Westerly - State of Rhode Island: Division of Planning
Westerly - State of Rhode Island: Division of Planning
Westerly - State of Rhode Island: Division of Planning
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Appendix I – Inventory1.0 Existing Land Use and ZoningLand is a limited and precious resource. Land use planning and regulations seek to find anappropriate balance among the rights <strong>of</strong> property owners, their neighbors and protection <strong>of</strong> thisvaluable resource. Land use planning and regulations determine how a community will look, whatuses will be allowed and how those uses will be arranged to best meet the needs <strong>of</strong> the community.This chapter examines the physical characteristics <strong>of</strong> the land in <strong>Westerly</strong>, how the land is currentlybeing used, and the environmental qualities and constraints affecting the land. The analysis <strong>of</strong>existing conditions forms the basis for the future land use plan for the community, the goal <strong>of</strong> whichis to strike the appropriate balance between conservation and development.In <strong>Rhode</strong> <strong>Island</strong>, Land Use 2025: <strong>State</strong> Land Use Policies and Plan is the guiding document for land useplanning and regulations at both state and municipal levels, together with a three-prong statutoryscheme embodied in:1. <strong>Rhode</strong> <strong>Island</strong> Comprehensive <strong>Planning</strong> and Land Use Act, Chapter 45-22.2RIGL;2. <strong>Rhode</strong> <strong>Island</strong> Zoning Enabling Act <strong>of</strong> 1991, Chapter 45-24, RIGL; and3. <strong>Rhode</strong> <strong>Island</strong> Land Development and Subdivision Review Enabling Act <strong>of</strong>1992, Chapter 45-23, RIGL.Land Use 2025 seeks to maintain the distinctions between urban and rural development patternswithin the state. To that end, growth is encouraged within identified urban service boundaries and inselected centers in rural and suburban communities throughout the state. These urban service areasare characterized by having a full array <strong>of</strong> utilities, including public water and sanitary sewer systems,as well as high capacity energy and telecommunications services. Higher density development isencouraged within these areas.In addition to local regulation, land use and development in substantial areas <strong>of</strong> <strong>Westerly</strong> is alsosubject to other state regulatory authorities (e.g. <strong>Rhode</strong> <strong>Island</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> EnvironmentalManagement and Coastal Resources Management Council), as well as federal regulatory authoritiessuch as the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA).The Land Use Element for the Town <strong>of</strong> <strong>Westerly</strong> Comprehensive Plan must be consistent withLand Use 2025, the other elements <strong>of</strong> the town’s Comprehensive Plan, development in adjacentcommunities and state and federal regulatory systems.<strong>Westerly</strong>, <strong>Rhode</strong> <strong>Island</strong> 3
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