What policies and laws govern the preservation of open space in Rhode Island?

 

 

RI laws regulating open space

RI GL 2-1-24 Freshwater Wetlands Act delegates authority to DEM to protect all freshwater wetlands (lakes included) and a surrounding 50' buffer, as well as all streams and buffers (100'-200' depending on stream's width), and all A&V flood zones (for 100 year floods) from development
RI GL 46-23 Coastal Resources Management Act delegates authority to the Coastal Resources Management Council to regulate all land use activities within 200' of coast, and prevent development of all wetlands, freshwater and coastal, within their authorized 200' coastal zone
RI GL 42-125 RI Greenways Act of 1995 creates a Greenways Council under the Division of Planning to establish a system of greenways by helping towns protect RI's greenway corridors that are outlined in element 155 of the State Guide Plan
RI GL 42-82-2 Farmland Preservation Act promotes state's efforts to protect prime agricultural soils and active farms
RI GL 42-45-1 RI Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission promotes protection of historic sites and districts, including scenic landscapes and geological features
RI GL 14-17.5-2 Natural Heritage Preservation Program promotes protection of RI's critical habitats by maintaining an inventory of all state endangered and threatened speces
RI GL 42-122-3 Natural Areas Protection Act of 1993 promotes protection of environmentally sensitive areas and delegates some responsibility to the Natural Heritage Preservation Program

Laws regulating plans for open space

RI GL 45-22.2-6 RI Comprehensive Planning and Land-Use Act requires all town's to have a local comprehensive plan which must be consistent with elements of the State Guide Plan and all state laws
RI GL 42-64-13 RI Economic Development Corporation requires that all activities performed by EDC must comply with the community's local comprehensive plan
RI GL 42-11-10 State Guide Plan sets forth guidelines made by the Statewide Planning Program to help direct the orderly growth of the state, includes all elements to the State Guide Plan

Elements of the State Guide Plan applicable to plans for open space

  • 121 Land Use 2010
  • 140 RI State Historical Preservation Plan
  • 152 Ocean State Outdoors
  • 155 A Greener Path
  • 156 Urban and Community Forestry Plan
  • 162 Rivers Policy and Classification Plan
  • 211 Economic Development Strategy
  • 212 Industrial Land Use Plan
  • 715 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan