[Charlestown] Citing the potential
damage to the state’s tourism, agriculture, fishing and aquaculture, the
Charlestown Democratic Town Committee asked Governor Lincoln Chafee (D) to veto
legislation that would restrict municipalities’ ability to regulate local land
use practices.
Noting that Charlestown voters
favored Chafee in the four-way 2010 gubernatorial election, CDTC Chair
Catherine O’Reilly Collette wrote that Chafee’s win in Charlestown had a lot to
do with his pro-environment record.
Collette points out that whatever
gains these bills might generate in the home-building market would be more than
offset by losses in tourism, agriculture, fishing and aquaculture and that
“this is not a good trade off.”
The full text of the CDTC letter to
the Governor follows:
Dear Governor Chafee:
I write on behalf of
the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee to urge you to veto two ill-advised
pieces of legislation that are either on or about to reach your desk.
One is H5425A, sometimes referred to as the
“Setback” bill that would sharply restrict the ability of municipalities to set
standards for the installation of on-site waste water treatment systems that
reflect the special needs the community might have for higher standards than
those set out by RIDEM.
The second pieces of
legislation will arrive at your desk either as S544A or H5703A,
sometimes referred to as the “Slopes” bill. Like the “Setback” bill, this
legislation would also curb the ability of local communities to set standards
for development that reflect the specific environmental conditions of the
community.
We’ve appreciated your
many visits to Charlestown since you were elected Governor and your attention
to our local concerns, whether it’s economic development, recovery from severe
storms or environmental clean-up.
You know that
Charlestown has a complex eco-system of shoreline, salt ponds, fresh water
ponds, farmland, open space and parkland, minimal industry and the Charlestown
moraine. Our local volunteer commissions work hard at trying to find local
solutions that address the broad needs of the community in this complex
environment.
These two pieces of
legislation may have good intentions. Boosting the economy in general, and the
lagging construction industry in particular is good for the state. But the
approach taken by these bills could create its own set of problems that could impact
key economic sectors vital not just to South County but to the state: tourism,
agriculture, fishing and aquaculture. We do not believe this is a good
trade-off.
Cities and towns
always have the recourse to rely on RIDEM standards for basic compliance and
environmental protection. However, Charlestown as well as many other
municipalities needs to have the discretion to add to RIDEM’s basic standards
to protect resources in a complex eco-system. In our case, it’s our salt and
fresh water ponds and well water supplies, our only source of drinking water.
Charlestown voters
supported you in 2010 largely on the strength of your environmental record. You
have been a good environmental steward as Governor. That is why we ask you to
take the challenging step of vetoing this legislation that would restrict local
governments to protect the environment and thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Catherine O’Reilly
Collette, Chair