Grow Smart Board of Directors
Michael F. Ryan
Chairman of the Board
Susan Arnold
William Baldwin
S. James Busam
Joseph Caffey
Robert L. Carothers
Arnold Chace
Jen Cookke
Trudy Coxe
Peter Damon
Louise Durfee
Stephen J. Farrell
Thomas E. Freeman
J. Joseph Garrahy
John R. Gowell, Jr.
Stephen Hamblett
Robert Harding
Michael S. Hudner
Stanley J. Kanter
Howard M. Kilguss
Thomas A. Lawson
Dennis Langley
James Leach
Frederick Lippitt
Roger Mandle
Rev. James C. Miller
B. Michael Rauh, Jr.
Gary Sasse
Richard Schartner
Deming Sherman
Merrill Sherman
Curt Spalding
James F. Twaddell
Sandra Whitehouse
Frederick C. Williamson
W. Edward Wood
Board Listing with Affiliation
Who We Are
Grow Smart Rhode Island is a statewide public policy
group representing a broad coalition of partners fighting
sprawl and promoting innovative policies and programs
to revitalize city and town centers, preserve cultural
and natural resources and expand economic opportunity
throughout Rhode Island.
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Dear John,
Welcome to the October issue of "Smart Growth e-
Briefs", a monthly update of the latest happenings in
the smart growth movement.
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| RI's New Economic Strategy has Smart Growth Appeal | | | Reacting to the Carcieri administration's newly unveiled
economic development strategy, Grow Smart Rhode
Island praised its commitment to "achieve growth that's
right for Rhode Island". The plan also wins favor among
smart growth advocates for its focus on leveraging
Rhode Island's distinctive character, open spaces and
historic towns and villages as a means to attract
investment in the state's existing and underutilized
infrastructure.
Grow Smart seeks to assist the Admininstration in
translating these principles into policy initiatives that
channel investment and affordable housing into
mixed-use "growth centers" while removing barriers to
brownfield redevelopment and open space preservation.
>Rating R.I. - State's visionaries map goals - Projo.com
>Revamped EDC has new staff/ mission - Projo.com
>RI Economic Policy Council's 2001 strategy - View it here
>Start or monitor a "discussion" at www.ripolicy.org (free registration required)
>Romney strategy for MA includes incentives for housing/brownfield redevelopment
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| Americans Want Smarter Growth | | | 
Americans want smarter growth, and the following
report illustrates how effective leaders can achieve it
while enhancing the quality of life in their communities.
The report begins with the results of a nationwide poll
conducted by Smart Growth America to determine
Americans' support for alternatives to sprawl. The
second chapter defines Smart Growth and how to
achieve it. The third and fourth chapters describe
Smart Growth solutions at work in communities around
the country and make recommendations for action at
the federal, state, and local levels, in the private
sector and by individual citizens. Download Report (640 kb pdf)
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| Panel to Recommend Changes in Low/Mod Housing Law | | | Grow Smart is participating on a Rhode Island Housing
Resources Commission Task Force that will make
recommendations to the state's leaders for revisions to
the controversial Low & Moderate Income Housing Act.
At issue is how best to balance the indisputable need
for more affordable housing in more places with the
need for adequate local review and planning. The Task Force includes affordable housing advocates,
builders, planners, land-use experts, legal experts and
residents from communnities that have been fighting
affordable housing applications. All Task Force
meetings will be open to the public.
Projo Article - 9/14
Task Force Members & Meeting Dates
View 10-min. segment from PBS's News Hour about Affordable Housing
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| Follow-up on Health Effects of Sprawl Report | | |  Below is a sampling of news articles that appeared
locally, nationally and around the world resulting from
the August 28th release of the "Health Effects of
Sprawl", a report that demonstrates a clear
association between where people live and their
weight, activity levels and likelihood of suffering from
hypertension.
Providence Journal
BBC
New York Times
USA Today
Reuters
Washington Post
NPR
Download 48-page report (505 kb)
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| On-Line Tool Helps Communities Prevent Sprawl | | | 
The Vermont Forum on Sprawl, in partnership with the Orton Family Foundation, has developed a sophisticated online tool that acts as an interactive "consultant" to citizens and local planners. The tool asks questions on a number of topics and generates commentary, advice and resources matched to the needs of a town.
The purpose of the tool is to help local planners, citizens and other local groups address community issues, learn about sprawl and smart growth and develop strategies for action.
Try it out
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| Smart Stuff | | |
Each month Grow Smart will highlight a sampling of policy developments or other creative smart growth initiatives being pursued around Rhode Island. Do you have a story to tell? We want to hear from you
Burrillville
Council adopts new overlay zone to prevent commercial sprawl along Route 102
Aquidneck Island
Aquidneck Island Planning Commission preparing West Side Master Plan to include mixed-use, new urbanist style elements
Gloucester
Lighting ordinance moves closer to Town OK
South Kingstown
Town secures grant to develop master plan for Palisades Mill
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Partner Profile |
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RI Statewide Planning Program
This division of the Department of Administration is charged with preparing and maintaining plans for the physical, economic, and social development of the state; encouraging their implementation; and coordinating the actions of state, local and federal agencies and private individuals within the framework of the state's development goals and policies.
The Statewide Plannning Program has partnered with Grow Smart on several projects, including our land-use training program, development of a "growth centers" policy proposal and research on the negative land use consequences of RI's property tax system.
RI Statewide Planning website
Sign up for RI Statewide Planning monthly e-news
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CALENDAR |
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October 9
Affordable Housing Task Force Meeting 3:00 pm
RI Housing Resources Commission
Cranston
October 23
Affordable Housing Task Force Meeting 3:00 pm
RI Housing Resources Commission
Cranston
October 23-24
2003 New England Planning Conference
Sponsored by the State Chapters of APA
Hartford, CT
October 25, 10:00a-12:00p (free)
Commercial Revitalization, Growth Management & Protecting Community Character
Sponsored by Preserve Rhode Island
North Kingstown, RI
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Video Available from Grow Smart "Library" |
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A new video illustrating the benefits of community
design is now available and can be checked out of the
Grow Smart "Library". Produced by the Dunn
Foundation in Warwick, in collaboration with The Conservation Fund, the video is a component of its national ViewFinders Too school curriculum that illustrates the connections between the built environment and quality of life.
Entitled "Community of Choices", it focuses on the
economic, social, and environmental benefits of
preserving community character. It addresses the role
of historic preservation, urban design, trees and
landscaping, open space preservation and other issues
in shaping our sense of place. It is ideal for sharing
with local officials, business groups, and civic
organizations.
Reserve it today free
Learn More about the Dunn Foundation's school curriculum
Buy your own copy of the video
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