Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing And Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
South Kingstown council approves $800,000 in pre-development work for Wakefield and Oliver Watson sites; South Road demo deferred
Summary
The South Kingstown Town Council approved immediate pre-development work on the Wakefield Elementary and Oliver Watson properties and a townwide survey/engineering package, authorizing up to $800,000 in conveyance-tax funds while deferring town-funded demolition of South Road School pending grant pursuit.
The South Kingstown Town Council voted Oct. 27 to approve a pre-development work plan for three town-owned properties, authorizing immediate work at Wakefield Elementary and the Oliver Watson parcel and funding sitewide survey and engineering.
Council members said Wakefield Elementary has deteriorated to the point of public-safety and aesthetic concern and that removing the structure will make the parcel ready for its next use. The approved work plan identifies roughly $600,000 for Wakefield demolition, $50,000 for Oliver Watson parcel preparation and $150,000 for survey and engineering covering all three sites, for a total immediate ask of about $800,000.
To pay those costs the council approved reallocating conveyance-tax receipts: $450,000 from the town’s funds already designated for affordable housing and up to $350,000 from the town’s open-space conveyance receipts (the motion limited the open-space portion to a maximum of $350,000). Council members emphasized the transfer is a council policy decision and can be revisited; staff also described options to replenish the open-space account through future conveyance distributions or budget actions.
Councilors directed staff to pursue state grant funding for the larger South Road School demolition and not to commit town capital for that demolition now. Staff said application windows for several state housing infrastructure and municipal-technical assistance grants are imminent; planning staff and the manager said they will seek those grants and report back in several months. If grant funding does not materialize the council retains authority to revisit using town funds for South Road.
Council discussion also covered the Oliver Watson parcel. Members supported subdividing and selling the house lot and using proceeds, together with existing Oliver Watson–related funding, to support housing that prioritizes elderly residents consistent with historical donor intent. Staff said the town holds roughly $300,000 in a South Road–related fund and identified roughly $1.4 million in older open-space–tagged conveyance receipts that could be repurposed by council policy.
The motion passed on a voice vote after extended public and staff discussion; there was no roll-call tally recorded in the meeting minutes. The council instructed staff to return with detailed RFP/RFQ language, updated cost estimates and grant-application materials and to keep the public informed through the town website.
Provenance: Discussion and vote on the work plan are recorded in the council transcript beginning at 01:08:24 and concluding at 02:11:20 (topic introduction and final vote on the funding allocations).
