Glocester Land Use Summary
Discussed at the Planning Board Meeting on July 15, 2013
For Discussion Purposes Only
A Twenty Year Vision for Glocester
It's July 1, 2033, well into the first quarter of the 21st century, and Glocester is a thriving community that has maintained its rural atmosphere and has avoided the wastefulness and sprawl that took over many American small towns in the late 20th century. Instead, Glocester harnessed the potential of its many economic and cultural assets to insure a vibrant, neigh-borly, self-sustaining community for its residents and businesses.
Almost twenty–five years before this date, the United States had been in the grip of a severe recession that brought economic hardship and unemployment to record levels, especially in Rhode Island. At that time, Glocester was less affected by unemployment, having a lower unemployment rate than did the state as a whole. However, most residents still commuted to other towns to work, to shop or to visit. But a trend was developing where the resident labor force was working in the town. That trend was encouraged, and now twenty years later, a larger percentage of residents worked in the town than was the case in 2013.
With the Great Recession of 2008 a distant memory, Glocester remains resilient to the ups and downs of regional and national economic trends. They are delighted that they do not have to commute elsewhere to earn a living and to maintain an up-to-date residence in a community imbued with a sense of history and culture. Most of our residents meet their daily needs by shopping at local businesses and purchasing food at local markets filled with locally grown produce. Or they walk to one of several farmers’ markets to buy fresh fruit and vege-tables, many of them grown on the farms in Glocester.
Glocester’s forward-looking policies have encouraged a vigorous creative economy that promotes locally-based businesses and service industries, including growing agricultural businesses, a thriving arts community, and companies that specialize in alternative energy and similar innovative technologies. We see far less traffic congestion because many residents walk to work, while others make regular use of alternative transportation, including bicycles and electric cars.
Glocester’s robust 2033 economy attracts young families to the town and allows "empty-nesters" to remain in their homes. Chepachet, the largest and most prominent of the villages, was the seat of government and a bustling trading center since the 18th all the way through to the 21st century. It has maintained its traditional character and human scale which continues to thrive. Its eastern neighbor, Harmony, also continues to flourish.
In addition to the village centers, neighborhoods that cluster around Waterman Lake, Echo Lake, Lake Washington, Bowdich Reservoir, Ponagansett Reservoir and Spring Grove con-tinue to provide decent and affordable housing for families of all ages. The housing stock has been well–maintained as reflected in the pride of ownership that this generation has inherited from the last.
Throughout Glocester we see the best of small town America: a vibrant, neighborly, sustain-able community for residents of all ages and stages of life.
This is a vision for Glocester was set in 2013. This vision can happen because of the prudent and careful planning that the Town's leaders engaged in to take the best of the past, face the future with confidence and forge a way forward that can realize the vision.
Reply
Ray Goff
7/19/2013 01:18:32 am
We had a nice discussion on Monday night regarding where people believe Glocester can go in the next 20 years. One idea that gained some traction was that of Equine/Horse related businesses. This includes the boarding of horses, tack shops, blacksmith shops, and others. The feeling was that if we could make the Town ordinances friendly to these types of businesses, there is enought pent up desire in the state to make Glocester a place that people first think of when it comes to Equine/Horse business.
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Ray Goff
7/19/2013 01:22:34 am
In talking to some folks in town of the idea of Equine/Horse related businesses, I learned that there is a desire to hold events such as Hunter Pace events in this area of the country. Apparently there is a large amount of people who attend these events and they do this over a weekend.
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Larry Desormier JR
7/19/2013 08:59:57 pm
I like that idea of a Equine/ horse related businesses it keeps the town rural, yet brings business to local shops. I was thinking of maybe a hockey rink towards the RT 94 area might be a idea. The rink could be used by the Ponaganset High School hockey team, which might help develop a girls hockey team as well. I am sure there would be a large group of local hockey players that live in the area that might be interested in using these facilities for their leagues as well as give the people of this town a recreational place to use for ice skating, birthday parties, and events place. just a few thoughts, hope you don't mind my input. Larry
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