Council schedules first public hearing on 14 proposed zoning amendments after residents urge pause

The Narragansett Town Council scheduled a May 5 public hearing to begin review of 14 proposed amendments to Appendix A (zoning) that were referred to the Planning Board on March 3, the council announced at its April 7 meeting.

The referral triggered a 65-day public-hearing scheduling requirement under Rhode Island law that the council said it was meeting. Councilors clarified the hearing will open May 5 and that the council can continue hearings as needed; each amendment can be considered and voted on individually after the Planning Board's recommendations are reviewed.

Resident opposition and concerns: Dozens of residents who addressed the council during open forum urged the council to withdraw or substantially revise the package before a hearing. Gail Scowcroft, 19 Prospect Ave., said the proposals would "gut our zoning laws," allow duplexes and larger homes on small lots, push buildings to within 5 feet of neighboring houses and eliminate parking regulations. She asked the council to "listen to" the Planning Board's recommendations and stop what she called an "egregious train" of changes.

Other residents highlighted infrastructure and character impacts: speakers cited capacity limits in the North End wastewater system, the town's dependence on water purchases from neighboring communities, and the prospect of thousands more students and renters if student-occupancy limits are raised from three to five. Roger Gaddoz and Carolyn Petrucelli said the package represents a broad, wholesale rewrite that could change residential neighborhoods and favor investors.

Why it matters: The package includes proposals that would alter floor-area-ratio rules, setback requirements, allowable building heights, and rules on unrelated occupants and student limits in dwellings. Supporters of the Planning Board cautioned the changes could increase housing density and strain municipal services; opponents said they would alter the town's character and make affordable housing less attainable.

Process notes and next steps: The council confirmed each of the 14 items will be discussed in hearings; councilors and the town solicitor noted the public hearing process can span multiple meetings. Council President Menzies said the May 5 hearing is the start of the public process and reiterated that the Planning Board's recommendations will be considered. He encouraged residents to participate during the scheduled hearings.

Council action: The council voted to schedule the May 5 public hearing on the zoning amendments (motion carried 4-0). The council earlier referred the package to the Planning Board for review on March 3; the Planning Board held special sessions to analyze the proposals and provided public feedback.