, particularly Land Use 2025 and Transportation 2030.City of Warwick Zoning OrdinanceThe City of Warwick Zoning Ordinance (Zoning Ordinance) sets forth regulations and districts of allowable landuses. The City of Warwick’s definition of land use compatibility differs from the criteria defined by FAA, whichis related specifically to noise. Instead, the City bases compatibility on underlying zoning, and consistency withthe comprehensive plan. Because the Airport is located on state-owned property, the land is not specifically318 City of Warwick Comprehensive Plan, City of Warwick Planning Commission updated 2002.319 T.F. Green Airport Area Economic Redevelopment Plan, prepared by Sasaki Associates for the City of Warwick and the Central Rhode Island DevelopmentCorporation, October 1996.320 City of Warwick Comprehensive Plan, City of Warwick Planning Commission, updated 2002.321 Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program Press Release titled “$1 Million in Funding Awarded for Regional and Local Planning Initiatives”, 2009 (accessedat www.planning.ri.gov/misc/pcgawards.pdf on February 17, 2011).Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-64 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc