[11:34] All right. Um, thank you very much
[11:38] everyone for attending this meeting. Uh,
[11:40] the intent of this meeting is just as a
[11:42] a a communitywide workshop on the topic
[11:45] of housing. We have a lot of good
[11:47] information to share and um and I'm
[11:50] going to be very brief with my initial
[11:52] remarks. Um this is a a a town planning
[11:55] department-led meeting. I will note uh
[11:58] that we had an agenda posted for both
[12:00] the planning commission and the town
[12:02] council. Those agendas were posted for
[12:04] the idea that if a quorum of that group
[12:07] attended, they should call to order so
[12:09] they can just join the discussion. But
[12:11] really this is a a a staff level meeting
[12:13] in which council members and commission
[12:15] members are attending. Um I do note we
[12:18] do have a quorum of the planning
[12:19] commission. Uh chairman Colonian if you
[12:21] don't mind just calling us to order.
[12:27] July 20th for this joint workshop. This
[12:32] time
[12:34] here Kenny here price
[12:37] >> here. Secretary Burke here, Vice
[12:41] » here. Secretary Burke here, Vice
[12:41] President here, and I'm here as chair
[12:44] and for the record at this time
[12:48] in
[12:49] >> Thank you very much. And I would note we
[12:51] » Thank you very much. And I would note we
[12:52] have three council members present in
[12:53] the room. Um not quite a quorum. Uh so
[12:56] uh but everybody is free to join the
[12:58] discussion to offer feedback, engage in
[13:00] all the exercises that we'll have. Um so
[13:04] without further ado, our first speaker
[13:07] is from the state uh executive office of
[13:09] housing uh secretary Deborah Goddard and
[13:12] thank you very much for joining us
[13:14] today.
[13:21] » I thought he was going to say she's from
[13:22] the state and she's here to help us. But
[13:24] [laughter]
[13:27] » thank you uh for inviting me here. I'm
[13:29] just going to give sort of a big picture
[13:31] uh perspective from the state level. Uh
[13:34] the executive office of housing is a
[13:36] fairly new agency for the state. We are
[13:38] the lead policy agency in terms of
[13:41] housing. A lot of you know Rhode Island
[13:43] Housing. They are your housing finance
[13:45] agency. Their focus is on lending and
[13:47] they've been around forever doing an
[13:49] excellent job with that. Um so we are an
[13:52] agency of your state. I report to the
[13:55] governor.
[13:56] So, uh, quickly let's start with how did
[14:00] we get here? We all hear housing crisis,
[14:02] housing problem. Uh, most Rhode
[14:04] Islanders acknowledge that we need more
[14:06] housing that they know there's a crunch
[14:07] because most of us are feeling it. Uh,
[14:10] it's really, I like to say, economics
[14:12] 101. Uh, development cost since February
[14:15] 2020, cost of construction has increased
[14:18] 40%.
[14:20] From 2012 to 22, 10 years, land values
[14:24] in Rhode Island increased 81%.
[14:28] Between 2018 and 2024, home sales
[14:32] increased 65%, rents increased 60% and
[14:36] wages increased 29%. There's the formula
[14:40] uh in large part for why we are where we
[14:42] are. But we also have not been building
[14:45] housing. Uh Rhode Island has ranked last
[14:48] for quite some years in the number of
[14:50] building housing building permits issued
[14:52] per person in the state. We dug a hole.
[14:56] We're going to try and dig out of it.
[14:58] You've certainly been a partner and are
[15:00] going to be a partner in digging out,
[15:02] but it's going to take us a while and
[15:04] it's going to take a collective effort.
[15:07] We are making progress. Um if we go back
[15:10] one, sorry, we are making progress. Some
[15:13] notes down there. Uh the pace of
[15:15] building permits across the street has
[15:17] picked up. Uh last year was the best
[15:19] year since uh precoid days. So we're
[15:23] starting to get where we need to be. Um
[15:27] this is a chart staff put together today
[15:29] and it really reflects those stats I
[15:31] just gave you. in the red. That red gap
[15:34] starting particularly in around 2122
[15:38] is the difference between household
[15:41] median income in Coventry and what you
[15:44] need to buy a single family home. And
[15:46] that pretty much tracks with that data
[15:48] about when did what happened with land
[15:50] costs, what happened with construction
[15:51] costs, and there's the inevitable
[15:54] outcome. And that's just Coventry.
