Frances Topping: Keep Charlestown’s Unique Character
The following letter was submitted to local newspapers and is reprinted here with permission of the author Frances Topping. Frances is a member of the Charlestown Planning Commission and is a candidate for Planning Commission in the 2018 election.
If you like Charlestown as it is, continue supporting a council that has worked to maintain that character; the low taxes but quality education, open space that preserves our resources and provides habitat and recreation, that believes in listening to people as evidenced by their going door-to door to get individuals’ views of as many residents as they can and asking their concerns, and being civil and responsible. They have worked hard for the community. Support them with your vote. Vote for the Charlestown Citizen’s Alliance (CCA) endorsed candidates.There are three incumbents Julie Carroccia, Bonnie Van Slyke, and Virginia Lee, and two very capable new candidates, Bill Wilson and David Wilkinson who are endorsed by the CCA. Having common aims, similar decisions are likely much of the time based on input from residents about their views of the town, as elected representatives are charged to do. However they welcome input from others.
Charlestown can remain an oasis along the South coast, a quiet gem. This attraction and low taxes for which people move here also encourages more housing so everyone can have their little bit of heaven, commercial enterprises that might not fit, and traffic. Other assaults like the high speed train or taking water to the proposed Burrillville Power Plant must be challenged as the current Council and Ruth Platner and other town officials did mobilizing the community to come together. We must be vigilant to safeguard our character. The Planning Commission is working toward that end with Comprehensive Plan recommendations and reviewing current regulations periodically. This takes time and effort. We need a council that also supports this aim, as the current one does.
Charlestown is a rural small town community spread out over 36.8 square miles of land and 22.5 square miles of water with rolling hills and flat plains, rocky soil and agricultural soils, forests, farms, and beaches and includes several historic villages. Most of the roads are winding country roads flanked by stone walls and natural vegetation. Many houses are tucked back behind a screen of trees and many yards are left predominantly natural rather than intensively landscaped to the road as in many suburban areas. The houses are of varied designs and sizes.There are few lights and few sidewalks. The sound of peepers and wood frogs from the vernal pools in spring, crickets, katydids and cicadas in the trees in summer and the hoots of owls in winter or the sound of the sea can be heard. There is not the constant noise of traffic, horns or emergency vehicles that is heard in towns. There are not movie theaters and large entertainments or malls and big box stores but this quiet is what most residents and tourists appreciate and treasure and the reason they live here, along with low taxes! The taxes are low due to income from seasonal homes that require few year round services, and little infrastructure like sewers and mains water. All are on wells and septics. Small, independently owned shops and restaurants are scattered around, instead of malls and big box stores, and this fits the small rural town personality better. Local businesses support local teams and endeavors. Keeping Charlestown different from Narragansett, South Kingstown or Westerly is a challenge, a challenge worth taking. The Planning Commission, the Comprehensive Plan they have been working on and the current Council, and most residents, support this vision.
Show your support for those who have worked, and will continue to work, to keep Charlestown’s rural character.
