Elmhurst School/Chapel Tour on Monday

As first reported in Patch, our Town Council has just voted to endorse the following: The Portsmouth Town Council embraces the concept presented by the Aquidneck Land Trust to the Elmhurst Reuse Committee (a.k.a. Elmhurst Planning Committee) and, subject to a satisfactory due diligence outcome, that the council endorses the placement of a referendum question on a ballot for an election to be held no later than 4/30/2013; and directs the town administrator to complete the RFP process and begin negotiations with the ALT on language for a conservation easement on the Glen property so-called; and that council task a committee to work with the AIPC staff to evaluate the chapel and so-called out zones potential and report back to the council by 1/31/13.

The Council is in receipt of a thoughtful report and recommendation made by the Elmhurst Planning Committee (report is on our website at http://www.portsmouthri.com/boards/elmhurstplanning/#rpt ). The Committee studied the issue for over a year. The Aquidneck Land Trust has made a generous offer of $1,000,000 to the town and an additional $150,000 to assist in repair of existing buildings on the Glen Property. The offer includes a requirement for a conservation restriction on the entire Glen property to protect the property in perpetuity (minus some out zones where development exists and/or would be allowed.)

I first want to thank the dedicated members of the Elmhurst Planning Committee for their diligence and hard work.  Members include John Brady, Rosemary Davidson, Ann Fiore, Robert Gessler, David Gleason, Nancy Hall, Andrew Kelly, Steve Kirkpatrick, Brenda Langlais, Karen Menezes, Allen Shers, Don & Katie Wilkinson, Dick Wimpress, PEDC rep. Ray Berberick, all ably assisted by Council liaison Keith Hamilton.  Also, a word of thanks to Ted Clements and the Land Trust whose commitment to the preservation of this Island is unmistakable and remarkable and without whom we would not have an option to consider. Thanks Ted! And what a wonderful historical perspective that   will be providing to us on Patch so that all of us will understand the history of this incredible Town asset.

The good news is that there will be a referendum soon so that our citizens will ultimately decide the fate of this parcel.  But we need to continue our work to complete a Request For Proposals to ascertain the cost to demolish the old school and transform it into a park area; we need to decide on the fate of the so-called Chapel; we need to finalize the location and use of the so-called out zones; and we need to negotiate the actual conservation easement and ascertain its value, so that our residents can see and understand fully the proposal that is before them.

More than a few citizens have remarked that they would like to tour the buildings (School and Chapel) so on Monday (June 18th) at 11 we are going to do just that.  If your busy schedule allows and you would like to join us, please do.

I also hope that you get involved in this process by attending meetings and voicing your opinion. You own the Glen Property and it is you, our citizens, who will decide the Glen's future!