Westerly - State of Rhode Island: Division of Planning

The Westerly Comprehensive Plan3.1.1 Existing Land UseCurrent land use in Westerly is illustrated in Figure 3-1 and summarized in the Table 3-1 below.Table 3-1Land UseExisting Land UseAgriculture—includes actively farmed land (cropland, pastures, and orchards).About 248 acres of farmland is being conserved through acquisition ofdevelopment rights or conservation easementsCommercial-Mixed Use—includes all commercial uses consisting of retail,services and professional uses, and areas with both commercial and residentialuses such as the downtown area and part of Watch HillCommunity Facilities—includes schools, churches, government buildings,community safety facilities, hospitals, airport, rail yard, roads, othertransportation uses, public utilities, and the transfer stationAcresPercentof total2,046 10.3%728 3.7%2,144 10.7%Industrial—includes manufacturing and quarrying operations 436 2.2%Conservation, Recreation, and Open Space—includes golf courses,marinas, beaches, parks and other recreation, cemeteries, and vacant land thatis protected from development by conservation easements or other permanentprotection4,112 20.6%Residential—includes all residential uses 7,193 36.0%Vacant—most of this land is currently forested; it includes land that ispotentially developable and land that would be difficult to develop such aswetlands, inland sandy soils, and rock outcrops2,385 11.9%Water—includes inland fresh water and salt ponds; the Pawcatuck River andLittle Narragansett Bay are not included923 4.6%3.1.2 State Land Use PolicyIn April 2006, the Rhode Island Department of Administration completed a statewide land use plantitled Land Use 2025. The goal of Land Use 2025 is to eliminate sprawl and protect the naturalresources of the state. The state plan encourages an urban/rural model that concentrates newdevelopment into established areas and some rural centers. It identifies urban service boundarieswithin which are areas that either provide public sewer and water, or are planned to do so in the nearfuture, and where higher density and infill development might be considered. The state planencourages the conservation of natural resources through cluster development, conservationdevelopment, or transfer of development rights in areas that have development potential.peter j. smith & company, inc. 18