Create – Plan – Implement
The Planning Department is responsible for creating and implementing plans to achieve the City’s vision for the future. We also remain actively engaged in state and regional planning efforts.
Comprehensive Plan
The State of Rhode Island requires all municipalities to develop a comprehensive plan to guide development decisions and to establish the basis for zoning ordinances and other land use regulation tools. The plan must address community concerns such as housing, parks, transportation, community services and many others. In Providence Tomorrow you will find all of the required elements and a few others such as sustainability, the city’s built environment, and the arts. You will also find discussions about growth and change and where and how the city plans for future development.
Providence Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan
Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map
Neighborhood Plans
As part of the Providence Tomorrow planning initiative, ten Neighborhood Plans and one Special Area Plan were completed. These plans were developed through extensive public engagement and have each been approved by the City Plan Commission.
Approved 12/14/2010
Charles & Wanskuck Neighborhood Plan
Charles & Wanskuck Neighborhood Plan Map
Approved 2/22/2010
West End, Federal Hill & Reservoir Neighborhood Plan
West End, Federal Hill & Reservoir Neighborhood Plan Map
Approved 2/22/2010
Hartford, Manton & Silver Lake Neighborhood Plan
Hartford, Manton & Silver Lake Neighborhood Plan Map
Approved 1/19/2010
Upper South Providence, Lower South Providence & Elmwood Neighborhood Plan
Upper South Providence, Lower South Providence & Elmwood Neighborhood Plan Map
Approved 12/1/2009
College Hill, Wayland & Fox Point Neighborhood Plan
College Hill, Wayland & Fox Point Neighborhood Plan Map
Approved 10/20/2009
Mt. Hope, Hope & Blackstone Neighborhood Plan
Mt. Hope, Hope & Blackstone Neighborhood Plan Map
Approved 10/20/2009
Elmhurst & Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Plan
Elmhurst & Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Plan Map
Approved 9/15/2009
Olneyville, Valley & Smith Hill Neighborhood Plan
Olneyville, Valley & Smith Hill Neighborhood Plan Map
Approved 9/15/2009
Washington Park & South Elmwood Neighborhood Plan
Washington Park & South Elmwood Neighborhood Plan Map
Approved 8/18/2009
Approved 12/15/2009
Environmental Planning
Environmental Planning covers a wide range of issues, including, but not limited to, sustainability in the context of escalating energy concerns, degradation of natural resources and climate change.
Harbor Management Plan (HMP)
The Harbor Management Plan for the City of Providence is currently being drafted in accordance with State guidelines. The purpose of the HMP is to:
- Provide a comprehensive and continuous evaluation of municipal harbor management activities;
- Provide for a detailed assessment of current and/or proposed municipal harbor management programs, ordinances or regulations to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory and management requirements of the State of Rhode Island; and
- Delegate the primary management authority and responsibilities of consistent local harbor management programs to the municipalities.
Guidelines for the Development of Municipal Harbor Management Plans, State of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, revised 2009
In accordance with State law, a Harbormaster was appointed in 2011 and a Harbor Commission was recently appointed to oversee the HMP and the Harbormaster.
Flood Zone Management
The Planning Department is the designated flood plain management agency for the City and oversees the adoption and maintenance of flood zone regulations and the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) in collaboration with other departments according to National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and FEMA regulations. Special Flood Hazard Areas regulations were amended in 2009 (Section 423 of the Zoning Ordinance) along with the adoption of new digitized FIRMs. The maps should be updated in the next 2-3 years to reflect new information developed in consultation with City staff. This process includes the HAZUS and Risk MAP projects and periodic meetings with planning, emergency management and other City staff. Concurrently, the Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a 4-municipality Woonasquatucket Flood Reconnaissance Study, a preliminary study of conditions which could set the stage for a feasibility study to address implementation strategies for flood control and mitigation, particularly in the Olneyville and Valley neighborhoods.
To find out if your property is in a flood plain, click here.
Stormwater Management
Department staff participated in review of the 2009 RI Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual and related LID (Low Impact Development) Guidelines, emphasizing the urban perspective. Innovative approaches to managing a decaying and overburdened stormwater system are encouraged in the Providence Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan and grant funding sources for implementation continue to be sought.
Urban Agriculture
Through participation on the Urban Agriculture Task Force, by amending the comprehensive plan, zoning and other regulations, in community forums, and through efforts to identify appropriate land for community gardens and a variety of urban agriculture practices, Department staff supports the continued growth of urban agriculture in Providence.
Electric Vehicle Readiness Support
Staff supports the efforts of Project Get Ready RI and Ocean State Clean Cities, the latter through participation in the Plug-in Readiness and Strategic Planning Grant stakeholders group.
Planning for Climate Change
Staff participates regularly in conferences and workshops on Climate Change and Sea Level Rise (SLR), continues to amend the comprehensive plan to improve public and private practices, and has given presentations on planning for climate change.
Hazard Mitigation/Emergency Planning
Staff received hazard mitigation training through FEMA, participated in preparation of the local Hazard Mitigation Plan and coordinates regularly with Providence Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) staff. Staff also participates in quarterly meetings of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).
Compost Initiative
Staff supports the efforts of the RI Compost Initiative and has amended the comprehensive plan to include several measures encouraging development of a citywide and/or regional composting program, as well as smaller efforts at the residential and institutional level.
Transportation Planning
Complete Streets
The City of Providence continues to work towards making sure that our streets are “Complete Streets”– streets that are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Complete Streets make it easy to cross the street, walk to shops, and bicycle to work. In 2011, the City of Providence passed a Complete Streets resolution.
