Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources

The agenda includes the review and action on the Unified Planning Work Program for FY 2027 and the Safe Streets for All Safety Action Plan. Additionally, the committee will hold a discussion regarding the Federal Surface Transportation Reauthorization and receive a staff report.

This document serves as a planning update, announcing the availability of new land use technical papers and data from a 2025 project by the Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning. The project aimed to update digital land use data from the existing Land Use 2025 plan and compile new digital data, including municipal future land uses and generalized zoning classifications across 39 municipalities. These efforts were undertaken to support future updates to the state's Land Use Element and to inform the development of the Land Use 2050 plan. The project's findings and deliverables, including two technical papers and an ESRI Story Map, will guide long-range land use policy and foster a vision for land conservation and development in Rhode Island for the next 25 years.

This document outlines a series of adaptation strategies for municipalities to address coastal hazards, particularly sea level rise and storm surge. Key focus areas include identifying at-risk areas using mapping tools, developing databases of exposed properties and infrastructure, and integrating sea level rise and storm surge considerations into municipal permit reviews. Other strategies involve facilitating voluntary property elevation, evaluating capital improvement projects for hazard exposure, developing incentives for voluntary adaptation, establishing emergency permitting processes, and planning for infrastructure resilience. The plan also addresses advancing participation in FEMA's Community Rating System and increasing open space while reducing density in vulnerable areas.

This technical paper provides data and findings to guide strategic planning for Rhode Island's land conservation and development through 2050. It analyzes land use changes over the past two decades, highlighting a decline in conservation and agricultural lands alongside an increase in residential and commercial development, particularly within urban service boundaries and near public transit. Key findings also address residential growth in flood zones and near conservation areas. The study identifies opportunities for infill development within urban and transit-accessible areas, while emphasizing the need to limit new residential construction in flood-prone regions and preserve natural and agricultural lands. It also suggests strategies for adjusting zoning to support mixed-use development and outlines future planning prospects related to housing needs for smaller and elderly households, investment in competitive sectors like tourism and the blue economy, and attracting talent in life sciences.

Housing 2030 is an actionable plan designed to address Rhode Island's pressing housing needs by producing and preserving housing to create strong, affordable, and accessible communities. The central goal is to permit 15,000 new homes by the end of 2030, encompassing diverse housing types and prioritizing the preservation of existing affordable units. Key strategies include establishing municipal housing production goals, addressing zoning and regulatory barriers, strategically investing in infrastructure and housing production, building and sustaining key partnerships, and supporting homeownership and housing stability.