Spring Break
Editorial: Joint committee long overdue
Issue date: 11/20/07 Section: Editorial/Opinion
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11/20/07 - While the University of Rhode Island is looking to move into the scientific and technological future with its slew of planned projects, one group is being overlooked: the locals. Yesterday afternoon the South Kingstown Town Council voiced its concerns regarding a proposed research and technology park, an event that perhaps should have occurred sooner.
This research park directly affects the town as a whole and the planned joint committee of faculty and town officials should be applauded. However, there are too many questions that are left unanswered and the university is jeopardizing possible support by coming to the town with too little, too late.
The university waited until after a private consultant had delivered its report to meet with the full council. The university also waited until after plans for the park had been drafted to officially share them with the council. The lack of sharing seems particularly ironic when one considers the current town council president's late husband was a former URI president.
And the council should be rightly concerned. The usual quiet backyards of the neighboring community would be replaced with the continuous noise that would come from the research park. Having the park sit on land adjacent to Flagg Road would also mean that more traffic would pass through the back roads. And what about the infrastructure?
Any potential park will require new roads, new utilities and new fire coverage. The university alone cannot provide these services and will need to work with the town to secure them.
One need not look far for an example of a state agency leaving the locals in the dark. In neighboring North Kingstown a quasi-state agency known as the Quonset Development Corp. has plowed ahead with plans to develop a business park over the strong objections of residents and the North Kingstown Town Council. Is this something that the university wants to happen in our own backyard? Surly having the park will benefit the town, university and state as a whole, but for plans to successfully move forward all must be fully aware of the plans.
There must be constant input from both parties in order for the proposed park to work in the best interests of all. Community members must work with the university and continue to be active in all aspects of the planning process in order to make this work.
Success at this crucial stage will allow the two parties to work together if the park were to be built. Joining the two together will also steer the two parties into the right direction for future university and town relations, thus avoiding any similar instances from occurring ever again.
This research park directly affects the town as a whole and the planned joint committee of faculty and town officials should be applauded. However, there are too many questions that are left unanswered and the university is jeopardizing possible support by coming to the town with too little, too late.
The university waited until after a private consultant had delivered its report to meet with the full council. The university also waited until after plans for the park had been drafted to officially share them with the council. The lack of sharing seems particularly ironic when one considers the current town council president's late husband was a former URI president.
And the council should be rightly concerned. The usual quiet backyards of the neighboring community would be replaced with the continuous noise that would come from the research park. Having the park sit on land adjacent to Flagg Road would also mean that more traffic would pass through the back roads. And what about the infrastructure?
Any potential park will require new roads, new utilities and new fire coverage. The university alone cannot provide these services and will need to work with the town to secure them.
One need not look far for an example of a state agency leaving the locals in the dark. In neighboring North Kingstown a quasi-state agency known as the Quonset Development Corp. has plowed ahead with plans to develop a business park over the strong objections of residents and the North Kingstown Town Council. Is this something that the university wants to happen in our own backyard? Surly having the park will benefit the town, university and state as a whole, but for plans to successfully move forward all must be fully aware of the plans.
There must be constant input from both parties in order for the proposed park to work in the best interests of all. Community members must work with the university and continue to be active in all aspects of the planning process in order to make this work.
Success at this crucial stage will allow the two parties to work together if the park were to be built. Joining the two together will also steer the two parties into the right direction for future university and town relations, thus avoiding any similar instances from occurring ever again.
