08-R359
2008 -- S 3165 AS AMENDED
Enacted 06/26/08
S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL
LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION TO REVIEW THE PROJECT APPROVAL PROCESSES FOR THE
QUONSET DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Introduced By: Senators
Sheehan, Blais, Paiva-Weed, Sosnowski, and McCaffrey
Date Introduced: June 26,
2008
WHEREAS,
The Quonset Development Corporation is a special purpose subsidiary of
the
Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, a quasi-public company,
responsible for
the
development and management of more than 3,000 acres at Quonset Business Park;
and
WHEREAS,
The Quonset Business Park is home to over 160 businesses and nearly 8,200
employees;
and
WHEREAS,
The Quonset Business Park is located on former federal lands that were
occupied
by the Quonset Point Navel Air Station and the Davisville Construction
Battalion
Center;
and
WHEREAS,
A Settlement Agreement was signed on November 21, 1979 by the Rhode
Island
Port Authority, the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, the State of
Rhode
Island,
the Conservation Law Foundation, Ecology Action for Rhode Island, Aquidneck
Island
Ecology,
Save The Bay, the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and the Coastal Resources
Management
Council that clarified the intention of the Port Authority and the State with
respect
to
the development of certain areas of Quonset Point; and
WHEREAS,
This Agreement established procedures for review of proposals by the Port
Authority
and the Economic Development Corporation; and
WHEREAS,
Nearly a decade later, The Rhode Island Comprehensive Land Use and
Planning
Act was enacted in 1988 that provided municipalities with procedures for
planning,
review
and implementation of development projects; and
WHEREAS,
The Settlement Agreement and the changes made to the General Laws in
1988
should be complementary; now, therefor be it
RESOLVED,
That a special legislative study commission be and the same is hereby
created
consisting of nine (9) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the
Senate, not
more
than two (2) from the same political party to be appointed by the Senate
President; three (3)
of
whom shall be representatives from the Town of North Kingstown, to be appointed
by the
Town
Council President; one of whom shall be a representative from the Quonset
Development
Corporation,
to be appointed by the Chairperson; one of whom shall be from the Rhode Island
Economic
Development Corporation, to be appointed by the Chairperson; and one of whom
shall
be
a representative of the Statewide Planning Program, to be appointed by the
Director of
Administration.
The
purpose of said commission shall be to:
1.
Make a comprehensive study of the existing review and approval processes that
are in
place
for projects located at Quonset Point, that were included in the Settlement
Agreement
signed
on November 21, 1979;
2.
Examine the existing review and approval processes that are in place for the
Town of
North
Kingstown for projects located at Quonset Point;
3.
Review the role of the State Planning Council for projects located at Quonset
Point;
4.
Review the processes in place should a proposal on Quonset property be found to
be in
non-conformance
with the approved Comprehensive Plan of North Kingstown;
5. Review the processes in place should a proposal on Quonset property be found
to be in
non-conformance
with the State Guide Plan; and
6. Formulate recommendations for amendments, changes and improvements that
could be
made
to clarify the processes for review and approval of projects located at Quonset
Point.
Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall
meet at
the
call of the President of the Senate and organize and shall select from among
the legislators, a
chairperson.
Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original
appointment.
The
membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.
All
departments and agencies of the state, including, but not limited to the
Quonset
Development
Corporation and the Economic Development Corporation, shall furnish such advice
and
information, documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is
deemed
necessary
or desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.
The
Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to
provide
suitable
quarters for said commission; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the commission shall report its finding and recommendations to the
Senate
and the Governor of the State of Rhode Island no later than January 29, 2009,
and said
commission
shall expire on June 29, 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit
duly certified copies of this resolution to the Governor of the State of Rhode
Island, the
President
of the North Kingstown Town Council, the Director of the Rhode Island Economic
Development
Corporation, the Chairperson of the Quonset Development Corporation, and the
Chairman
of the State Planning Council.
=======
LC03278
========