[16:00] One thing I like to touch on is what is
[16:02] affordable housing. Um, it refers means
[16:06] you don't pay more than 30% of your
[16:08] income for housing. Um, if you pay more
[16:10] than that, then you're considered
[16:13] costbururdened. You have trouble filling
[16:15] other needs, transportation, food,
[16:18] health insurance, whatever. That's a
[16:20] standard that's been a golden standard
[16:22] across the nation for quite decades and
[16:24] decades. As long as I've been in the
[16:25] business, for sure. In Rhode Island, the
[16:29] average rent for a two-bedroom apartment
[16:30] is, as you can read, over $2,300 a
[16:33] month. And a household would need to
[16:35] earn 92 over 92, almost $93,000.
[16:38] I really like to put numbers and to
[16:41] these uh terms we use because affordable
[16:44] housing gets a bad rap and people often
[16:48] think it's for them or those others. But
[16:51] when you start seeing these numbers, you
[16:52] see this is, you know, this is us. This
[16:54] is our neighbors. These are our kids.
[16:56] These are the people who want to come
[16:57] take entry- level jobs. Average single
[17:00] family home costs 475,000.
[17:03] Uh you need $158,000 a year income to
[17:07] support that. According to Housing Works
[17:09] Rhode Island, that's out of Roger
[17:10] Williams University. They publish a
[17:12] factbook every year. It's just loaded
[17:14] with great data. It's online if you want
[17:16] it at Housing Works Rhode Island. um
[17:20] 142,000
[17:22] almost 143,000 households are rent
[17:25] burdened, meaning they spend more than
[17:26] 30%
[17:28] on uh housing. What does this look like
[17:32] uh briefly for Coventry? So, our data
[17:35] shows that your average rent for
[17:37] two-bedroom is about 20 $2,000 a month,
[17:40] meaning you need to earn again over
[17:42] $83,000 to afford it. Um,
[17:46] you need an annual income of 140,000
[17:48] plus uh to a Oh, I'm sorry. I did not
[17:52] edit that one. Well, um to afford a
[17:55] starter home. Half of renters in
[17:57] Coventry are costburdened and almost a
[17:59] quarter of homeowners are
[18:00] costbururdened. So again, statewide
[18:03] issue. Um but every community is feeling
[18:05] this pain including Coventry and I know
[18:07] that's why you all are here.
[18:11] So what is the state doing big picture?
[18:13] Um, we have created um, housing 2030.
[18:16] It's the first time the state has had a
[18:17] plan since uh, in almost 20 years. Hard
[18:21] uh, to know where you're going, what you
[18:23] need to do, and talk about it when you
[18:26] don't have a plan. We now have a plan.
[18:28] Uh, big picture, by the end of 2030, we
[18:32] want to have permitted 15,000 new homes.
[18:34] And within that, there's a goal for uh,
[18:37] accessory dwelling units, which may look
[18:39] small. Um when you see the number it's I
[18:41] think it's 525 new accessory dwelling
[18:44] units that actually would triple
[18:45] production uh historic production. Uh we
[18:48] have a goal for middle market. We say
[18:50] middle market we don't need mean
[18:52] necessarily middle income. We mean town
[18:54] homes that that that as opposed to
[18:57] largecale rental um and single family
[19:00] homeowner home ownership uh cottages,
[19:03] courts, town homes. That's what that
[19:05] middle market is. and a lot of it is not
[19:08] cannot be built in the state under zone
[19:10] current zoning. Um again a goal for
[19:13] affordable rental. We also can't uh lose
[19:16] what we have. So we want to make sure we
[19:18] pay attention to the affordable housing
[19:19] we do have and preserve it. Um so those
[19:23] those are our big picture goals.
[19:26] I know you're here tonight to talk about
[19:28] your comprehensive plan. Um this is
[19:32] really critical. You know this is your
[19:34] road map. We've we've created 2030. This
[19:36] is your road mapap again to explain
[19:38] where you're going, what you're trying
[19:39] to do. Uh it does have to be consistent
[19:42] with housing 2030. We will be uh
[19:45] reviewing uh all of the comp plans the
[19:47] communities submit. You can look right
[19:49] there to Josh Barry, our planner. He'll
[19:51] be leading the way. Um [snorts] some of
[19:53] you know him. He's was a local planner.
