Council schedules workshop on student‑occupancy ordinance after public concerns

The Narragansett Town Council voted to hold a joint workshop with the planning board on Monday, Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m. to address public questions about ordinance 7.23 governing student‑occupied dwellings in R10/R10A/R20 zones.

Council members said the session is informational and intended to give the public and the planning board an opportunity to ask procedural and enforcement questions without precluding later public hearings. The meeting was scheduled after several speakers during open forum raised questions about the town’s handling of the so‑called "3‑student" rule and about legal materials distributed with the planning board packet. Carl Valenstein asked the council to provide balanced legal perspectives after noting the packet included an ACLU letter arguing the ordinance conflicts with recent Rhode Island law; he said the town should also include opinions from lawyers who consider the statute still valid.

Several members of the public supported enforcement of the local three‑student limit; others flagged housing affordability, the burden of per‑unit registration fees for owners of long‑term multiunit buildings, and the strain on sewer infrastructure. The council clarified that its existing ordinance already codifies the state provision "1 per bedroom up to 5" and said the Sept. 8 workshop would focus on enforcement questions, related court cases and planning board concerns. The council encouraged residents to email questions in advance and said more workshops or hearings could follow.

Next steps: the council will meet with the planning board on Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m.; staff will accept emailed questions in advance and will include the ACLU correspondence in materials because it raised issues the council wants addressed. Any legislative changes would return to public hearing and follow standard processes.