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Council adopts resolution to study limits on new hotel development after long public hearing
Summary
Following extensive public comment from residents and hospitality representatives, the council voted to request that administration, planning and the city solicitor review zoning and ordinance options to prevent or limit future hotel development and report back with proposed amendments.
The Newport City Council on June 22 voted to send a resolution to city administration, planning and the city solicitor directing a review of ordinances and zoning provisions that could prevent or substantially limit new hotels or conversions to hotels in the city.
Councilor Tom Smythe introduced the resolution, saying residents have raised concerns about housing stock, neighborhood stability and infrastructure pressure as tourism-driven development increases. The measure asked staff to draft proposed ordinance language that could include prohibiting new hotel developments in some zones, caps or moratoriums on room counts, and protections for existing housing stock.
Business and industry representatives urged caution. Ryan Moots, manager of government affairs for the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, told the council the city should analyze fiscal and economic impacts before adopting restrictions. Moots said hotels bring property-tax and sales-tax revenue — “Newport has budgeted more than $7,100,000 in hotel occupancy tax revenue and $3,800,000 in meals and beverage tax revenue this year alone,” he said — and suggested the planning board review and findings are required under state law before ordinance adoption.
Residents and neighborhood advocates pressed for limits. Kaylee Mesler, a Quinneck Island resident, said a petition she organized had collected 558 signatures and argued that residents’ quality of life, tree cover and neighborhood character were threatened. Several speakers urged the council to prioritize housing balance over further tourism expansion.
Discover Newport’s chief executive emphasized data-driven decision-making and recommended the council consider fiscal and community impacts before limits are set. Multiple councilors noted the city is in the middle of a comprehensive land-use-plan update; planning staff said the comp-plan process already considers housing and tourism balance and the planning team would incorporate any council direction.
After roughly an hour of council and public discussion the resolution carried by a recorded voice vote; council members indicated a 5–2 vote in favor. The resolution does not itself change ordinances; it asks city staff and the solicitor to return with draft language and recommendations that would be considered under the city’s normal ordinance and planning-board review processes.
What happens next: City staff will draft recommendations, coordinate them with the ongoing comprehensive-plan update, and present proposed ordinance amendments and analyses to the planning board and council for formal consideration.
