Uwanted Development

Exeter believes that the Route 2/102 western intersection bordering North Kingstown and Exeter should be preserved as a viable Rural Gateway to Exeter and SouthCounty. The significance of this location as a transition from a region of high intensity/activity to a rural/agricultural character is worthy of protection and enhancement, not exploitation. The so-called Compact Village District (CVD) is disproportionally commercial and is contradictory to the concept of a Rural Gateway!

Exeter is concerned and disappointed that the North Kingstown Town Council changed course and increased the Preserve at Rolling Greens commercial development from 10,000 SF to 26,000 SF+. It is important to note that the CVD proposed at this unique location fails both as a CVD and as a Rural Gateway because it delineates an abrupt and stark line of .high density residential and commercial development juxtaposed against the rural/agricultural character along Route 2 southward and Route 102 westward.

North Kingstown officials continue to ignore these facts in order to accommodate the Preserve at Rolling Greens. Apparently, North Kingstown’s vision for development at this location is to replicate the commercial congestion brought by Big Box type stores like Home Depot and Stop & Shop just down the road. What commercial businesses are the North Kingstown officials considering to initiate their vision? One cannot dismiss the possibility that the increased commercial square footage along with the lack of progress to construct a CVS store at the former Park-N-Ride is seriously being considered, if not already strategically decided for relocation to the Preserve at Rolling Greens.

That scenario, if realized, would worsen the already negative implications of a CVD at this location resulting in the destruction of a unique and vital transition to rural SouthCounty. The added commercial development will create an abrupt change that is incompatible with the area residential neighborhoods and farms. Also, it will create development pressures on the area farms and promote continued suburban sprawl and commercial strip development deep into SouthCounty