East Providence City Council adopts zoning to welcome new business and arts - by Diane Feather

Diane Feather, City of East Providence

The East Providence City Council recently adopted zoning amendments adding new land uses to be allowed throughout the city, including business, arts, entertainment, cultural and mixed-uses. The new regulations also ease parking requirements and establish an administrative process in development review to allow changes to zoning setbacks, lot coverage, parking, and open storage for expedited permitting.  The amendments will strengthen the city’s economic base and economic vitality, particularly in older commercial corridors, and long-vacant land and structures.    

With the amendments, University Orthopedics can locate an 80,000 s/f medical office building in the Kettle Point mixed-use development on Veterans Memorial Parkway.  Planning director Jeanne Boyle noted that the building will consolidate many University Orthopedics offices currently located throughout Rhode Island. The practice will start with approximately 100 employees and will add additional jobs.  Services provided include outpatient orthopedic doctor’s appointments, MRI imaging, physical therapy, urgent care for orthopedic issues, and a 20,000 s/f outpatient surgical area.

Among the many new permitted uses are: bed & breakfasts, business incubators, cigar lounges, co-worker space, design studios, film studios, galleries, live theatre, live/work space,  microbrewery/micro distillery, museum, recording studio, and small fabricating studio.  City manager Richard Kirby said, “Creating attractions and destinations that draw people, especially 20-and 30-year-olds, is key to the future economic growth of the city.  East Providence is a great place to do business, live and raise a family, and enjoy excellent recreational and waterfront amenities, restaurants, culture and shopping.” 

A former under-utilized industrial building at 110 King Philip Road in Rumford will be converted to live/work space by Coast Modern Construction under the new zoning.  Brigham Brough, one principal of the company, along with Eamon Brown, said, “We are excited about the recent zoning changes to accommodate our live/work project.  The city is setting a precedent that will foster creative community development in otherwise under-utilized spaces.”  Brough noted that the parking space size reduction allows existing historic properties to be redeveloped into 21^st century enterprises.  Coast Modern Construction will relocate their design build firm to the property as well as house 20-30 artist studios and live/work spaces. The company anticipates project costs close to $1.25 million, with a $750,000 investment in Phase I, backed by Small Business Administration (SBA) loans and the East Providence Economic Development Commission.  Live/work space allows for residential use of buildings or space in a building, combined with a commercial activity, most commonly for artists, and for small businesses.   

These amendments and future amendments seek to continue to stimulate economic development city-wide and envision innovative and interesting new uses and patterns of development for economically-challenged commercial corridors and buildings. They will provide people with more options to live, work, and shop. 

Diane Feather, AICP, is chief planner for the City of East Providence.