Plans

Residential Development Plans: Affordable Housing

Because Block Island is so isolated from neighboring communities, it can't "export housing needs" to its neighbors. Additionally, non-resident demand for summer homes on the island has inflated housing prices far beyond what the average year-round resident and summer worker can afford. Because of these factors, the need for more affordable housing is great. Only 7 % of housing is currently affordable. (New Shoreham Comprehensive Plan) The Comprehensive Plan (1994) has identified development of affordable housing (approximately 50 units) as a priority. A Municipal Housing Trust has been formed to promote more affordable housing. To date, three new affordable housing developments with several houses each have been built. Also, 8 new affordable units have just been approved and are in the planning stages. (Dorothy McClusky, personal communication, 2001)

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Comprehensive Plan Goals for Open Space Preservation and Land Use This plan sets the eventual land preservation goal as half of the island's land area. This goal is seen to be compatible with future desired levels of residential and commercial development. The plan, revised in 1994, specifies that one third of the additional land needed to reach the final goal be protected by the year 2000. This intermediate goal has been met on schedule. The desired basic land use patterns for the island reflect three types of land use:

1. Village: "a compact, mixed use area including businesses, utilities, government, tourism facilities, and …major hotels, inns and restaurants, and the two major harborfront areas. Serviced with town sewerage and largely serviced with town water."
2. Transition: "a 'buffer' zone consisting primarily of single family homes…lower density than the village but still compactly arranged. Partially serviced with town water.
3. Countryside: "the remainder of the island, dominated by openness, interspersed with low density residential and compatible economic activities including agriculture…However, the outstanding characteristic…is the extensive preserved open space."

Potential Open Space Preservation Strategies (Identified in Comprehensive Plan)
1. Development of a 'growth pacing device' such as a per year growth cap
2. Improve the town's cluster regulations which encourage green space preservation.
3. Revision of zoning ordinances and other Town regulations to promote "more central and compact development."
4. Creation of a process which allows for early Planning Board review of all major development.
5.Encouragement of land owners to keep land undeveloped voluntarily through "preferential taxation."

Implemented Strategies for Open Space Preservation
1. The Block Island Land Trust was created in 1986. There is currently a "land transfer fee" that places a 3% fee on all land purchases that goes directly to the B.I. Land Trust.
2. Cluster Subdivision Regulations: Current regulations (section 403 of the Town of New Shoreham Land Development and Subdivision Regulations) require that all major residential subdivisions cluster development in one area of the subdivided property and leave the remaining land as open space to be permanently preserved by a trust, non-profit organization or homeowners association. This preserved open space is preferably located on the property where is contiguous to other open space, or where it might preserve forests, wetlands or other critical habitat.
3. Creation of the Municiple Water District (more info needed)