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.

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LC03278

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