January 11, 2023

Warwick Planning Board

c/o Warwick Planning Director Tom Kravitz

To Chair Slocum and Honorable Members of the Board:

We, the undersigned, respectfully request that the Planning Board vote to deny Master Plan approval for the 175 Post Road application.  The application should be denied because it is inconsistent with the Warwick Code of Ordinances and the Warwick Comprehensive Plan.

We remain steadfastly opposed to reckless industrial development on the Pawtuxet River. The City of Warwick can and should stand up for the principles of protecting the Pawtuxet River enshrined in city laws and the comprehensive plan.  Article IV of the Code of Ordinances, “Pawtuxet River Protection,” states that “it is hereby declared to be the policy of the city to provide for the preservation of the Pawtuxet River… and to protect wildlife and preserve the natural beauty of the river and its banks for the health, safety and general welfare of the people of the city.”  It further states that, “[i]t is the purpose of this article to… [p]rotect the environment, especially the Pawtuxet River and its environs, from the effects of improper or illegal disposal of waste…”  The Warwick Comprehensive Plan, too, explicitly calls on city policy makers to reject developments that pose a hazard to the Pawtuxet River.  See Part II, Section 4. 

Contrary to this stated city law and plan, the 175 Post Road application seeks to store oil, gas and other harmful chemicals on the banks of the Pawtuxet River, likely leading to the improper disposal of waste.  Indeed, ever since the current owners bought this property, the lot has been littered with all the various kinds of “waste” as defined in city ordinances, in addition to their flagrant violations of the law that resulted in DEM and city enforcement actions (see this video as an example).  The Pawtuxet River watershed in this exact location has seen extensive flooding and, as such, is designated as a federal flood plain and state wetlands.  Allowing the storage of harmful chemicals in a known flood zone can only lead to unmitigated environmental disaster involving one of Warwick’s natural gems.  

For these reasons, please protect the Pawtuxet and deny Master Plan Approval for 175 Post Road.

Respectfully,

The Undersigned Community Members