The Town Crier
Learn about issues affecting your neighborhood and your local businesses.

• Further Dowling Village development halted
• N.S. Council votes to protect mounds at Nipsachuck Swamp
• Water district overlay would add new protections to supply, restrictions to land use
• DEM blocks Wal-Mart wetlands plan
• Power plant talk revived
• Possible burial site could slow Rankin Estates development
• Life in Cherry Brook neighborhood still swamped with water
• The mystery of the mounds
• Developer denied
• City, developer raze plans for reduced-tax zone
• MED zone plan is no more
• North Smithfield - a premier location for community friendly businesses
• I believe it is not too late to protect the rural quality of life we all cherish
• City a step nearer to development agreement
• City, town water talks put on hold over Dowling Village
• Economics, luck aid Woonsocket zoning plan
  
• Local neighborhoods and residents unite against Dowling Village
• Bob Kerr: Only the name is warm and friendly
• Paul Zwolenski - Hats off to Bob Kerr. He did an excellent job!
• Planners begin review of Dowling Village plan
  
• Dowling Village tax proposal would cap annual increases
• Facts about the MED zone
• Dowling Village tax proposal would freeze assessments
  
• Tax treaty is hardly a done deal
• Public hearing on plan erupts in jeers
• Dowling Village - Dr. Caroly Shumway on WNRI's Upfront w/Roger Bouchard

Many thanks to WNRI (1380 AM) and Roger Bouchard for an audio clip (1hr.) of the Upfront segment aired on Friday March 11, 2005.

Citizens Speak Out

Sept. 7, 2004
by Maurene Souza, attorney and concerned citizen

Members of the Town Council…thank you for allowing me to appear before you this evening.

Not withstanding the fact that we are grateful that the town council, town administrator and the developers of Dowling Village have been helpful and supportive concerning our traffic problems on Old Smithfield Road ("OSR"), I feel compelled to speak this evening regarding the proposed changes in the town's Comprehensive Plan that would allow big box development and entertainment facilities on route 146.

Taking care of the traffic issues on OSR, and the development of a 120 acre mall in North Smithfield are separate and distinct issues. And in good faith, I couldn't walk away from this opportunity to address the council, content that OSR may be insulated from this problem. This proposed change to the Comprehensive Plan will effect this entire town and its passage has enormous implications, especially to areas such as Hanton Road and Great Road.

When you do a web search for North Smithfield vital statistics, this is the commentary you'll find. "North Smithfield has changed much from is former agrarian beginnings . . . but has not lost its early charm, which is so characteristic of North Smithfield. " We can't lose sight that this is the reason our parents, grandparents and we all came to North Smithfield, and this is the reason we have stayed.

Of course at first blush it may appear that this looks like a great opportunity for the town. Albeit, a number of people have so thought. Perhaps a means of increasing tax revenue and a means of improving the school system. But the facts and studies belie this proposition and what appears to be light at the end of the tunnel is really an on coming train.

The truth is, this type of development only brings added costs and the increased tax revenues are lost. Just talk with residents of Smithfield and North Kingston, who have undergone the same type of development. They will tell you that their tax rates have gone up-- not down.

As support, an executive summary of a study entitled "The Costs of Suburban Sprawl and Urban Decay in Rhode Island." prepared for Grow Smart Rhode Island, cautions that "In the hope of holding down tax rates, suburban and rural towns often seek to expand their tax base by bringing more industries and businesses into their towns. However . . . [this] attracts even more residents. . . . Thus, the commercial/industrial development itself can set off another cycle of more homes, less open space, tax hikes and more commercial/industrial developments."

And if these studies appear hypothetical let me share a real-life story of another New England town that changed its comprehensive plan to allow big box retail. Littleton, New Hampshire is similar to North Smithfield with a population of about 10, 000, rural in character and has recently undergone commercial development including big box retail stores. I read from an article recently in the Providence Journal.

"New stores drain police, firefighters"

"LITTLETON-An increase in "big-box" retail stores and other commercial development is creating big problems for the town's police and fire departments. The town now is home to a Shaw's supermarket and a Wal-Mart, and a Home Depot and TJ Maxx are in the works. In addition to attracting thousands of shoppers each day, the new buildings require constant fire-code inspections that are changing the way fire and police allocate their time. The box stores also account for more calls for police assistance as the population more than doubles during shopping hours. The town's seven police officers responded to more than 3,000 calls last month. Police Chief Cam brown said he needs three more officers to provide adequate coverage. 'Stores bring people,' he said. 'If any of the thousands of people who come to town commits a crime, chokes on a hamburger or has a medical reaction to a bee sting, we will be involved.'"

Why would we think the outcome would be different for us? Do we want a 120 acre mall here that will bring thousands of people into North Smithfield every day to work at these stores, to shop at these stores. Do we really need another mall when we are surrounded by Walnut Hill Plaza, Lincoln Mall (which will be opening a Target), the new Smithfield Crossings as well as the larger Emerald Mall and Providence Place Mall. These malls are mere minutes apart. The population of this state is not growing. What is the likelihood or success for these retailers? The developers of Dowling Village always rebut this allegation with the fact that the retailers would not enter leases if they do not think there was sufficient marketability. Yet, we have all seen boarded up Home Depots, etc. who bought into a developer's dream, originally thought they could make it in an area, but had to close up later.

Furthermore, are we ready for the residential impact that this mall will create? I sat here last month during these hearings, listening to the concerns of residents that the historic Slater Mill would be developed for residential use, adding 200 plus units to the town's residential mix. Respectfully, this concern pales in comparison to the impact that this mall will have on the overall residential expansion of this town, which creates pressure on an infrastructure and school system, that is just getting by.

I respect those who have gone against the residential expansion of Slater Mill, yet the focus is too narrow. There should be concern for the entire town not only the development of Slatersville. Sadly, there is a "not in my backyard" mentality within the town. It appears that as long as development is not going on at the seat of government, it's allowable. It is true Slatersville is on the national register and the Slater Mill is a national landmark. I would like to point out that this mall would be constructed .2 miles from OSR, which is also listed on the national register. Its time for all residents of the town of North Smithfield to realize the impact this mall will have on this entire town.

Moreover, the fact that no candidate, except for one, has made the mall an election issue is stunning in itself. This stems from living the fiction that the mall will bring revenue into town. But how can that be, when the proposition of a 50% tax treaty with the developers is blowing in the wind?

Counselors, you face a broad sweeping decision. A decision to change the Comprehensive Plan will change this town forever. It is probably one of the most important decisions any town council faces, because it can't be reversed. Think long and hard before you take such a bold step. It's our children's legacy that is at stake here. They will never know what North Smithfield was like, because all the forests will be transformed into a desolate wilderness of free parking, the clear glow of the stars and moon will be overshadowed by the grisly glow of sodium vapor lighting, and whatever wildlife that still exists will be choked by the stifling increase in pollution from the intolerable traffic.

Its time to think "out of the box" . . . big box that is. There are other ways we can bolster the tax revenue of our town, we don't have to literally, give away the farm.

Thank you for your courtesy and consideration.

Maurene Souza
North Smithfield, RI