[19:56] Uh we want want you to discuss the ways
[19:59] you can expand overall housing
[20:00] production consistent with the needs
[20:02] that you have and the needs that the
[20:03] state has. Where are your opportunities
[20:06] to expand middle market housing and
[20:08] ADUs? And what are your efforts to
[20:10] preserve homes with expiring use
[20:12] restrictions? So for instance, if you've
[20:13] had comp permit projects that had
[20:15] 30-year deed restrictions, let's check
[20:17] them out. Are they coming to the end of
[20:19] it? You know, do we need to do something
[20:21] um to extend that? And uh we we want to
[20:24] be helpful. Um, I haven't gone into it.
[20:26] This isn't a sales job for the
[20:28] department, but really any of the issues
[20:30] you have, uh, we want to be helpful.
[20:32] And, uh, I just want to say you have
[20:35] got, you know, great staff. Um, I ran
[20:39] the list of all the grants that, uh,
[20:43] Doug and his staff have achieved in the
[20:44] last couple years. Um, help with
[20:46] planning for TDU, a TD, transport,
[20:49] transit, transit origin development. um
[20:52] looking at your your comp plan um as
[20:56] well as participating in our municipal
[20:59] um fellows program which helped fund
[21:01] well did fund um has funded uh planning
[21:04] planner positions in a number of towns.
[21:06] We had eight awards. You are one of
[21:09] them. I'm going to be turning this back
[21:10] to your municipal fellow in a second. Um
[21:13] and uh it's been I think it's been a
[21:16] real success. We heard from members uh
[21:18] that came to a league meeting that
[21:19] communities are often overwhelmed by
[21:21] what's coming at them. They don't have
[21:22] enough staff to address it and deal with
[21:24] it. And so we put out this grant
[21:26] program. Uh the fellows are hired by
[21:29] your the community. Um and I'm happy to
[21:32] say uh that was from federal funding
[21:34] that no longer exists, but Rhode Island
[21:36] Housing has agreed to fund another round
[21:38] out of their own proceeds. So, that's
[21:41] really what I was here to do, to set the
[21:42] stage for a more in-depth conversation
[21:45] um and introduce the executive office to
[21:47] you. We are here to help. Um and with
[21:50] that, I'm going to turn it to your
[21:51] municipal fellow.
[22:10] right here.
[22:13] >> All right. Uh thank you, Secretary
[22:15] » All right. Uh thank you, Secretary
[22:15] Goddard. Um as she alluded to, I am the
[22:17] municipal state funded uh municipal
[22:19] housing fellow for the town of Coventry.
[22:21] Um last year from July to December, we
[22:24] conducted a housing needs survey with
[22:26] Town of Coventry residents. We promoted
[22:28] in various ways. We got um a little over
[22:30] 350 responses and we got a a wealth of
[22:34] good data um to use in our comp plan.
[22:37] Um, so these survey responses indicated
[22:39] that housing availability and
[22:40] affordability is top of mind for a lot
[22:42] of Coventry residents. Um, there are
[22:44] clear concerns about the cost of
[22:45] housing, both uh, home prices and uh,
[22:48] rent. Um, and there's also a desire for
[22:51] diverse housing options. People
[22:52] expressing they want mixed use housing.
[22:54] They want uh, multif family um, ADUs.
[22:57] There's broad support for affordable
[22:59] home ownership and affordable rental
[23:00] units. um strong support for adaptive
[23:03] reuse of underutilized uh vacant
[23:05] commercial buildings and plazas. A
[23:07] number of residents brought up uh
[23:08] specific uh buildings and uh strips in
[23:12] town in our commercial corridors in our
[23:14] industrial areas. Um there is also a
[23:16] desire for walkability and connectivity
[23:18] um as important neighborhood
[23:19] characteristics. Number of residents
[23:21] comparing um Coventry to other towns
[23:23] that have more of a a town center. Um
[23:26] there's also a strong desire to preserve
[23:28] existing open space and green areas. Uh
[23:30] this is a rural town. Um and then
[23:32] general support for new housing
[23:33] development, established villages in
[23:35] major roadway corridors um mainly in our
[23:38] eastern uh section of town, center New
[23:40] England um and commercial corridors in
[23:43] Route 3.
