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Committee reports: ordinance ideas from other island towns, energy transition meeting May 20, and outreach plans
Summary
Committee members reported outreach and ordinance research from communities including Vinalhaven and Nantucket, highlighted possible zoning tools (setbacks, vegetation buffers, flexible/cluster design), and urged broad participation in the Energy Transition Initiatives Partnership (ETIP) presentation on May 20.
Committee working groups reported recent outreach and policy research and urged members to attend upcoming energy and climate meetings.
Ordinance and inter‑community outreach
Committee member Sasha (identified in the meeting as Miss Souza) reported contacting several island communities including Nantucket and Vinalhaven/Bridgton (referred to in the transcript as Bridal Haven / Vineyard Haven exchanges) to learn mitigation and ordinance approaches. Souza summarized bullet points sent by counterparts and recommended several measures under consideration elsewhere:
- phased relocation of structures and limits on new development in the most vulnerable shoreline areas; - revised setback standards and allowances to elevate existing and redeveloped structures (the recommendation included allowing preexisting houses relief and a suggested 3‑foot elevation allowance for some existing structures); - requirements or phased requirements for applicants to submit site‑specific flood‑hazard information and future sea‑level‑rise analysis as part of development applications; - increased vegetative buffers for new construction (a target of 100 feet was discussed) and policies to discourage extensive turf in favor of native vegetation; - flexible or cluster design approaches for development to preserve open space and reduce exposure.
Souza said Bridal Haven provided a detailed 2020 sea‑level‑rise report covering economic impacts, FEMA mapping, infrastructure and citizen science; she proposed continued three‑way information sharing between New Shoreham, Nantucket and Bridal Haven.
Energy and outreach events
Committee members emphasized the May 20 presentation of Energy Transition Initiatives Partnership (ETIP) results at 4 p.m., described by one member as “arguably, the most important meeting of the year energy wise.” Members encouraged attendance to shape shared ownership priorities for the island utility district and said the ETIP presentation explains complex energy systems in accessible terms. The group also noted a virtual Rhode Island climate/energy meeting this Friday focused on energy policy.
Committee planning and next steps
Members confirmed a special meeting with the URI Coastal Institute on May 30 to discuss the possibility of designating Block Island as a climate‑response demonstration site, and agreed to retain the regular June 3 meeting for summer outreach planning. A committee member urged the group to consider allocating budget for public outreach materials such as infographics and graphic design ahead of summer events.
Ending
Members thanked colleagues who staffed Earth Day outreach tables and said they will continue cross‑jurisdictional coordination and public engagement work ahead of the Corn Neck Road public meeting and ETIP presentation.
