Overview

The West Side Master Plan, completed in 2005, is a comprehensive vision for the West Side of Aquidneck Island that addresses its short- and long-term planning needs. It represents the collaborative effort of hundreds island residents and supporters.

Under the direction of AIPC, a West Side Task Force worked closely with city and town council members, municipal planners, community representatives, and officials from Naval Station Newport, RI Coastal Resources Center, RI Division of Planning, RI Department of Transportation, and the Newport County Chamber of Commerce to produce this comprehensive regional planning document, the first of its kind in the State of Rhode Island.

Final Results: West Side Master Plan

GOALS
  • The plan envisions a vibrant West Side with a mix of commercial, residential, and recreational development. It also provides for the preservation of open space and agriculture, and it makes recommendations for improving transportation and traffic mobility on the island.
  • The plan calls for enhanced public access points on Narragansett Bay, a North End growth center in Newport, an extended Burma Road, and reuse of Naval Station Newport’s surplus land.
  • All three island municipalities have adopted the WSMP and incorporated many of its zoning and other recommendations into their local ordinances.
  • In 2009 the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Planning Association recognized the WSMP as an Outstanding Comprehensive Planning Project.
PROGRESS & IMPLEMENTATION

AIPC has actively pursued implementation of projects that are part of the WSMP. The ongoing Aquidneck Island Transportation Study has made enhancements to Burma Road a major focus, and AIPC has been a leader in the process to redevelop Naval Station Newport’s surplus property.

The WSMP will continue to serve as a guiding document for AIPC and the communities of Portsmouth, Middletown, and Newport as they plan for future development on Aquidneck Island.

In May of 2019, AIPC gathered a group of individuals, organizations, and thought leaders to consider revisiting the original document and updating it for 2020. We hope to continue this conversation because decisions about how the west side of our island is developed effect not only us, but generations to come.

AIPC is dedicated to ensuring that Aquidneck Island remains a great place to live, work, play and thrive. 

Join our Connect Aquidneck Newsletter to stay up to date on the West Side Master Plan.