In 2012, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission was established in order to provide input on the provision of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in Providence and in 2016, the role of the Commission was expanded to provide more direct feedback and review of the City’s plans for our streets to ensure that they are designed with Complete Streets policies in mind. (Click here to learn more about the Commission.)
We are continuing to advance this work by training City staff and neighborhood leaders in Complete Streets policy, conducting a Vulnerable Road Users Safety Action Plan and an audit of all City policies and procedures, and completing projects including the Fountain Street improvement project. To learn more about the City’s Complete Streets initiatives, please contact Martina Haggerty.
Bike Providence Master Plan Update
UPDATE: The City of Providence is currently working to update portions of the Bike Providence Master Plan. For more information on the bike plan update process, please contact Martina Haggerty.
The Bike Providence Master Plan provides the framework to identify, prioritize and implement bicycle facilities in the City of Providence. All new developments and redevelopments are encouraged to follow the recommendations of the Plan, in addition to requirements set forth by other federal, state, and local regulations. Click here for the Bike Providence Master Plan.
USDOT Mayors’ Challenge for Safer People, Safer Streets
In 2015, USDOT Secretary Foxx issued a challenge to mayors and local elected officials throughout the country to take significant action to improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. The City of Providence is thrilled to participate in the Mayors’ Challenge and will be working with the Providence Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission to accomplish key tasks associated with the Challenge.
Olneyville Circulator Study
Led by the City of Providence, in partnership with the Olneyville Housing Corporation, this study summarizes the existing transportation system serving the Olneyville Square area; identifies existing and future areas of traffic congestion; evaluate the impacts of potential circulation changes, and suggests potential implementation phases. Click here for the Olneyville Circulator Study.
RIPTA Comprehensive Operational Analysis
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) performed a statewide evaluation of services called a Comprehensive Operational Analysis (or COA). The COA identified the transit system’s strengths and weaknesses and determine where resources should be redirected to better serve customers and attract more riders.
Transportation Corridors to Livable Communities
Recipient of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Planning Association’s Paul Davidoff Award
In 2010, the City was awarded a Community Planning Challenge Grant through HUD’s Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities to conduct the Transportation Corridors to Livable Communities study. The project focused on transit, land use, and arts and cultural planning along the highest ridership bus routes in the city– Broad Street, Chalkstone Avenue, Elmwood Avenue, Manton Avenue, and North Main Street. Click here to view the Transportation Corridors to Livable Communities study.
As part of this effort, RIPTA began running the R-Line, the first Rapid Bus corridor in the state, along Broad and North Main streets, connecting Providence to downtown Pawtucket in June 2014. You can also follow them on Twitter: @RIPTA_RLine.
Bike-Share Study and Implementation
In 2011, the City conducted a bike-share feasibility study with Alta Planning + Design. The study includes an in-depth review of bike share systems and technologies in other cities throughout the U.S and the world, makes recommendations for a possible bike-share program in Providence, and details the capital funding requirements for a bike-share system. Click here to view the Providence Public Bike-Share Feasibility Study.
Transit 2020
In 2009, RIPTA completed the Metropolitan Providence Transit Enhancement Study, recommending ten strategies for improving transit within the metropolitan area. Click here for more information on the study.
FREIGHT IN PROVIDENCE
In 2018 – 2019 the Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning organized and led a municipal freight scan to raise awareness about the freight movements that occur within the City of Providence and the impact that freight has on the local economy. The municipal freight scan is an outgrowth of the 2016 State of Rhode Island Freight and Goods Movement Plan
The project also aimed to equip Providence’s elected and appointed officials, as well as staff of the municipal planning, permitting, and public works departments with an increased understanding of freight infrastructure needs, operations, and trends so they have a greater capacity to address freight issues at the local level. The movement of freight is an important feature of local and regional planning that ties into economic development, environmental, land use, and transportation concerns.
Some of the activities undertaken as part of this initiative include:
- Review of the freight related sections of the Providence Comprehensive Plan
- Conduct meetings and surveys with stakeholders regarding freight movements and infrastructure
- Prepare municipal level specific freight data
- Organize site visits and facility tours of representative freight facilities
- Present freight information to elected officials and municipal staff
The following GIS Storymap is the outcome of this Freight Scan Project and presents information about the state and municipal freight networks, the City of Providence land use planning goals and actions relating to freight, and socio-economic data about the City of Providence. Additionally, the GIS Storymap provides and an overview of port and harbor facilities and a narrative of a specific organization’s supply chain logistics which were reviewed as part of this project.
City of Providence GIS Story Map 2019
Historic Preservation Planning
The Department of Planning and Development strives to preserve the historic buildings, districts and areas that contribute positively to Providence’s urban fabric. Historic Preservation Planning covers a wide range of issues, including, but not limited to, the protection and preservation of historic resources citywide through the use of design standards, historic district zoning and other tools, uncovering distinct cultural values in the neighborhoods and taking steps to honor their significance, and supporting efforts to educate Providence residents on the importance of historic preservation.
Additional Planning Initiatives
Zoning
Click here for the City of Providence’s Zoning Ordinance
ARC GIS Viewer Service
These applications, based on the ArcGIS Online framework, provide access to municipal data on ongoing development projects, parcels, zoning, census, flood and parks, as well as other initiatives. These viewers work on IOS and Android platforms. Note: users may need to click the “View Full Site” link. Click here to access the viewers.
