[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6462631,"mediaKeyId","5798675-79589c6207d2d86c9440d24d89e472de","parentId",5798675,"title","Residents pitch grocery, greenhouse, veterans clinic and building reuses as water and infrastructure questions loom","audioSeconds",2400,"startMs",3660000,"endMs",6060000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5798675-79589c6207d2d86c9440d24d89e472de&start=3660&end=6060","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5798675-79589c6207d2d86c9440d24d89e472de/thumbnail_3660000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6462631/Hopkinton/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Residents-pitch-grocery-greenhouse-veterans-clinic-and-building-reuses-as-water-and-infrastructure-questions-loom","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462631-c2f7dcfe31cb675a46ea005bd0f32d06/orig.mp4?Expires=1771080403&Signature=N1vE1~MyQyKQyT09RZJ6YkOnZ5lNfx1K88fRaoM9eZ5uf1~Qa5uSVXhsEezhKHUqF7d~SgVfC1TMLY04pjquWe88ATdbFYbhuMKcK37GXaAOl5qCmtQ0E80Mm-zQ-CUBvdaSKGSVydTydS3zKtJVUavVuOLMzkQaGaKsctEuCj4kDOu4S9gc6XZ8D7cKRVaeOJEVHt8fD24H11MSNSWfaoUp3X9SLgvrT8-oNciNtsvHWMdOwuEECcEL0NOr7UAcpSV0TjawSPrBEN-qEUg~XaWvqsqcfysX1DDwjANeICkefcuEkyn7GmScUFd02~f7095fQZOKi14HjoLmeQaWKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hopkinton","date","2025-09-20T11:20:21Z","article","During a Hopkinton town-hall focused on economic development and smart growth, residents proposed several specific projects to support local services while also raising infrastructure constraints that could affect feasibility.

Controlled-environment agriculture: Joe Moreau and others raised the controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) greenhouse concept as a potential support for local farmers and year-round production. Moreau said the town should evaluate minimum land requirements for such projects and noted that Exeter had been stopped earlier for lack of proper ordinances. \"Think of how that could help the town and the taxes and the farmers,\" he said, recommending a minimum parcel size such as five or 10 acres as a possible starting point.

Partnerships with the University of Rhode Island were suggested repeatedly as a way to provide technical expertise and student internships, and residents urged the town to pursue such partnerships as part of business recruitment and facility reuse conversations.

Grocery store and gas station requests: Multiple residents said Hope Valley lacks basic retail services and suggested short-listing available buildings and marketing them to potential operators. Kathy Walker and others identified several Main Street properties and specific square-foot figures for existing spaces as places that might house a small-market operator similar to Charlestown Mini Super. Some attendees also asked the town to consider neighborhood gas stations in Hope Valley to reduce travel to Richmond for fuel; Sam Wilcox expressed reservations about adding a gas station and suggested such ideas can be \"a touchy subject.\"

Veterans clinic and building reuse: Residents asked whether Hope Valley Elementary School could host a veterans clinic or other community services. One attendee proposed contacting the VA about using the school as a CBOC-style clinic for the southern part of the state. The suggestion was framed as leveraging empty municipal buildings for health or social services.

Lindbergh Green water system and golf-course land: Several speakers described an ongoing water crisis affecting Lindbergh Green condominiums and nearby developments. A condo-owner representative said a 39-acre parcel that formerly included a golf course is privately owned and that the condominium developments lack sufficient land to develop their own wells. She said the privately owned water company has not been responsive and that EPA violations exist; she described efforts to form a nonprofit to acquire land and seek grant funding to address water and site reuse.

Historic-building and Main Street constraints: Sherry Desjardins, the town's zoning officer, reminded residents that building reuse is constrained by site-level feasibility such as parking, septic and sidewalk width. Using a downtown example she said, \"There's only 8 parking spots. We can't make any more parking spots there,\" and noted that some uses (for example, a larger cafe) are not feasible without infrastructure changes. Residents suggested targeted façade improvements, partnerships with vocational programs for rehab work, and grant-seeking (including private foundations) to make smaller, visible improvements that could catalyze broader Main Street revitalization.

