This Wednesday at 5:30PM the RI DEM is conducting a “Farmland Acquisition Rules and Regulations” workshop intended to take a huge step toward bringing under state control the small business farms in Rhode Island and to divert this money to future efforts to advance the RhodeMapRI/Land Use 2025 agenda.  Instead of helping small family farms advance their efforts to grow and prosper, the state wants to destroy their right to live and operate as they have for generations. 

The stated goal of Rhode Island’s Land Use 2025 plan is that “63 percent or more of the State’s landscape would remain as open, undeveloped land in 2025,” and this new initiative is the first big step forward.  Farms are being targeted because those that are left have been regulated into stagnation and represent one of the largest single percentages of the land throughout the state.

This assault on our family farms is insidiously scheduled for a public hearing on the same day the Washington County Fair is to open.  It is evident that this was intentionally done so that those who have prepared for the event all year have to choose between standing up for their rights or participating in the start of their most important event of the year.

Consider the audacity the state of Rhode Island enlists its power in regard to this property grab.  As stated in the document announcing the meeting and their intent to acquire family farms:

“The terms and provisions of these rules and regulations shall be liberally construed to permit the Department to effectuate the purposes of state law, goals and policies.”

In other words, as long as the rules are not specified, the unelected bureaucrats in the RI DEM will grant themselves the power to interpret these new rules and regulations in any way they see fit.

PRARI members are strongly advised to attend this meeting and show their support for the family farms that will be at the meeting and standing up for their rights.  This is the start of the slippery slope intended to destroy the property rights of every Rhode Islander.

Please share this information everywhere and join us on Wednesday.  Details:

235 Promenade Street
Room 300
Providence, Rhode Island 02908 

Cordially,

The volunteers of PRARI

RhodeMap RI and the Transfer of Development Rights documents are long and complicated, yet everyone in Rhode Island must make every effort to understand them due to the huge impact both have on the future of our state.

The video above will help RI citizens understand these plans by citing key quotes throughout both documents and then explaining their relevance and effect on our lives.  The citizens of PRARI urge all Rhode Islanders to watch this video as soon as possible due to the urgent nature of taking action against these plans.

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Sal Carceller's analysis of Rhode Map RI where he answers the questions, is this plan is a economic recovery plan? Who's plan is it? Was it planned by RI citizens and businesses?

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Local expert on RhodeMap RI Gary Morse's presentation on Rhodemap RI for members of PRARI [Property Rights Alliance of Rhode Island]:

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Mike Stenhouse spoke at the RhodeMap RI public forum in North Kingstown, RI.

According to Transfer of Development Rights Plan:

1.  Pg. 13;

" This type of TDR program would require much closer, hands-on involvement by the local government or by a non-profit organization dedicated to achieving the specific transfers, rather than depending on the workings of the real estate market."

Conclusion:  Laws must be drafted to prevent non-profit, non-governmental organizations from acquiring such power over citizens.

2.  Pg. 16 ("ISSUES AFFECTING TDR FEASIBILITY IN SOUTH COUNTY" and now all of Rhode Island now that RhodeMap is approved):

" Under Rhode Island statute, overlay districts may only be used to add more restrictive requirements to the underlying zoning, and not to allow more flexibility.  Therefore, while the sending area could be restricted through the creation of an overlay district, it is probably not possible under the current statute to use an overlay district approach for receiving areas. Instead, it would be necessary to provide for an increase in density (with the acquisition of transferable development rights) through the land development project process, either by amending the existing zoning district regulations or by creating a new zoning district. (Another alternative would be to seek an amendment to the definition of “overlay district” contained in the General Laws.)"

Conclusion:  These laws must be strengthened and the definition of an "overlay district" must be clearly established.