A plan to build a 344-unit housing development in Barrington has residents concerned.

In fact, a group of people gathered at the library late last week to discuss the project which is planned for the former Zion Bible College property. At the top of their concerns is density — the 344 housing units 35 of the 39 acres of land, would add 759 bedrooms and potentially more than 2,000 new full-time residents to Barrington, they said. The impact on the local school department could be devastating, they added.

The land is owned by Shineharmony Holdings LLC. Shineharmony, which is based in Massachusetts, purchased the property in 2011 with hopes of constructing a Chinese-American school and also developing some housing. The plans have shifted over the years. A prior project pitched for the property called for an age-restricted community. The Shineharmony Holdings officials have also listed the property for sale in the past. 

More recently, the owners hired a firm to design a large-scale housing development. It is not age-restricted and the sizes of the buildings on the property range from smaller cottages to large, four-story condominium complexes. 

People who live in the neighborhoods surrounding the former Zion property are worried about the impacts a development this size could have on their homes — they mentioned stormwater run-off, traffic, impact on town services, sewer, and more. But people gathered at the library said this proposal called Belton Court Village is not just a neighborhood issue. It is a town-wide issue, they said. 

Aimed at raising awareness and finding an “appropriate” solution, the group has formed B.R.A.D. — Barrington Residents for Appropriate Development. More than 300 residents joined the group’s Facebook presence in less than a week.

“Those gathered today are just a small sampling of concerned residents hailing from all areas of our town and representing all stages of life, but sharing common concerns about the impact of this proposed ‘city’ on our town,” Neile Hartman said while reading a prepared statement. 

She said the group’s goal is three-fold: First is to educate. 

“There is little awareness town-wide that this plan is officially under review and little knowledge of the dramatic negative impact its approval would have on every resident and taxpayer,” she said. 

B.R.A.D. is also looking to organize the resident base who will be impacted by the development. The group aims at representing the “collective desires” of Barrington residents and moving towards a sustainable and mutually beneficial development that is appropriate for the community. 

The group’s third goal is to act on the situation facing Barrington.

“We are prepared to take all actions necessary to protect Barrington’s future,” Hartman said. 

B.R.A.D. is also working to get ahead of expected criticisms. 

“We are not anti-development,” Hartman said. “We are for appropriate, smart development especially that which successfully addresses long known needs in our community, such as affordable senior housing, affordable housing for adults with disabilities, field space, conservation, expanding our commercial tax base.”

The group is not anti-affordable housing, said Hartman. 

“There is no question that there is a housing crisis in Rhode Island. We welcome everyone to Barrington. It is a special place and we want to share our town with as many as we can while also preserving what makes it special for decades to come,” she said.

Those gathered at the library point to the facts and figures shared in the proposed plan — the project includes 25 percent of its housing as affordable. But B.R.A.D. members said that when contrasted with the vast number of market rate units planned for Belton Court Village, the affordable housing does very little to move Barrington closer to the goal of offering 10 percent of its housing stock as affordable housing. In fact, the project would result in less than 1 percent shift in the town’s affordable housing. 

Burden on Barrington

Residents discussed a variety of topics related to the proposed development at Thursday night’s meeting. They spoke about the Barrington Planning Board’s role in the development, other housing approaches for the property, and the impacts the current plan would have on Barrington. 

B.R.A.D. members pointed to the increased traffic the development would place on local roads and the strain it would force on Barrington Public Schools. The group estimated that the 344-unit development would bring hundreds of new students to local schools — the low-end estimate was 341, while the high-end estimate was 848.

Residents at the meeting said that is simply too many students than local schools can handle… even after the buildings are renovated as part of the $250 million school construction project. 

In addition, residents pointed to increase strain on the Barrington Fire Department, Police Department, and Public Works. They also shared concerns about water run-off into neighboring residences — that is an issue they already face and expect would become much worse. 

B.R.A.D. members also questioned why the proposal neglects open space and accommodations for older residents. 

Residents said the proposal fails to comply with the Barrington Comprehensive Plan and the Barrington Safe Streets Plan.