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Little Compton council asks solicitor, building official to draft temporary farmworker housing rules
Summary
The council voted to refer a proposal to allow temporary trailers or RVs for seasonal farmworkers to the town solicitor and building/zoning official, with a return to the council and planning board for final action.
The Little Compton Town Council voted to refer a draft proposal for temporary farmworker housing to the town solicitor and the building/zoning official and asked for a quick return to the council and then to the planning board.
The motion as stated at the meeting directed the solicitor and the building/zoning official to create a measure "to allow farmers 4 units up to no more than 9 months per year," returning first to the town council and then to the planning board. The council set a two-week turnaround for the solicitor's draft to return to the council for discussion.
Farmers and farm representatives spoke at the meeting in support of a temporary-housing allowance for seasonal workers. Skip Paul, owner of Wishing Stone Farm, told the council, "Most RVs can hold, you know, shower water and other things for 7 days," describing RVs as potentially self-contained housing that could avoid septic issues. He said he could work with the building official on details and that the three main concerns were "water, electricity, and waste disposal."
Tyler Young, who identified himself with Young Family Farms, said his operation gets much of its labor from Central Falls and Pawtucket and urged the council to "help your farmers" and avoid complicating the process. Farmers told the council they need workers in the spring planting and early summer harvest months and that flexibility for temporary units is time-sensitive.
Councilors and staff discussed that some constraints are set by the state building code and other permits, and the council directed the solicitor to consult the building official on where local zoning or the state code would constrain options. The motion the council approved included allowances for portable toilets and portable potable water and limited occupancy to no more than nine months per year.
The council recorded the referral with direction to return the solicitor's draft to the council within two weeks so the council can review the draft and, if acceptable, forward it to the planning board for final zoning- or code-related work.
