Featured letter This letter was sent to the Town Council and the Planning Board and copied to the B.I. Times:

I write to urge you to consider the merits of hiring a town planner for Block Island.

There are numerous advantages in having a planner on staff, even if only part time.

I think you will find that the position will more than pay for itself, in many ways. The planner will be able to assist the Town in proactive approaches to the impacts of growth and development. In particular, a planner will be able to easily keep track of the development of federal and state legislation affecting the island. Initiating innovative legislative approaches beneficial to the island would be a helpful by-product.

The planner will also be able to assist in bringing federal and state grants to the island as well as funds from private foundation sources. There are numerous grant programs that the island should be taking advantage of relating to capital projects and operating support.

The planner will be extremely valuable in producing project review reports for the boards and commissions — particularly the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Zoning Board of Review, Historic District Commission, and for the Town Manager and Town Council. Traditionally these reports are offered as objective critiques on projects providing the boards with pros and cons for their deliberations. By including them in the discussion, the boards build a deliberative record on their decision-making which is of particular help later in court, if their decisions are contested.

The planner would be responsible for promoting and assisting with long-range comprehensive planning. This is a task that is not always followed through on by the boards and commissions, including the Planning Board and the Town Council, when it seems more important to put out the fires at hand. Often there is no time to pay attention to this valuable landmark. Without long range planning, however, communities never seem to get ahead of the game. There are particularly grave concerns for the island regarding the future, including:

• development of the harbor areas with increased demand for dock extensions and conflicts over land use;

• the continual pressure for more ferries with more summer visitors;

• preservation of the island's outstanding visual, historic and natural character;

• affordable housing for the island work force;

• sustainable economic development and island visitation;

• through the roof energy costs

• the increasing intensity and scale of commercial and residential land development projects affecting island character and its sense of place;

• and the seemingly insensitive treatment by mainland upstate interests, i.e., state government.

These issues should all be addressed in a comprehensive fashion and converted to workable implementation strategies. A qualified planner can provide valuable assistance in dealing with these issues. Usually the Comprehensive Plan is written as a guide for the future, but it may need updating to be more specific and useful for implementation. Many plans are simply too general to be of help on an ad hoc basis. A staff planner can bring a comprehensive plan alive as an action agenda. You need professional help in dealing with these issues on a continuous basis, in an integrated fashion.

Hiring a planner means that you are willing to take control of the future of the island, rather than allowing others to dictate its future or hold you hostage to their agenda.

I have had some 30 years of professional experience in community planning and historic preservation. I have worked with many of the towns in Rhode Island over the years and believe that hiring a planner to help cope with the problems that lie ahead for the island will be extremely beneficial to you and the community at large. I would be very happy to discuss the planner position with you at greater length or provide assistance in your deliberations.

Richard C. Youngken

Exec. Director, Dunn Foundation

Newport