To the editor:

Honorable members of the Bristol Town Council:

Downtown Bristol is unique. There is no other place like it in Rhode Island. We do not want to become another Newport — which is why amendment of the Zoning Map and Ordinance Text with respect to land located at 125 Thames St. (Robin Rug amendment) is a very bad idea.

The existing Comprehensive Plan for this portion of downtown is consistent with the goals of the community to limit population density, promote availability of affordable housing, promote economic development and public use in the downtown area. The proposed amendment ignores these goals, instead promoting the individual financial interests of one developer. My understanding is that this developer previously agreed to existing terms in the Comprehensive Plan but now is pushing for an unfair advantage. To allow him this benefit would be at a high cost for the rest of us.

Thames Street and our waterfront is a precious commodity owned by all Bristolians. Our downtown serves the community providing enjoyment and quality of life. Housing in downtown should be available to all of us, not limited to those who can afford luxury living spaces. Downtown is where we go for shopping, dining, and outdoor activities, hence the Comprehensive Plan’s requirement for ample commercial and/or public space, not just apartments and/or condos for the wealthy. If this developer wants density and unfair profit, then his development should go somewhere else.

I expect the developer is asking for this radical change in the law, hoping for some compromise. But compromise requires give and take, and this developer has nothing of any value to give to citizens of the Bristol. Meeting this developer halfway is simply giving him half of what he wants with nothing for us in return. Payment in leu of (fill in the blank) is not a compromise; it is selling us out.

Please protect our citizens interests, keep downtown Bristol unique, and oppose the Robin Rug amendment in its entirety.

Charlie Payne
1 Portside Road