Warwick Comprehensive Plan
City of Warwick, Rhode Island, Warwick, RI
Embracing opportunity and managing risk, Warwick plans for resilience
Warwick, Rhode Island, a coastal suburban city on Narragansett Bay, in 2010 suffered extensive flooding of the Pawtuxet River along I-95. Goody Clancy worked with the city to update its comprehensive plan through an extensive community engagement process. This 21st century plan will help the city become a more connected, prosperous and sustainable community, building on current efforts to enhance historic villages, promote transit-oriented development at the intermodal Warwick Station, and improve neighborhood quality of life. The plan also provides recommendations on energy efficiency and resilience, particularly in relation to flood risks and the potential for coastal sea rise in coming decades.
Notable aspects of the plan focus on:
- Walkable, mixed-use village centers that add new living options to the city’s traditional single-family suburban neighborhoods and provide centers of community activity
- “Right-sizing” retail along arterial corridors
- An Innovation District to transform an underutilized industrial area located near I-95 and the train station
- A coordinated program to manage the impacts of development to reduce pollution in fresh and coastal waters
- Proactive engagement with the state’s climate change planning initiatives
