PORTSMOUTH — Two and a half years in the making, the town’s Comprehensive Community Plan (CCP) — a 20-year roadmap to guide the town’s growth and development — was formally approved by the Town Council in a unanimous vote Monday.

State agencies must abide by local CCPs, which in turn must follow goals and policies established by the State Guide Plan.

After reviewing several minor language changes to the plan that were discussed April 4, one of three hearing nights to review the plan, the council voted 5-0 to approve an amendment to the town’s code of ordinances for the CCP’s adoption. Council Vice President Linda Ujifusa and council member J. Mark Ryan were absent from Monday’s meeting.

Town Planner Gary Crosby, who is retiring at the end of the year, picked the update of the CCP as the accomplishment of which he’s most proud.

“Thank you, Mr. Crosby, for all of your efforts — getting that thing across the finish line,” Council President Kevin Aguiar said.

Crosby has previously said that since all of the individual elements of the CCP have already been sent to Statewide Planning, the approval process should be expedited. It should take anywhere from 45 to 60 days for the state to approve the CCP, he said.

Resolution withdrawn

In other business during Monday’s 28-minute meeting, an agenda item concerning a council resolution in support of legislation defining a high tide line when determining the public's rights to the shoreline was withdrawn without explanation.

The bill (2022 H 8055) was introduced by Rep. Terri Cortvriend (District 72) and others. According to the resolution, the measure “provides a definition of the recognizable high tide line for the public's rights and privileges of the shore.”

“In the past,” the resolution states, “the public's rights to the shore has been defined by the mean high water (MHW) line. However, the changing state of general understanding of scientific knowledge has caused greater dissemination of information and measurements. This has revealed difficulties in using the MHW line. MHW is not a water mark or debris line that can be seen on the beach. Because it is an elevation and not a natural feature, MHW cannot be determined by the naked eye and requires special surveying expertise and equipment, thereby making it impossible for the general public to know where the line is.”

Aguiar said the agenda item has been withdrawn and has not been rescheduled, although that could happen at a later date. After his announcement, several people who were planning to speak on the item left the council chambers.

Zoning resolution passed

The council unanimously approved a resolution in opposition of legislation in the General Assembly that would prohibit single-family residential zoning in municipalities with populations over 20,000 (Portsmouth’s growing population was 17,871 by the 2020 Census.)

Council members roundly criticized the legislation at their March 28 meeting, when they voted to table the matter until Monday in order to “wordsmith” the resolution’s language.

According to the resolution, “House Bill 6638 and Senate Bill 2340 preempts comprehensive plans and planning, and usurps local zoning control and decisions, under the flawed charade of solving an affordable housing problem.”

The resolution characterized the legislation as “Rhode Island state government overreach and a blatant power grab.”

Replacement radios

The council voted unanimously to use $142,316.61 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to purchase replacement radios for the Department of Public Works (DPW) from Cyber Comm.

The purchase will allow the DPW to replace its “radio system with a digital system and have two 800Mhz radios installed in the director’s and deputy director’s vehicle to keep continuity with the police and fire departments in the event of any type of emergency,” DPW Director Brian Woodhead stated in a letter to the council.

The town received one other quote — $166,768 from Motorola for an 800Mhz ratio system.

In November 2021, the council had already approved spending up to $201,200 in ARPA money to replace the DPW radios as a recommended priority.

Appointments

The council re-appointed John Pope to the Pension Investment Committee in a unanimous vote.

Monday’s agenda had included a request to re-appoint Ellen Vadney to the Board of Canvassers, but council member Leonard Katzman pointed out the action was unnecessary since her term had not yet expired. 

Vadney was appointed Feb. 10, 2020 to fill a vacant seat due to a resignation, and her term is for six years, Katzman said. Town Solicitor Kevin Gavin agreed with Katzman’s assessment, so no action was taken.

Future meetings

The council will meet on the following dates, all at 7 p.m.:

• Monday, April 25

• Tuesday, April 26 (budget workshop)

• Wednesday, April 27 (budget workshop)

• Thursday, April 28 (budget workshop if needed)

• Monday, May 9