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Town launches comprehensive-plan update with public workshops and survey results
Summary
Town staff and Weston and Sampson described a yearlong comprehensive-plan update, including public outreach (a July 13 workshop and pop-up events), a community survey with 325 responses so far, and key demographic findings such as an 8.4% population decline from 2010–2020 and a growing senior population.
Town officials and consultants outlined July 8 a timetable and public-engagement plan to update Narragansett's comprehensive plan, stressing that public participation will shape policies on housing, land use, resiliency and economic development.
Jay Parker of Weston and Sampson told the joint meeting the firm has completed initial data analysis and public-outreach planning and that the community survey published around June 22 had received 325 responses as of Monday. "I can confirm that as of Monday, we had 325 responses," Parker said. Staff also reminded attendees that "July 13, 6PM, is the public workshop," and encouraged further participation.
Key findings the consultant presented include a roughly 8.4% population decline from 2010 to 2020, a median age of about 46.3, a senior population increase of roughly 65% (representing an 11% gain in the town's overall population), and a decline in school enrollment of about 37% between 2010 and 2025. Parker also noted large seasonal swings related to the University of Rhode Island, estimating 6,000 to 8,000 URI students affect the town seasonally.
Parker said the update will cover the 12 state-mandated elements for a comprehensive plan and that the state will review any adopted plan; staff and consultants noted that state-required metrics favor use of decennial census data for consistency. The consultancy described an outreach schedule that includes 10 planning-board meetings, stakeholder meetings (some in person), four town council presentations, and three public workshops, plus pop-up events at Ganta Days and other local gatherings.
Council President Alex and others raised concerns about survey standardization and data sources; Alex cautioned that an open online survey can include respondents from outside the town and asked staff to ensure other outreach methods collect resident and property-owner input. Staff responded that the survey is only one of several input methods and that in-person workshops and stakeholder meetings will capture direct resident and business feedback.
Next steps: consultants will continue data work, run targeted outreach at pop-up events and the July 13 workshop, and return draft plan chapters to the planning board for review before formal council consideration and state review.
