Revised Sowams Housing Emerges

A new version of the affordable-housing development proposed for the Sowams Nursery site on Sowams Road will be presented to the Barrington Planning Board at a special meeting on Sept. 27.

The development is now named Palmer Pointe Neighborhood, according to a story in the Barrington Times. But the proposed development still includes 50 houses spread over 9.15 acres at 91 and 97 Sowams Road.

East Bay Community Development Corporation in Bristol is the developer. EBCDC is the same organization that operates the much-opposed Sweetbriar affordable-housing development off of Washington Road in Barrington.

Indeed, a petition opposing the development has been circulating in the Hampden Meadows neighborhood, according to a separate story in the Barrington Times.

The petition reads:

“We the undersigned are opposed to the creation of a multi-unit housing complex at the Sowams Nursery located on Sowams Street, Barrington, RI, and request that no further municipal governmental actions be taken to facilitate any such construction, based on the following considerations:

1. The Sowams Nursery is not an appropriate location for prospective multi-unit construction, and is not in the best interests of the Town of Barrington.

2. Prospective construction of dense-housing/rentals on the Sowams property is not consistent with the Comprehensive Town Plan.

3. Extensive further study and discussion is necessary at the local, state and federal levels regarding community concerns that exist or may arise in the course of exploring the appropriateness or viability of construction on the Sowams Nursery property.

Our opposition in this matter is not intended to interfere with the spirit of governmental objectives to accommodate state policy concerning the embrace of LMIH in our town.”

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