Laws and Programs 



" developing and implementing technical standards for review of local comprehensive 

 plans, 



• revising and implementing the Narragansett Bay Basin Plan, 303e basin plans, 201 

 facilities plans, and environmentally-related elements of the State Guide Plan, 



• serving on CRMC subcommittees and participating in CRMC permit review 



• defining environmental policies to be applied statewide in local land use decision- 

 making 



• working with DEM to develop the RIGIS database. 



• assisting towns in planning for other community needs and interests, including 

 economic development, special land uses, transportation, infrastructure, utilities, 

 other facilities planning; 



• other planning activities currentiy handled by the Division of Planning. 



LAND USE IMPACTS COUNCIL 



Form a Land Use Impacts Council (LUIC), as an adjunct committee to 

 the State Conservation Committee, to include equal executive representation from 

 DEM, the Narragansett Bay Project, CRMC, DOH, the Division of Planning, DOT, the 

 legislature, local community planners, the Conservation Districts, and interest groups. 

 The Council would provide an on-going forum for review and evaluation of 

 land use issues, and for circulation of agency research results. 



A key function of the LUIC would be to track agency progress in 

 responding to needs and recommendations articulated by task force groups, 

 outside study committees, citizens advisory committees, inter-agency 

 policy development groups, etc. The need for a discussion forum is evidenced by 

 these groups' current efforts to formalize follow-up functions in order to maintain contact 

 and monitor progress in implementing recommendations. 



In particular, there is a very clear need to provide a follow-through mechanism to 

 ensure that task force results are published, and presented for public review and comment, 

 and that the status of recommendations is reviewed on an annual or biannual basis. If 

 talented citizens (and academics in particular) are going to continue to involve themselves in 

 investigative and advisory roles, tiiey must be assured that the results of their efforts will be 

 considered and acted upon. 



Similarly, the LUIC would have as a high priority objective the clarification and 

 formalization of agency procedures. Within its first year of operation, the LUIC would 

 undertake a review of Coastal Council membership and appointment procedure, and would 

 prepare qualifications criteria and public review procedures to be applied in selection of 

 Council members. Finally, the LUIC would provide an important expert forum from 

 which which to educate the legislature regarding relevant issues and within which to draft 

 and review proposed legislation. 



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