Middletown First-AIPC design Consultant

Newport Daily News

May 14, 2003

By Matt Sheley/Daily News staff

MIDDLETOWN - Drive down West Main Road and the commercial influence is obvious.

Signs for major hotel and restaurant chains are mixed in with strip malls, apartment complexes and the occasional home. Thick, black power lines crisscross high above the busy road.

While local officials acknowledge that commercial development plays an important role in the community and is here to stay, they're working to find a way to improve its overall look.

The Aquidneck Island Planning Commission recently hired a consulting firm - Taylor & Partners Ltd. of Newport - to come up with draft regulations that would make this goal easier to accomplish. A similar effort is under way in Newport and Portsmouth through the commission.

"Aquidneck Island is unique and many of the people who live here are sensitive to their environment and their surroundings," said Kelly Woodward, planning commission coordinator. "Over the years, people have consistently brought up the need to improve the visual environment so there are still scenic vistas and everyone has the ability to drive down the road without being distracted."

Woodward said the first step was for Taylor & Partners to meet with planning officials in the three communities to get their input on how they would like their commercial areas to look.

From there, she said Taylor & Partners would compile draft design standards for each community. The planning commission awarded the firm's $20,000 contract in mid-April.

Feedback from residents and business owners plays an important role in the process, Woodward said, when the draft regulations would likely be presented this fall at a public meeting.

In Middletown, Town Planner Ronald Wolanski said a Planning Board subcommittee sat down with Taylor & Partners officials recently to talk about what they felt the town was looking for. The subcommittee also reviewed its existing regulations and photos of construction around town that was desired and not so desirable.

Besides sprucing up the look of those areas, Wolanski said the new regulations should help clarify the town's existing codes, which can be confusing in places.

"There are a number of different ideas out there and this will help clarify what we already have and what we need," Wolanski said. "This will mean that there will be a townwide design standard that's easy to understand."

Because each municipality likely would have different desires when it comes to design standards, Woodward said it's likely they will each propose their own regulations. The draft rules would have to be presented and approved by the planning boards and city or town councils in each community.

To help spread the word about each proposal, an educational campaign including pamphlets and other materials are expected to be part of the process.

"It will allow every commercial development to know what we're looking for in terms of design and everyone will be following the same rules," Wolanski said.

One of the major issues is getting businesses that don't comply with the design regulations to change their signs, designs and other architecture to meet the yet-to-be-proposed rules. Incentives are being considered as one way to spur the switch.

Woodward said the effort is not intended to single out the business community.

"We don't want to impose undue burdens on the business community," Woodward said. "We want to make Middletown and the whole island a better place to do business. Many of the businesses that are here come because of the quality of life and this will only improve it."


	Newport Daily News May 14, 2003 Planners explore clutter cleanup By Matt Sheley/Daily News staff MIDDLETOWN - Drive down West Main Road and the commercial influence is obvious. Signs for major hotel and restaurant chains are mixed in with strip malls, apartment complexes and the occasional home. Thick, black power lines crisscross high above the busy road. While local officials acknowledge that commercial development plays an important role in the community and is here to stay, they're working to find a way to improve its overall look. The Aquidneck Island Planning Commission recently hired a consulting firm - Taylor & Partners Ltd. of Newport - to come up with draft regulations that would make this goal easier to accomplish. A similar effort is under way in Newport and Portsmouth through the commission. "Aquidneck Island is unique and many of the people who live here are sensitive to their environment and their surroundings," said Kelly Woodward, planning commission coordinator. "Over the years, people have consistently brought up the need to improve the visual environment so there are still scenic vistas and everyone has the ability to drive down the road without being distracted." Woodward said the first step was for Taylor & Partners to meet with planning officials in the three communities to get their input on how they would like their commercial areas to look. From there, she said Taylor & Partners would compile draft design standards for each community. The planning commission awarded the firm's $20,000 contract in mid-April. Feedback from residents and business owners plays an important role in the process, Woodward said, when the draft regulations would likely be presented this fall at a public meeting. In Middletown, Town Planner Ronald Wolanski said a Planning Board subcommittee sat down with Taylor & Partners officials recently to talk about what they felt the town was looking for. The subcommittee also reviewed its existing regulations and photos of construction around town that was desired and not so desirable. Besides sprucing up the look of those areas, Wolanski said the new regulations should help clarify the town's existing codes, which can be confusing in places. "There are a number of different ideas out there and this will help clarify what we already have and what we need," Wolanski said. "This will mean that there will be a townwide design standard that's easy to understand." Because each municipality likely would have different desires when it comes to design standards, Woodward said it's likely they will each propose their own regulations. The draft rules would have to be presented and approved by the planning boards and city or town councils in each community. To help spread the word about each proposal, an educational campaign including pamphlets and other materials are expected to be part of the process. "It will allow every commercial development to know what we're looking for in terms of design and everyone will be following the same rules," Wolanski said. One of the major issues is getting businesses that don't comply with the design regulations to change their signs, designs and other architecture to meet the yet-to-be-proposed rules. Incentives are being considered as one way to spur the switch. Woodward said the effort is not intended to single out the business community. "We don't want to impose undue burdens on the business community," Woodward said. "We want to make Middletown and the whole island a better place to do business. Many of the businesses that are here come because of the quality of life and this will only improve it."