Westerly - State of Rhode Island: Division of Planning

The Westerly Comprehensive Planactions related to stormwater and sediment control and an action regarding use of renewable energy,all of which will help protect the environment.An important plan recommendation regarding recreation is construction of a safe bike path that is aloop along Atlantic Avenue to Weekapaug Road to Shore Road, west to Crandall Avenue and backto Atlantic Avenue. The bike path route is illustrated in Figure 4-1. This loop is envisioned as thefirst phase of a larger Westerly Bike Trail System with additional parts of the system, such as one inWatch Hill, to be designed in future years. Two of the town’s existing golf courses (WeekapaugGolf Club and Shelter Harbor Golf Club) are protected by conservation easements and will remainin the recreational land use category. The Misquamicut Club is not formally protected by easementsbut is expected to remain as a golf course for the foreseeable future. The Winnapaug Golf Club, theonly public golf course in Westerly, is currently zoned commercial recreation which appropriatelyaccommodates its current use.4.4.6 Special DistrictsSalt Ponds Overlay District: The Plan calls for adoption of the salt ponds overlay district specifiedby the CRMC Special Area Management Plan (SAMP). The SAMP is designed to protect the qualityof water in the ponds which provide important habitat for wildlife and are key natural features ofWesterly’s shoreline. The SAMP specifies maximum density, setbacks, buffers, requirements fornitrogen-reducing technologies for onsite wastewater treatment, and CRMC participation at an earlystage of municipal land-use regulatory review. The area included within the Salt Ponds SAMP isillustrated in Figure 4-1.River Corridor Overlay District: The Plan calls for development of a river corridor overlay districtwithin an updated zoning ordinance. Westerly needs a special river corridor overlay zoning districtbecause the Pawcatuck River is vital to the continuing prosperity of the town. First, the river isconnected to and provides water to the underground aquifer that is the primary source of watersupply for Westerly. Second, land fronting on and near the Pawcatuck River in the downtown areawill have an important role in continuing renovation and revitalization in Westerly. Third, the riverprovides important recreational opportunities for residents and tourists and affects the quality ofhabitat for fish and shellfish and other wildlife in the river and in Little Narragansett Bay.The proposed river corridor overlay district (illustrated in Figure 4-1) is composed of three parts:• Area for protection of drinking water: The upstream section of the proposed districtextends along the river from the Westerly-Charlestown border to the Stillman AvenueBridge in Westerly. The primary purpose of zoning in this section is to protect Westerly’swater supply. Zoning language for this district should be similar to or identical with aquiferprotection areas. Industrial and commercial activities such as gas stations or industrialactivity that uses chemicals that might get into the river in the case of a spill should not beallowed within a certain distance of the river’s edge. The width of the overlay district in thisarea will be determined after appropriate topographical and geologic studies to delineateareas of overland and underground flow of water to the river.• Area where redevelopment is encouraged for purposes of economic development: Themiddle section of the river in Westerly’s downtown area, from the Stillman Avenue Bridge toMargin Street, is an area for potential redevelopment including enhanced use and access tothe river. Development projects tied to enhanced use and access to the river are encouraged.peter j. smith & company, inc. 60