CCA Blog and Mail Box

The enactment of the new Residential Conservation Development Ordinance by the majority of the Town Council provides environmental and tax benefits for all Charlestown residents; weakening it would have served a very small class of corporate developers. These updates are meant to increase environmental protection, reduce long-term negative impacts to taxpayers, and at the same time provide ways for developers to reduce their own costs when they protect more open space.

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The non-profit group Environment Rhode Island announced Wednesday that it has filed a lawsuit against Kenyon Industries, Inc., and its parent company, Brookwood Companies Incorporated, for alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act at their textile mill in Kenyon, Rhode Island.

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If physical distancing had encouraged you to set out alone with your camera, you may have captured some stunning photographs of our beautiful landscapes and wildlife. Here are four ongoing photo contests where you can win either prizes or recognition for your beautiful photographs.

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Have you noticed how good you feel when you go for a walk outside in the woods? It has been proven that experiences in nature release your body’s ‘feel good’ chemicals and improve your overall health and wellness. Join Wendy Rappaport, USFWS volunteer, expressive artist, and naturalist for experiences that bring nature into your life to promote well being in mind, body and spirit. The classes will be held in August and September.

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The banner image is an aerial view of the subdivision on Cedar Meadows Road (off of Shannock Road) that shows a subdivision with approximately 70% open space. This subdivision was built under the current cluster ordinance and would still be possible under the proposed changes for conservation development. But with the flexibility provided by the new ordinance, a developer could reduce further the impacts to wildlife, wetlands, and groundwater and reduce long-term impacts to taxpayers.

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Charlestown and most of Washington County are experiencing extreme drought conditions. July 2022 in Rhode Island is the second driest July on record, over the past 128 years of record keeping. No matter what your normal water levels are, your well is probably drawn down more than normal.

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Three online wildlife surveys are currently accepting observations from the public: the herp observer, the wild turkey brood survey, and the summer deer surveys. All three surveys can be accessed through a smartphone or desktop computer. Simply take a photo of the animal, open the app, and follow the steps to submit your sighting.

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Since the Town Council first advertised the proposed Conservation Development in March, our political opposition has spread intentionally false and misleading information about the proposed ordinance. In this post is a table with some of the disinformation that is being spread and a response to each.

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Did you miss the Quonochontaug Historical Society’s July 13 presentation on our beautiful and important night sky? The entire presentation was recorded on two 30 minute videos. Links to videos in post. Charlestown is an important location for the study and viewing of the cosmos because we have the darkest skies along the coast between New York and Boston.

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At the July 11 presentation on Conservation Development, Scott Millar of GrowSmartRI, included, as examples of good land use, some existing Charlestown subdivisions in his presentation. These four subdivisions had been developed under the existing Cluster Development, and it was explained that subdivisions like these could be developed in much the same way under Conservation Development.

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There is a lot of misinformation being spread about Conservation Development by a political group who opposes this and many other conservation initiatives. Conservation Development does not apply to individual homeowners; it only applies to developers who are developing land into a major residential subdivision of six lots or more. In the post are some factual answers to questions about Conservation Development.

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On July 11 at 7 pm, the Charlestown Town Council will hold a public hearing to consider replacing the town’s current cluster design ordinance (mandatory for land development projects with more than five homes) with what is called Conservation Cluster Design (CCD). Conventional subdivision is still available for subdivisions of five lots or fewer.

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Because the survey was proposed to help the Town Council make budget decisions in the future, it is an important planning tool for future budget development, land use planning, and town funding and purchases. The results of the survey have to matter or else the town has wasted the taxpayers money, time and effort.

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When: Wednesday, June 22 at 7 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Hall
What: Master Plan Meeting for the redevelopment of the Shoreline Plaza on Old Post Road with addition of five new commercial buildings and Preliminary Plan presentation for a 4-lot residential frontage subdivision at the corner of Old Mill Road and Rt. 112 (Carolina Back Road).

All meetings of the Planning Commission are public and the public is encouraged to attend and participate in this meeting.

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When: Saturday, June 18 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Clark Memorial Field, 39 Columbia Heights Rd., Charlestown

Bring the family to this free event with Face Painting, a Moon Bounce, Carnival Games, and more.

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When: Sunday, June 26, at 10 a.m.
What: Narragansett Trail Hike at the Francis Carter Preserve in Charlestown
Why: Celebrating the Wild and Scenic Status of the Wood-Pawcatuck Waterways
Where: You must register for this event. Once registered, you will be contacted with meeting place and other details. Link to register in post.

The Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers Stewardship Council presents the 1st annual 7 Rivers Festival during National Rivers Month.

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When: Saturday, June 18 at 10 a.m.
Where: Tucker Woods Preserve, between 639-719 Alton Carolina Rd. (Rt. 91) near the intersection with Hill Top Drive
What: Grand Opening Celebration with speakers, refreshments, tours and more by the Charlestown Conservation Commission
Trails and parking have been developed and the land is now officially open for hiking!

