RhodeMap RI:

Lessons from Sustainable Communities

Melanie Jewett Army, AICP

Kevin M. Flynn

Jeff Davis, AICP

Nathan Kelly, AICP

Amanda Martin, AICP

Southern New England APA Conference October 23, 2014

What is RhodeMap RI? How did we get here?

• The State was awarded a Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant in 2011.

• Basic question:

How do we put Rhode Island back on solid ground?

• Basic assumption:

We already have a lot of what we need to do this. We need to build on our strengths and assets!

Rhode Map RI Focus Areas

HOUSING

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

GROWTH CENTERS

EQUITY

The RhodeMap RI Process

Outreach Data

Collection More

Outreach

Plan Drafting

Revisions Final

Drafts

Adoption Technical Assistance

Do it!

Results of RhodeMap RI?

Social Equity Guidance

Housing Economic

Development Growth Centers

Regional Plan for

Sustainable Development

Housing Themes

Homeownership Challenges

Preservation/ Existing

Housing Stock

Changing Demographics

Healthy Homes

Fair Housing

Affordability

Funding

Climate Change Special Needs Populations

Nexus with Economic Development!

Economic Development Themes

Intersections of our Strongest

Industries

Climate Change Challenges &

Opportunities

Entrepreneurship

Building on our Assets

Data, Information &

Competitiveness

Regulatory Reform

RI’s Place in the Regional &

Global Economy

Workforce Development

Equity

Nexus with Housing!

Growth Centers

Identify priority development and preservation areas

Define Growth Center typologies and criteria

Example concept plans

Recommendations to strengthen the program and make it more effective

Growth Center Types

Let’s Talk! What’s worked? What hasn’t?

Question 1. What do you consider to be the

single best success of RhodeMap RI to date?

Let’s Talk! What’s worked? What hasn’t?

Question 2. What has been your biggest

disappointment?

Let’s Talk! Equity

Question 3. What have you learned about

equity throughout this process?

Let’s Talk! Engagement Hits & Misses

Question 4. Tell us about your most

frustrating moment during the public engagement process

Let’s Talk! Engagement Hits & Misses

Question 5. Tell us about your biggest

"a-ha!" moment during the public engagement process

Get all the latest plans at:

www.rhodemapri.org

Melanie Jewett Army, AICP Siobhan O’Kane

Supervising Planner Principal Planner

Melanie.army@doa.ri.gov siobhan.okane@doa.ri.gov

Jeff Davis, AICP Nathan Kelly, AICP

Principal Planner Principal Planner

Jeff.davis@doa.ri.gov Horsley Witten Group nkelly@horsleywitten.com