Providence Secures Environmental Justice Win: Court Upholds Ban on Bulk Liquid Propane Storage   

Providence Secures Environmental Justice Win: Court Upholds Ban on Bulk Liquid Propane Storage   

In a decisive win for South Providence residents, the Rhode Island Superior Court has upheld the city’s zoning ordinance as amended in 2022. The ordinance bans the bulk storage of liquid propane gas (LPG) anywhere in the city of Providence, part of the city’s commitment to environmental justice.

“This decision is a major victory for South Providence,” said City Council Majority Leader Pedro Espinal, who represents the neighborhood where the facility is located. “For generations, the community I call home has endured massive amounts of pollution and devastating health outcomes as a result. Enough is enough. This decision makes clear to Sea 3: no more putting lives at risk just to increase your profits. I am very grateful to the city’s legal team and the activists that organized to build pressure. There is still much more we must do to turn the port into a clean, modern driver of economic development, but today we celebrate this win for our community.”

In 2021, fossil fuel company Sea 3 Providence LLC attempted to fast-track a plan to expand their facility, proposing six massive LPG storage tanks and a new rail delivery system, and drawing fierce opposition from environmentalists and South Providence residents. In 2021 and 2022, Providence City Council took significant steps to stop this proposed expansion. At the forefront of this effort, Majority Leader Espinal (then serving as President Pro Tempore) introduced a resolution calling on the Rhode Island Energy Facility Sitting Board (EFSB) to deny Sea 3’s proposed expansion plan. Additionally, Espinal championed and successfully passed an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance, effectively banning the establishment of any new bulk LPG storage facilities in Providence.

Sea 3 challenged the amended ordinance in court, claiming it was inconsistent with the city’s 2014 Comprehensive Plan. Last Thursday, December 19, the Superior Court rejected this argument and upheld the ordinance.

Now, any expansion by Sea 3 will be confined to their original plan, which was approved by the City Plan Commission in 2022, and still will require approvals from city and state agencies, including the Energy Facilities Sitting Board. Any changes recommended during this process could halt Sea 3’s expansion entirely.

The recently signed 2024 Comprehensive Plan includes Council-sponsored strengthened protections for the Port of Providence and South Side residents. The plan prohibits power plants dependent on fossil fuel combustion, noxious or toxic chemical manufacturing, and ethylene oxide manufacturing and storage in M2 and W3 zones. The plan paves the way for the city to ban future uses that it “determines go against the public interest of (a) public health and quality of life in near-industry neighborhoods or (b) realizing fossil fuel emissions reduction goals in response to climate change.” The specific uses are currently under discussion by city officials and will be included in the upcoming zoning ordinance. As the City Council reviews and proposes amendments to the zoning ordinance, environmental justice at the port will be prioritized.

Read the Superior Court’s decision HERE.

Providence Secures Environmental Justice Win: Court Upholds Ban on Bulk Liquid Propane Storage   

Council Holds Last Meeting of the Calendar Year, Votes on ARPA Reallocations 

Tonight, Providence City Council held the final scheduled meeting of the calendar year. Councilors granted final passage to three ordinances that reallocate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to meet the city’s school funding obligations and prevent cuts to essential services that students rely on. Earlier this week, Council granted first passage to the ordinances at a special meeting to ensure the December 31 ARPA allocation deadline is met and prevent the return of funds to the U.S. Treasury.   

“Tonight, the Council has reallocated federal funding to support our schools and ensure that every American Rescue Plan dollar is used by the December 31 deadline,” said Committee on Finance Chairwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2). “This Council has made our schools a top priority, and tonight’s vote is one more step toward the schools our students, teachers, and families deserve.” 

Additional Highlights  

  • Council granted final passage to a tax stabilization agreement for a new adaptive reuse housing development at 265 Manton Ave. The development will involve the rehabilitation of a former church building and the construction of a solar energy canopy over the property’s parking lot. Twenty percent of the project’s units will be affordable.   
  • Council granted final passage to an ordinance that modifies zoning regulations for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to comply with state law. Changes include the adoption of the state’s ADU definitions, spatial requirements, and parking minimum exceptions. 
  • Council passed a resolution introduced by Majority Whip Miguel Sanchez (Ward 6) that declares support for the unionization efforts of medical residents at Brown University Health and Care New England. 

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El Concejo Municipal Aloja su Última Reunión del Año Calendario y Vota Sobre las Reasignaciones del ARPA

Esta noche, el Concejo Municipal de la Ciudad de Providence alojó la última reunión programada del año calendario. Los concejales aprobaron finalmente tres ordenanzas que reasignan los fondos de la Ley del Plan de Rescate Estadounidense (ARPA, por sus siglas en inglés) para cumplir con las obligaciones de financiación escolar de la ciudad y evitar recortes a los servicios esenciales de los que dependen los estudiantes. A principios de esta semana, el Concejo aprobó por primera vez las ordenanzas en una reunión especial para garantizar que se cumpla la fecha límite de asignación de ARPA del 31 de diciembre y evitar la devolución de fondos al Tesoro de los EE. UU. 

“Esta noche, el Concejo ha reasignado fondos federales para apoyar a nuestras escuelas y garantizar que cada dólar del Plan de Rescate Estadounidense se utilice antes de la fecha límite del 31 de diciembre”, dijo la presidenta del Comité de Finanzas, Helen Anthony (distrito 2). “Este Concejo ha hecho de nuestras escuelas una prioridad máxima, y la votación de esta noche es un paso más hacia las escuelas que nuestros estudiantes, maestros y familias merecen.” 

Aspectos Destacados Adicionales  

  • El Concejo concedió la aprobación final a un acuerdo de estabilización fiscal para nuevas unidades de vivienda adaptadas para reutilización en 265 Manton Ave. El proyecto implicará la rehabilitación de un antiguo edificio de iglesia y la construcción de un dosel de energía solar sobre el estacionamiento de la propiedad. El veinte por ciento de las unidades del proyecto serán asequibles. 
  • El Concejo concedió la aprobación final a una ordenanza que modifica las normas de zonificación para las unidades de vivienda auxiliares (ADU) para cumplir con la ley estatal. Los cambios incluyen la adopción de las definiciones de ADU del estado, los requisitos espaciales y las excepciones mínimas de estacionamiento. 
  • El Consejo aprobó una resolución presentada por el líder de la mayoría Miguel Sánchez (Distrito 6) que declara el apoyo a los esfuerzos de sindicalización de los residentes médicos en Brown University Health y Care New England.  

 

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