Dear Aquidneck Island Friends,

When I joined Aquidneck Island Planning Commission in Spring 2018, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew of the great work the Commission was doing, but I wasn’t familiar with the people, municipalities, and culture of the Island. Would I find a group of municipalities focused only on individual priorities, or forward-looking communities seeking to build a better future for all the residents of Aquidneck Island?

My question was answered my first week here. As I engaged with the residents of the Island in AIPC’s Legislative Forum in April 2018, I found a sense of regional community and passion for addressing the future sustainability and prosperity of Aquidneck Island. The broad support I found for the AIPC and its mission was inspirational, and has reinforced AIPC’s role as the long-term planning entity representing all the Island’s residents.

As AIPC continues its work with the municipalities to ensure clean water for our residents, it is also addressing other key regional issues. In 2019, AIPC will focus on housing, renewable energy, climate resilience, and other issues. We will work with the municipalities of Middletown, Newport, and Portsmouthas well as Naval Station Newport to update the common vision for sustainable Island-wide development described in the West Side Master Plan. It’s an exciting time for our community, and I hope all of you will join us to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for Aquidneck Island!

John Shea
Executive Director
Aquidneck Island Planning Commission