[23:45] So this was um I'm not going to go over
[23:47] all the questions, but just a highlight
[23:48] of some of the ones we got good
[23:50] responses for. Question two asked if any
[23:52] of the following applied to you. So, we
[23:54] had um 147 people said that they know
[23:57] someone who's moved or will move due to
[23:59] housing costs. Um 89 people say they
[24:02] can't afford to buy in Coventry. 71
[24:05] people said they can't afford to rent.
[24:07] Um and people who are indicating they
[24:09] will move uh due to housing costs, 61
[24:12] people. Um and just a quote that I've
[24:14] excerpted from one of our open-ended
[24:16] responses, someone saying, "We were
[24:18] forced to move and house prices and
[24:20] interest rates in all places forced us
[24:21] to spend our life savings. We still have
[24:23] a mortgage that makes it hard to get by.
[24:25] It is $3,000 a month with 50% of our
[24:28] take-home income. Rental rates for
[24:29] family of five were no better. A number
[24:32] of sentiments like this in the survey
[24:33] expressed.
[24:36] All right. In question four, so asking
[24:38] people about what housing types they
[24:40] would like to see in the future. Um
[24:42] single family was dominant, but a number
[24:44] of people 182 people saying they want
[24:46] two family, 124 people wanting multif
[24:48] family. Um there were also people uh
[24:51] wanting um housing that is aimed at
[24:53] protected groups, people with
[24:54] disabilities, the homeless, uh the
[24:56] elderly, um that sort of thing. Uh
[24:59] people looking at mixed use, uh condos,
[25:03] um and a number of people looking at uh
[25:05] accessory dwelling units, 140 people.
[25:10] All right. And then question six was one
[25:11] of our open-ended questions. is we ask
[25:13] people to uh write an action or strategy
[25:15] they think uh could promote uh co in
[25:17] Coventry uh affordable housing uh uh and
[25:21] availability.
[25:23] Um so we kind of categorize these into
[25:25] uh different groups looking people just
[25:27] generally saying they want to build more
[25:29] homes, people wanting to increase
[25:30] affordable housing. Um you know focusing
[25:34] on infrastructure readiness, sewer and
[25:36] water in our eastern section of town. Um
[25:38] taxes is is top of mind of course here.
[25:42] uh multif family homes. Um some people
[25:45] uh posted development um reusing and uh
[25:48] reuse and revitalization of existing
[25:50] buildings. Um and then support for uh
[25:54] senior housing zoning reform.
[25:57] Um and then we had a number of
[25:58] miscellaneous categories, people just
[26:00] coming up with their own unique
[26:01] solutions that didn't fit those
[26:03] categories. Um this is a quote that I
[26:05] excerpted just one idea that we got. Um
[26:07] a key strategy to improve af housing
[26:10] affordability and availability in
[26:11] Coventry would be to support the
[26:13] development of mixeduse highdensity
[26:14] housing near transport hubs and town
[26:16] center. Uh this approach maximizes land
[26:19] use efficiency, reduces infrastructure
[26:21] costs, and encourages walkability.
[26:23] Additionally, implementing incentives
[26:24] for developers to include a percentage
[26:26] of affordable units in new projects can
[26:28] ensure a steady supply of affordable
[26:30] housing without relying uh solely on
[26:31] public funding. And this will translate
[26:33] into some of the policies you'll see
[26:35] later.
[26:37] Um, and like I said, um, you know, a
[26:40] number of people saying that, uh, they
[26:42] strongly agree that, uh, affordable home
[26:44] ownership units and affordable rental
[26:46] units are, uh, needed in Coventry.
[26:52] And the last one, we asked people where
[26:55] what areas of town or villages in
[26:56] Coventry would they like to see future
[26:58] housing development? um you know um
[27:01] people pointing to Eastern Coventry and
[27:04] um those areas near the West Warick
[27:05] border. Um a few people calling out
[27:08] Almax and Kmart um that vacant lot um
[27:11] people some people pointing to Western
[27:13] Coventry um center New England central
[27:16] Coventry um and then Rout route three
[27:19] are Neneck Hill Road and Tyog Avenue our
[27:22] commercial corridor and then a number of
[27:24] other miscellaneous responses. So that
[27:26] is just a high level overview of the
[27:28] survey results we got and it's on the
[27:30] planning department web page if you want
[27:31] to read more about it.
