Development Run Amok - North of Rte. 24
April 7, 2022
There are now four large developments planned for the town north of Route 24, and all are centered in the area of Souza Road, Fish Road, and Main Road. Tiverton Heights is a 275-unit development that includes townhouses, duplexes, and three-story buildings bordering on Fish and Souza Roads. The Oxford Development proposal includes 36 mixed-use units and 10 townhouses on nine acres. Bayview Condos, to the north of the Oxford Development site, has 52 units. Finally, Seasons Corner Market is back despite significant opposition after their first presentation. Once again, they propose a 24-hour gasoline station and convenience store with a drive-through on the corner of Souza and Main Roads.
All will have a significant negative impact on the town’s traffic, public safety, water supply/pressure, and stormwater runoff problems, just to name a few concerns. All four border on a National Register Historic District in the town.
Preserve Tiverton doubts that these developments will be thoroughly reviewed by the town. Let’s look at the record. It has been six years since the Planning Board set forth a list of 11 conditions that were to be met by the Tiverton Heights developer. They still have not been met. The Seasons Corner Market’s application is apparently being fast-tracked through the Planning Board despite strong opposition when it was first presented.
These developments raise questions as to who is in charge of planning in the town. Is it the Planning Board or the shadow cabinet consisting of the President and Vice-President of the Council, along with Mr. Cotta, the Tiverton Administrator, and Mr. Marcello, the Town Solicitor? It also seems that the Town Planner reports to and takes orders from Mr. Cotta, rather than the Planning Board.
By state law, the proper review of development, both large and small, is in the hands of the Planning Board, which must follow the requirements set forth in the town’s Comprehensive Plan. Our Comprehensive Plan clearly sets forth as a goal the preservation of Tiverton’s small-town character even as the town grows. All development must be reviewed by the Planning Board in light of that standard. Instead of support for the Planning Board, what we have seen from the shadow cabinet is a litany of criticism of the Planning Board plus actions to reduce its authority.
The time has come for the council to give the Planning Board the resources it needs to carry out its duties and functions. The Planning Board needs an independent land-use attorney to help guide them in their review and decision-making. The Planning Board should also have access to the necessary experts to analyze and evaluate developers’ claims. In addition, the Town Planner should be reporting to and taking orders from the Planning Board and not the Town Administrator.
Unless we put the planning function back where it belongs and give the Planning Board the resources it needs, the town will no longer retain its small-town character as our Comprehensive Plan dictates. Decisions regarding the development of this town belong to its residents and not those who do not live here and who show little concern for how the town grows.
Please take the time to contact the Planning Board through its Chair with your concerns:
Stu Hardy, Tiverton Planning Board Chair - [email protected]
You can also contact the Planning Board’s Town Council liaisons:
Jay Edwards - [email protected]
Deborah Janick - [email protected]
Thank you for your interest and support.
Preserve Tiverton
There are now four large developments planned for the town north of Route 24, and all are centered in the area of Souza Road, Fish Road, and Main Road. Tiverton Heights is a 275-unit development that includes townhouses, duplexes, and three-story buildings bordering on Fish and Souza Roads. The Oxford Development proposal includes 36 mixed-use units and 10 townhouses on nine acres. Bayview Condos, to the north of the Oxford Development site, has 52 units. Finally, Seasons Corner Market is back despite significant opposition after their first presentation. Once again, they propose a 24-hour gasoline station and convenience store with a drive-through on the corner of Souza and Main Roads.
All will have a significant negative impact on the town’s traffic, public safety, water supply/pressure, and stormwater runoff problems, just to name a few concerns. All four border on a National Register Historic District in the town.
Preserve Tiverton doubts that these developments will be thoroughly reviewed by the town. Let’s look at the record. It has been six years since the Planning Board set forth a list of 11 conditions that were to be met by the Tiverton Heights developer. They still have not been met. The Seasons Corner Market’s application is apparently being fast-tracked through the Planning Board despite strong opposition when it was first presented.
These developments raise questions as to who is in charge of planning in the town. Is it the Planning Board or the shadow cabinet consisting of the President and Vice-President of the Council, along with Mr. Cotta, the Tiverton Administrator, and Mr. Marcello, the Town Solicitor? It also seems that the Town Planner reports to and takes orders from Mr. Cotta, rather than the Planning Board.
By state law, the proper review of development, both large and small, is in the hands of the Planning Board, which must follow the requirements set forth in the town’s Comprehensive Plan. Our Comprehensive Plan clearly sets forth as a goal the preservation of Tiverton’s small-town character even as the town grows. All development must be reviewed by the Planning Board in light of that standard. Instead of support for the Planning Board, what we have seen from the shadow cabinet is a litany of criticism of the Planning Board plus actions to reduce its authority.
The time has come for the council to give the Planning Board the resources it needs to carry out its duties and functions. The Planning Board needs an independent land-use attorney to help guide them in their review and decision-making. The Planning Board should also have access to the necessary experts to analyze and evaluate developers’ claims. In addition, the Town Planner should be reporting to and taking orders from the Planning Board and not the Town Administrator.
Unless we put the planning function back where it belongs and give the Planning Board the resources it needs, the town will no longer retain its small-town character as our Comprehensive Plan dictates. Decisions regarding the development of this town belong to its residents and not those who do not live here and who show little concern for how the town grows.
Please take the time to contact the Planning Board through its Chair with your concerns:
Stu Hardy, Tiverton Planning Board Chair - [email protected]
You can also contact the Planning Board’s Town Council liaisons:
Jay Edwards - [email protected]
Deborah Janick - [email protected]
Thank you for your interest and support.
Preserve Tiverton
