To the editor:

Last week developer Brady Sullivan petitioned the Town Council to change Zoning Laws related to Robin Rug.

Brady’s 57-page petition, that no one wants to read, contains about 50 pages of nonsense that buries their request to change the law to:

• Create unlimited density;
• Allow 72% less commercial space on the waterfront, and;
• Exclude affordable housing from the site.
Brady calls these “slightly modified zone change(s).”

In 2010, the Town Council carefully reviewed Robin Rug while negotiating with Robin Industries to attain riparian rights. They wisely balanced conditions that favored Robin Industries, while preserving the Town’s vision found in the Comprehensive Plan. They allowed Robin Rug to double the already high density from 44 to 98 units. At the meeting, Town Councillor Halsey Herreshoff moved “that the absolute number of residential units shall not exceed ninety-eight (98).” It passed unanimously and the Zoning Law now prevents the Town Council from changing the density.

The law is found at Bristol MuniCode, Sec. 28-6. - which requires Compliance with Chapter, “Dimensional conformance. Nor shall the number of dwelling units or occupancy thereon be increased in any manner except in conformance with the dimensional requirements of this chapter.”

This is a specific law and is clear, but the developer wants it changed.
Brady doesn’t want the required 22,000-square-foot commercial space. The new marina is a perfect opportunity for the economic development this commercial space will provide on the waterfront. Brady wants it reduced by 72% to 6,300 square feet. Zoning precludes Town Council from reducing the space by more than 20%. This is a specific law and is clear, but the developer wants it changed.

Brady doesn’t want the 20% affordable housing at the site. Bristol is working to keep Bristolians from being driven out by high prices. Bristolians get priority for the affordable housing. This is a specific law and is clear, but the developer wants it changed.

Please ask the Town Council to reject the zoning changes to Bristol’s well-planned laws that would cancel Bristol’s long-term interests in favor of Brady’s short-term desire for higher profits.

Bristol’s Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Laws reflect Bristol’s long-term goals for the waterfront for now and future generations, to make Bristol’s waterfront the “gem of the East Bay.”

Please support keeping the number of units at 98, already the highest density in Bristol. Limit any reduction in Commercial Space to 20%, to boost economic development opportunities to serve the waterfront, and require 20% of the units as affordable housing to maintain Bristol’s diverse population and critical workforce.

A Rhode Island judge, in overturning a zoning decision, stated that “Comprehensive plans are written to provide a basis for rational decision making regarding the long-term physical development of the municipality" per RIGL Section 45-22.2-5(a)”.

This statement precludes making rash decisions to change zoning laws on demand. We all planned for a waterfront that is a viable, thriving, mixed use development. Let’s stick with the Plan.

Please attend the Public Hearing on July 13.

Marianne Bergenholtz
366 Hope Street