Her skill sets and experience align wonderfully with our future challenges with climate change, sea level rise and resiliency.”

Town manager Jim Cunha, about new town planner Teresa Crean

Barrington will soon have two town planners on staff, although only one will carry the title.

The town recently hired Teresa Crean as its new town planner — she will fill the vacancy created when current town planner Phil Hervey steps into his new role as town manager next month.

Ms. Crean, who lives in North Kingstown, will begin work in Barrington on Jan. 10. She previously served as a coastal community planner at the University of Rhode Island’s graduate school of oceanography in the Coastal Resources Center. 

In addition to resilience planning for Barrington, Ms. Crean will also focus in a variety of areas, including affordable and senior housing, sidewalks and bike facility upgrades, renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, parks and trail improvements, and the future development of the former Carmelite Monastery and Zion Bible Institute properties.

“I'm excited to serve the town of Barrington and collaborate with residents on planning efforts that consider long-term coastal resilience, connectivity, access, and housing options, and bring my years of coastal community planning experience to carry on Barrington's strong record of implementing meaningful projects,” Ms. Crean said.

Ms. Crean has a master of landscape architecture degree, with a focus in ecological design and planning. She has a bachelor degree in natural resources, and is also a graduate of Leadership RI, Class of 2018. She is an AICP-certified planner (American Institute of Certified Planners). 

Ms. Crean has worked in the environmental and land use planning field for 23 years, including coastal resilience and adaption planning, renewable energy planning, coastal community planning, and marine spatial planning. 

In recent years, the town has worked with Ms. Crean on multiple resilience planning projects, including the URI Coastal Institute’s “Climate Demonstration Site” project, which focused on Barrington, Bristol, and Warren.

Incoming town manager Mr. Hervey said Ms. Crean’s experience will serve Barrington well.

“Barrington will benefit from her expertise in coastal and resilience planning, as well as extensive connections working with the State’s coastal communities on resilience issues,” he said. 

Barrington Town Council President Phil Hervey agreed.

“Ms. Crean is joining us at a consequential time in Barrington’s history,” Mr. Carroll said. “Because we are surrounded by water, Barrington must become more resilient to face the challenges climate change will bring in the coming decades. Ms. Crean will be an important part of helping us prepare for that while maintaining the character of our community.”

Outgoing town manager Jim Cunha was pleased with the hiring of Ms. Crean.

“Teresa will be a great addition to the Barrington municipal staff,” he said. “Her skill sets and experience align wonderfully with our future challenges with climate change, sea level rise and resiliency.”