Next steps at the meeting included cataloguing vacant properties and continuing community outreach; the commission and attendees said they would pursue grant and foundation opportunities and seek to partner with regional organizations and universities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Economic Development Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At Hopkinton's town hall, residents and officials discussed specific proposals including controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) greenhouses, grocery and gas stations for Hope Valley, a veterans clinic at the vacant Hope Valley school, and water-system problems affecting Lindbergh Green condominiums.","taxTitle","Hopkinton, Washington County, Rhode Island","taxId",79578,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6462637,"Residents discuss smart-growth ideas and concerns at Hopkinton town hall",3390,2370000,5760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5798675-79589c6207d2d86c9440d24d89e472de&start=2370&end=5760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5798675-79589c6207d2d86c9440d24d89e472de/thumbnail_2370000.jpg","/articles/6462637/Hopkinton/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Residents-discuss-smart-growth-ideas-and-concerns-at-Hopkinton-town-hall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462637-9f3e5a5ea1c717cf3b452fcf62139d18/orig.mp4?Expires=1771080403&Signature=OCQDQ4GhyO4PLLfKn6Dm1kPTkkG0gUIJF4DRUcNvcHtLsVVusKgBsQDDMfk9TRROAjsDeM8g6L46OMAgNSdPgj2CAUFnsz8AYw6ywWrMsZAgg3tGENox4ODZCM36pOB21K-3f~TI78D0fKhoDZwCB-5RSiIGYl1ioEXQVNZEC8LYR~07w6jlz2lT27Gom~BgAwkXZboXE4pUPsqi99CNVDccdk1d8cx0uQnSs3db2LI7-LPqxsmGTcTBYNv7ureI6o~T9~9ZOrHpcWI0BfReLOF7Awb0mp2gPgEz~uWtcCyv0z6Z5NLGVbo0u27EiJHYeLs7r98LEJWRy1CmdLUIjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Michelle McCray, an Economic Development Commission member and long-time Hopkinton resident, gave a layperson's overview of smart-growth planning at a town-hall meeting and invited residents to weigh in on village revitalization.

\"Smart growth is an approach to community design that connects housing, transportation, and land use to create healthy, prosperous, and resilient neighborhoods,\" McCray said, describing principles such as preserving community history, supporting existing businesses, creating pedestrian-friendly \"complete streets,\" encouraging mixed uses and compact development, and preserving rural landscapes.

McCray used regional examples and local assets to illustrate the approach, citing Hopkinton's farms, artist community, and trail network. She said Hopkinton's \"existing assets\" and preserved landscapes make the town a candidate for targeted, village-scale projects rather than large-scale commercial development.

Residents responded with a mix of support and concerns. Marjorie Allen, a lifelong resident, said affordability should be a priority: \"People can't afford to live in the town now,\" Allen said, urging planners to think about both seniors and young families when considering mixed-use housing. Betsy Dalton and other residents asked whether the town could better catalog and promote vacant main-street properties in Ashaway and Hope Valley to attract appropriate businesses.

Several speakers emphasized infrastructure limits. Jean Arthur and others called for wider sidewalks and safer crosswalks on Main Street. Sherry Desjardins, the town zoning officer, cautioned that some buildings lack the parking or septic capacity to support certain uses: in one instance she said a property could not support a \"35-seat cafe\" because \"there's only 8 parking spots. We can't make any more parking spots there.\" Residents suggested starting with small, highly visible projects to build momentum and attending Grow Smart Rhode Island events; McCray noted a Main Street conference scheduled for Oct. 25.

Sam Wilcox, president of the Richmond Town Council and attendee at the Hopkinton session, recommended promoting ecotourism tied to the Wood River and regional parks to draw visitors while supporting local businesses. Wilcox also mentioned state-level tax discussions that affect municipal budgets: he said a proposed bill to abolish the meal-and-beverage tax would reduce Richmond's budget by about $200,000, illustrating how state policy can shape local development options.

