Committee approves ordinance to add Wanscuk parcels to local historic overlay

The City Council committee on ordinances voted to approve an ordinance to amend the city zoning code to add parcels in the Wanscuk neighborhood to the local historic overlay.

Robert Azar, deputy planning director, told the committee the proposal—sponsored by Councilman Justin Royas—was led by neighborhood residents with support from Providence Preservation and recommended by the City Planning Commission. "They felt that there was very strong support for this," Azar said, describing the petition and staff review.

Why it matters: Councilman Justin Royas said the effort began as a grassroots, neighbor-to-neighbor campaign and that residents sought local protections for the mill-era neighborhood. A Providence Preservation representative, filling in for Marissa Brown, framed the local overlay as protecting a "living museum" of mills, churches and meeting houses and urged the committee to consider the neighborhood's continuity and character when voting.

During public comment the preservation representative recounted a recent demolition that helped prompt the petition, saying the loss underscored residents' desire to have a stronger voice in demolitions and alterations. The representative said the overlay was intended to preserve the district’s historic fabric and avoid uncoordinated changes.

The committee entered the City Planning Commission letter into the record and then closed the public hearing. The motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilor Shelly Peterson and seconded by Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris; the chair called for a voice vote and announced the motion carried.

Next steps: The ordinance will proceed as approved by the committee; the chair closed the public hearing and moved on to other agenda items.

Sources: Committee presentation by Robert Azar and public comment from a Providence Preservation representative; committee votes recorded on the April 29 agenda.