Little Compton council advances talks with Church Community Housing on senior units; solicitor to draft MOU for financial meeting

The Little Compton Town Council voted to authorize the town solicitor to draft a memorandum of understanding and wording for an article for the upcoming town financial meeting to continue negotiations with Church Community Housing over redevelopment of the former firehouse into affordable senior housing and community space.

Town staff presented information the council said showed the project may be feasible without major capital expense to taxpayers. Victoria (staff member) said consultants including Bill Smith, and technicians Chris Osborne, Bob Johnson (Effluential Technology) and David Wardell (Sukana Plumbing) examined the site and concluded the on-site wastewater treatment system (OWTS) and the well and storage tanks likely have capacity for the proposed change of use. Bill Smith’s summary, presented to the council, reported the septic system was originally designed for 7,500 gallons per day while current measured usage for the school and municipal buildings is about 1,200–1,500 gallons per day.

The concept under discussion would create affordable senior units (55 and over) restricted to households at or below 80% of area median income for the life of the unit through a 99‑year restriction, town staff said. Ownership options discussed include Church Community Housing owning and operating rental units under a long lease or units sold as condominiums; funding would likely combine federal, state, historic-adaptive-reuse and senior housing sources, the council was told.

Council members and residents raised operational concerns: Jennifer Flather asked about parking; the council said the police chief has requested a Rhode Island Department of Transportation parking assessment for Pikes Peak and the commons and results are pending. A council member cautioned that if Church Community Housing administers the residential portion the town would not retain operational control of those units; town officials said specific ownership and control details would be hammered out in the MOU and during further review.

Councilors said if the town chooses not to proceed this plan there remain other options, including the town funding a full rehabilitation of the buildings itself. The council noted that Church Community Housing has indicated it would cover most construction costs (sprinklers, elevator, fire mitigation) so the town would avoid a large bond or tax increase if the project proceeds as proposed.

The council asked that a community advisory committee be created to work with Church Community Housing, their architect and engineers if negotiations proceed. The motion to authorize the solicitor to prepare MOU wording and an article for the financial meeting passed unanimously.

Next steps include the solicitor drafting the MOU language, scheduling public discussion at upcoming meetings and placing the article on the town financial meeting agenda for voter consideration.