Spring/Summer 2024

In our private section, you will find postings by members for goods and services.  In need of a babysitter?  Check out our new Neighborhood Goods and Services page today.

The Southern Rhode Island Conservation District is holding a Public Information and Sign-Up Session on May 2nd, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Venice Restaurant, First Floor, 165 Shore Road, Westerly RSVP: ccooke@sricd.org.

Residents in the Winnapaug Pond Watershed are invited to learn more about the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and how they can participate in efforts to improve water quality and fish and wildlife habitat.  The Southern Rhode Island Conservation District and National Resources Conservation Services can provide technical  and financial assistance for planting pollinator habitat, managing storm water and other NRCS conservation practice.  Staff will be available to take applications.  

Current NRCSE EQUIP clients are encouraged to attend.  

Submitted by Chris Martone

A meeting was held on November 15, 2022 at the Westerly Library to discuss the possibility of forming a neighborhood alliance to better represent our concerns to the town.  There is reference in the Westerly Comprehensive Plan-2020 that suggests neighborhood involvement. The following neighborhoods were represented:  Wilcox Park North, North End Community; Watch Hill; Avondale; Shelter Harbor; Weekapaug Terrace, Bradford and West Fairway Homeowners Association.  More neighborhoods will be added as representatives from those areas are identified. 

Hatsy Moore, from Watch Hill remarked that she had established a similar  group in 1984 and explained that at the time the members learned the planning board and zoning board regulations and ensured that the town complied with the rules.  Many of those attending expressed concerns regarding overdevelopment of the town, and in particular, the neighborhoods.  It was agreed that although development cannot be stopped, it can be limited. There was also a conversation that neighborhood members should become more actively involved in town boards.  

Also discussed was the concept of form-based zoning which is in Westerly's Comprehensive Plan-2020. {According to the definition I found on the Form Based Codes Institute, form-based code is a land development regulation that fosters predictable built results and a high-quality public realm by using physical form (rather than separation of uses) as the ongoing principle for the code.}  What does this mean for all the neighborhoods and how will this concept affect us?  

It was mentioned that there are different issues in each neighborhood that are unique to that neighborhood, but that a change in planning/zoning in one area will have an impact on all other neighborhoods.  

There were many suggestions as to the form of the alliance with further discussion to take place.  The next meeting will be January 18.

Submitted by Chris Martone