The purpose of this project is to review, revise, and leverage the Town of Narragansett’s ordinances, policies, and incentives that address land use, green infrastructure/low impact development, open space, stormwater, and flooding (this list is not exhaustive and may include additional types of regulations). Implementation of this project will help to reduce risk of climate change impacts to public infrastructure, private property, natural resources, and human safety and welfare. During Narragansett’s Municipal Resilience Program Community resilience building process and workshop held in October 2022, participants identified the following hazards as top concerns for the Town: coastal flooding, hurricanes and tropical storms, nor’easters and blizzards, and extensive droughts. Additional hazards highlighted by participants during the workshop included extended cold snaps and heat waves, particularly during peak tourist season. These hazards have direct and increasing impacts on the infrastructure, environment, and residents of and visitors to Narragansett. These effects are seen in residential areas, natural areas (wetlands, estuaries, beaches and dunes, forests, preserves), roads, bridges, causeways, port facilities, businesses, transportation, municipal facilities, churches, social support services, and other critical infrastructure and community assets within Narragansett. The Town identified the following related actions as priorities through the MRP Process: • Seek out ways to address flooded causeways (i.e., Bonnet Shores, Harbour Island, Great Island) including elevating causeways. This would allow for additional water flow and would create a net positive environmental impact. • Initiate study to determine where impervious surface removal can be conducted on a town-wide scale. Then conduct outreach and provide incentives for residents and property owners to reduce or limit the amount of impervious surface on their properties. In addition, look to remove impervious surfaces from areas within floodplain to potentially improve FEMA’s Community Rating System designation for Narragansett. • Conduct educational outreach to residents about the conservation and beneficial use of natural systems (i.e., green stormwater infrastructure, bioswales, wetlands, etc.) to improve water supply, increase infiltration, and help reduce localized flooding. • improve water supply, increase infiltration, and help reduce localized flooding.
