Preserving the Rural Character of Hopkinton, RI

I have to be honest. I am a new resident of Hopkinton. We moved here in July, 2009 and were enchanted with the place. The wide open spaces, the wildlife, the stars at night, the Great Horned owl calling his mate, the fireflies and my neighbors. The folks here are friendly, kind, caring and fiercely independent.

Three hundred homes are proposed for a tract of land in Hope Valley. Three hundred homes in an area which has no public water or sewer or trash pick up. Three hundred homes on a piece of property which is adjacent to one of Rhode Island's environmental/wildlife jewels: Arcadia Management Area. Three hundred homes in a town with a volunteer fire and rescue with access to a narrow country lane with a one-lane bridge.

You might think, they have over 300 acres, and the over all density will be 1.19 acres how much will this effect the town and the wildlife? Let me tell you a little story...

I used to live in Warwick. When we first moved into our home, there was a small patch of wetland acreage across the road. White tail deer would come to feed in this little patch of paradise and drink water from the brook. For years, the city would not allow building because of the wet characteristics of the land. The deer were happy and so were the neighbors. Jump ahead ten years. Someone decided that it was now okay to build three pretty ugly raised ranch houses. They sure did truck in a ton of fill. The adjacent neighbor's land started to flood every time it rained, and the deer were gone. They never returned.

Now you might ask, where the deer went. I can't be certain. We first thought they moved across the main road into another wooded area. For a couple of years, they were occasionally seen in those woods. Then the big development was approved. Somewhere in the vicinity of 200 homes were built. The deer were never seen. Now, this development consisted of homes priced $400,000 and up. More sprawl and what was the last sleepy country road in Warwick is on the verge of needing a traffic light.

This is not what I want for Hope Valley and I am sure you wouldn't either. We have to come together as a community and remind our planning board of the provisions in the town comprehensive plan.

Hopkinton Planning Board Meeting
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Hope Valley Elementary School
7:00 p.m.


Come to the next planning board meeting and let your voice be heard!