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When: Monday, July 11 at 7 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Hall
What: Town Council meeting to discuss, and possibly vote on, amendments to the Zoning Ordinance proposed by the Charlestown Planning Commission
Conservation development is a type of Cluster Subdivision that prioritizes the protection of natural resources, open space, and agricultural lands.

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URI Master Gardener volunteers will be at Kettle Pond to conduct free soil pH testing. The test helps determine soil pH levels and predominant soil texture, and provides basic information and recommendations for gradual correction of soil pH and compaction issues. While you are dropping off your soil sample, stop by the native plant demonstration garden.

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At the May 9 Charlestown Town Council meeting, Councilors Carney and Klinger declined to support the expenditure of $4,750 to fund a real estate appraisal to determine the fair market value of this property. DEM awarded a $400,000.00 Natural Heritage Grant towards the purchase in March. An appraisal is needed before the project can move forward.

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When: Friday, May 20, 2022 at 2 pm
Where: The Unitarian Church on the Town Green, First Church & Parish, 670 High Street, Dedham, Massachusetts
The pandemic delayed Jan’s memorial service, but it can now take place and we hope anyone who remembers Jan will try to make the trip to Dedham to share in his memory.

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Congratulations to all who have participated. You all have done something positive for your neighbors, neighborhoods, and the town as a whole. The level of commitment to keeping Charlestown beautiful is one of the most admirable aspects of living here. We are a community that cares about our neighborhoods. There is a lot to like about Charlestown and its community spirit is one of those things.

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Saturday, April 9 was a great day to enjoy spring in New England – about 25 enthusiastic walkers, a couple of leashed dogs, lots of bird song, clear views of the Pawcatuck River and sun, were enjoyed. The walk was to introduce an initiative of Charlestown’s Parks and Recreation Commission of a trail in commemoration of Ellison “Tarzan” Brown.

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When: Saturday, April 9 at 11:00 a.m. (Rain date is Sunday, April 10 at 11:00 a.m.)
Where: Meet at the Kings Factory Road entrance to the Francis Carter Preserve
What: Walk trails in the Carter Preserve that are proposed as part of a trail commemorating Charlestown’s Ellison “Tarzan” Brown
On Saturday, the Parks and Recreation members will lead an organized hike that follows the Pawcatuck River across the grassy field and through an old growth pine forest.

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Chariho is a high-performing school system. It has excellent teachers. Its students perform very well on standardized tests. The parents are involved and committed to having the best educational benefits available for their children. Not passing the Chariho budget, which is totally in line with the cost of living, will not serve the children.

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All community members and organizations are encouraged to plan free events – whether family friendly, recreational or restorative. Events can range from ecological, educational, cultural, musical, historical or artistic activities to hiking, cycling, canoe and kayak outings or even picnics and social gatherings that celebrate the Wild and Scenic Status of the Wood-Pawcatuck Waterways.

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Land proposed for protection under the Natural Heritage grant program is scored for its protection of critical and uncommon habitat, its capability of supporting a diversity of habitats, its support for rare/endangered species, its close proximity to other protected land, its close proximity to a river or other water body, groundwater protection, and public access for passive recreation.

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Rhode Island House Bill H 7531 makes our state’s most important forests and wildlife habitat, ineligible for incentives to develop renewable energy. It also defines preferred sites where renewable energy incentives should be focused. If adopted, this legislation would be a huge improvement of Rhode Island’s current renewable energy siting programs that are encouraging the clearing of many hundreds of acres of forest and wildlife habitat.

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The taxpayers of Charlestown can have confidence that $3 million of their hard-earned money is not missing and that their taxes have been spent as they authorized. Further, they can be assured that the town is well positioned to weather an emergency. Telling a tale about an accounting error that does not exist and implying that there is fraud that also does not exist in order to try to confuse some people to gain political advantage does the town a grave disservice.

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Cynthia Drummond, who wrote for many years for the Westerly Sun, has brought her considerable skill and high journalistic standards to cover Richmond Town Council and Planning Board meetings for the BRVCA. You can read her articles at the BRVCA web site. Because of our shared borders and interests, Cynthia’s coverage is also a benefit to Charlestown readers.

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Thank you to everyone who donated to our 2021 fundraiser for RI CAN!! We raised over $1,500.00 this year. That brings your total donations to our last two RI CAN fundraisers to over $11,500.00!

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Charlestown has little debt, a high level of savings, and a higher quality of life than most anywhere on the East Coast. When there is nothing to find fault with, a false scandal has to be manufactured. Using lies and smears to destroy local politicians is not an acceptable way to attempt to win an election, but in an age where fewer people read newspapers and with expanding access to social media, this is an effective way to mislead some people.

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On February 14, the Charlestown Town Council adopted, on a 3 to 2 vote, the Fund Balance Policy that was recommended by the Charlestown Budget Commission. The purpose of this policy is to establish the recommended level of unassigned fund balance that is to be maintained in the General Fund for generally accepted accounting principles and budgetary requirements of the Town.

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The purpose of this MOU is to establish a framework of cooperation between the Town and the Refuge in regards to management of natural resources in the Park to meet the intent that these lands be managed in a manner consistent with the Refuge while facilitating the development of the Park for the benefit of the public.

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