Climate Adaptation for Coastal Communities Setting the Local Context: North Kingstown, RI September 19, 2013 Jonathan J. Reiner, AICP Town of North Kingstown

1. Climate Adaptation for Coastal Communities
Jonathan J. Reiner, AICP
Town of North Kingstown
Setting the Local Context: North Kingstown, RI
September 19, 2013

2. The Time is Now to Act:
to Adapt & Mitigate

3. October 29, 2012

4. 10 Sept 2010

5. MHW, Simulation of 1’ and 3’ SLR
Rising waters with tides and storms
Superstorm Sandy – 4’above MHHW Spring Tide – 2010 – 1.4 MHHW

6. “SuperStorm” Sandy – Wickford Village

7. Newport Tide Gauge
October 30, 2012 - 4’ above MHHW

8. “Superstorm” Sandy superimposed with sea level rise.
Shows approximately 4’ above MHHW
MHHW +3’ SLR
MHHW +4’ SLR

9. Natural Hazards and
Comprehensive Planning
• Why is this important?
•Storm intensity and storm damage
•Flooding
•Drought
•Sea level rise
•Impacts on the built and natural environments

11. COMP PLAN 2008
ACTION POLICY
STUDY
Public Process and
Input
COMP PLAN 2013

12. Climate Change and
Comprehensive Planning
• How can we plan for something that is not really
happening ? 
•Natural Hazards Reviewed and assessed via
Hazard Mitigation Plans
• Comprehensive Plan Element on Climate Change
Rhode Island League
of Cities and Towns
Comprehensive Planning

13. How do you start to Adapt?
If you had maps
and information
identifying
vulnerable assets,
what would you
do with it?

14. Mapping Sea Level Rise
Project Overview: Planning for Change
Locate problem areas
- Identify
- Evaluate exposure
- Communicate
Develop usable tools for
town/state planners
Providence, RI 1938

21. Local Applications
• Regulatory – zoning ordinance and comprehensive plan amendments
• Hazard Mitigation Plan – incorporate and implement actions
• Educate Locally - distribute information to elected officials and
homeowners
• Incorporate into town GIS and IMS - more accessible information
• Community Rating System (CRS) impacts – achieve lower rating
• Transportation – ID roads and infrastructure inundated
• State of RI Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) –incorporate into
future application
• Capital Improvement Plan (municipal) –infrastructure improvements (i.e
sewers, dams, roadways, water)
• Building Code - work with RIBA and CRMC to modify code in coastal
zone
• Open space acquisition – ID/prioritize lands for protection, salt marsh
creation

22. Thank You
Jonathan Reiner, AICP
jreiner@northkingstown.org
401-268-1570
http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/coast/a_hazard_theme.html