Speakers repeatedly urged the commission to focus on small, achievable projects that preserve village character while adding needed services and housing options. McCray closed by asking residents what they would like Hopkinton to become and inviting them to submit ideas to the commission.","Michelle McCray presented smart-growth principles and village-focused revitalization; attendees raised affordability, public-transportation and Main Street safety as priorities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6462639,"Hopkinton economic development commission seeks volunteers after 17-year hiatus",527,1770000,2297000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5798675-79589c6207d2d86c9440d24d89e472de&start=1770&end=2297","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5798675-79589c6207d2d86c9440d24d89e472de/thumbnail_1770000.jpg","/articles/6462639/Hopkinton/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Hopkinton-economic-development-commission-seeks-volunteers-after-17-year-hiatus","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462639-b975012b8387d295fae14805a35ca88d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771080403&Signature=FCBOab~9FJo3VjDg60bVBhECUiURBgh9iUYaqVJKzucBHL7N3ClhZYh1AbFBvh9pNOSDqg0cTBLAZ4Z0HpayvQ~sIbN8YRYOyvOtpt9~9YOlD--1Pr0CYcnmK8FQ7goyWKUPdI8saMBwoo0hhA0KAq6EhEi3CBQM2VSkmQuvBLAcrmOSkB-JysGbnIIrfzUBIPlVlwLkqIUbu3m6nzCzuPAyTyanRJZAdVy8Vra8ilOEESifAsBMCOGXPyw04fjFZ8TnFQHu4qkRmU0kiV2B5GMDCDvaZCLdNXZP46diIfFfOnC~EwhR7T6kO51cNVnD~LJ~4YiuTmOYvMGWC6yuxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Etta Zasloff, acting chair of Hopkinton's Economic Development Commission, announced at a town-hall meeting that the commission has been reconstituted after about 17 years of inactivity and is seeking volunteers to fill open seats. \"We even increased the number to 10 so we can have 10 members. We have 6 active right now, and we're looking to fill those other 4 seats,\" Zasloff said, and encouraged interested residents to complete an application for Town Council appointment.

Zasloff told about two dozen attendees that most commission applications are not yet available online and that the commission is working to change that; she noted the exception of a state-requested 250th-commission application that is already online. She emphasized the advisory nature of the Economic Development Commission, saying the panel can develop ideas but not enact policy: \"Economic development commission is strictly advisory ... we really can't do anything. We can come up with ideas, and we can help you come up with ideas.\"

The meeting included a roll call of active members and identification of vacancies across town boards and commissions. Zasloff listed openings on multiple bodies including the Economic Development Commission (four vacancies), the Affordable Housing Partnership (two vacancies), the Committee on Aging (five vacancies), the Conservation Commission (one vacancy), the Historic District Commission (three vacancies), the Juvenile Hearing Board (two vacancies), the Tax Board of Review (one vacancy), and the Zoning Board of Review (one vacancy). She said interested residents should submit applications to the town clerk for council consideration.

Jasmine Roy was identified during the meeting as the Town Council liaison to the commission; Zasloff praised the liaison's role in helping the new commission \"pull this together and do all kinds of things.\" The meeting recording and minutes were noted as being available on the town YouTube channel and through town records.

Zasloff and other speakers also encouraged broader community engagement, underscoring that Town Council and staff cannot handle all redevelopment and program work alone. Residents at the meeting repeatedly urged use of the commissions to channel ideas for small, visible projects and to pursue grant or foundation funding.

How to apply: Zasloff said applications are available at the town office (\"drop it off to Marita\") and that most forms would be moved online in the coming weeks. Specific appointment timelines and vetting procedures were not specified at the meeting.","At a town-hall meeting, Etta Zasloff, acting chair of Hopkinton's Economic Development Commission, urged residents to apply for multiple commission vacancies and described the commission as advisory to the Town Council.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents pitch grocery, greenhouse, veterans clinic and building reuses as water and infrastructure questions loom

Residents discuss smart-growth ideas and concerns at Hopkinton town hall

Hopkinton economic development commission seeks volunteers after 17-year hiatus