Transit-oriented Development

(TOD)

W. Kingston Village is 1.6 square miles (1024 acres) compared to the total of 57.09 square miles (36,537 acres) for the town of South Kingstown. The land to the west and immediately adjacent to the train station is zoned for industrial use, while further west are farms and conservation area. The Cottrell Farm and the Great Swamp Management area are in close proximity to the station. To the east of the station is the University of Rhode Island and the majority of the residential area. Most of the land in W. Kingston Village zoned to be low density residential units (R-2 or 1-unit per 2 acres), but more than 20% of the land area is protected open space. There are two open parcels of land north of the station and limited sewerage in the area. Land Trusts and a consortium of conservation groups (Town Council, etc.) have purchased development rights to some of the open spaces and farms in the area. At a cost of roughly $5 million for the acquisition of these parcels, they have successfully procured Kenyon Farm and Cottrell Farm. The comprehensive town plan notes that South Kingstown is the most important single town in Rhode Island for rare species and natural communities. (Grow Smart RI)

South Kingstown is served by four water suppliers: University of Rhode Island, Kingston Water Department, United Water of Rhode Island, and South Kingstown Water Department. One minor water supplier serves a small public population. South Kingstown Regional Wastewater Facility serves the town and some sections of Narragansett. All of Washington County is part of the Wood-Pawcatuck watershed and there is a sub-surface aquifer near the train station that provides most of the water for W. Kingston. The town of South Kingstown has previously responded to the planning concerns associated with any new building around the aquifer by focusing development away from W. Kingston village. While, most of the residences employ private wells and septic systems, American Power Conversion recently laid sewer lines for their plant and the area around the train station is now equipped to provide sewerage. Tapping in to sewage infrastructure is ostensibly for industrial use and, as part of the Comprehensive Town Plan to keep residential growth from occurring in that area, does not allow for extra tie-ins. The wastewater treatment facility in South Kingstown, which serves almost all of South Kingstown - with the exception of some residences in West Kingston - and parts of Narragansett, is one of the best in the state, having won several awards for its treatment and overall operations, and its discharge permit is currently being revised. A Transfer of Development Rights could be used to preserve some of the more valued areas and concentrate development in the chosen areas around Wakefield. TDR could possibly be employed in the Kingston Station area later, with zoning changes that would allow residential development to tie-in to the infrastructure that now exists.

In the near future, the restricted availability of water infrastructure around W. Kingston limits the ability of developing a TOD community. Additionally, the protection of open space and farms around the station and the issues surrounding the water infrastructure together create impediments to the immediate possibility of TOD in the area.