[27:47] » Hello everyone. Uh my name is Ashley. I
[27:50] am a team leader at Weston in Samson and
[27:52] we have been working with the town of
[27:54] Coventry to update your housing chapter.
[27:58] Um we're going to go through a brief
[28:01] presentation with you and then give you
[28:03] some instructions. We have some stations
[28:04] set up around the room. We're going to
[28:06] ask you to help us and participate in a
[28:08] in an exercise with us. Um I have a
[28:11] couple of people here with me. Elizabeth
[28:13] Haney is in the back. She's going to do
[28:14] a bulk of this presentation and go over
[28:17] key findings. Um, we've done an an a
[28:20] needs analysis and looked at housing
[28:22] data in Coventry and she's going to give
[28:26] you an overview of those key findings.
[28:29] We've used that information to draft
[28:31] along with staff's help um a set of
[28:34] goals, policies, and actions that are
[28:37] directly related to those key findings.
[28:40] Um, and so we're going to go over that
[28:41] with you and sort of ask you to keep
[28:43] these key findings in mind as you go
[28:46] through these exercises. think about the
[28:49] things that we we've highlighted here.
[28:51] Um it speaks to what is happening in
[28:53] Coventry, where people are struggling,
[28:56] where the need is for types of housing.
[28:58] Um so it's an important part of the
[29:01] process to make sure that we can
[29:03] understand and have a baseline for where
[29:05] Coventry is so that we can help you
[29:07] develop goals, policies, and actions
[29:09] that help to solve some of those
[29:11] problems and move Coventry forward in
[29:13] terms of its housing needs.
[29:15] Um we're going to go through um then
[29:19] we'll go through sort of explaining to
[29:21] you how to walk through each of the
[29:22] exercises and then we would ask you once
[29:24] you've done that to stick around. We'll
[29:26] open up for some questions and we can
[29:28] have a brief kind of dialogue and we can
[29:31] try to answer some of your your
[29:32] questions. Next slide.
[29:36] Um we have information for you here.
[29:38] There is on the town's website there is
[29:40] a page that is dedicated to the
[29:42] comprehensive plan. So, please visit
[29:44] that that website. Um, there's a lot
[29:46] more information that's posted up there
[29:48] that can help you understand the work
[29:51] that the town is doing with this. Um,
[29:53] and Doug has graciously encouraged all
[29:55] of you to please email him if you have
[29:57] questions, specific comments. Um, get in
[30:00] touch with him and the department and
[30:02] that is really the best way to get your
[30:04] questions answered and to get your kind
[30:06] of your concerns on record with the
[30:08] department as they work through this
[30:09] process.
[30:11] Doug, if you wouldn't mind talking a
[30:13] little bit about why we're here. The
[30:15] town has just recently um adopted a a
[30:19] new updated comprehensive plan that
[30:21] includes a housing chapter. We were
[30:24] hired through one of those fantastic
[30:26] grants that Doug was able to secure for
[30:27] your community to take a much deeper
[30:30] dive on your housing chapter and really
[30:32] start to dig into what's going on in the
[30:34] community so that we could help you
[30:35] refine those goals, policies, and
[30:37] actions to be really specific to what's
[30:41] actually going on on the ground to make
[30:43] sure that we can address the need as
[30:44] best we can in the community. So, if
[30:46] Doug, if you'd like to speak any more to
[30:47] that.
[30:48] >> Sure. Um, we're taking an interesting
[30:51] » Sure. Um, we're taking an interesting
[30:51] approach. Some folks might recall that
[30:53] we adopted a new comprehensive plan for
[30:56] our entire community uh just in June of
[31:00] this year. Uh so the question would be
[31:02] if we just adopted a comprehensive plan,
[31:04] what are we doing here tonight? Um we
[31:06] took this strategy because we had not
[31:09] had a comprehensive plan for uh 27
[31:12] years. So it had been a long time
[31:14] coming. We uh knew there were a lot of
[31:17] things we wanted to achieve with this
[31:18] comprehensive plan and some of them were
[31:21] time-sensitive. So, we had an important
[31:22] need to get a comprehensive plan on the
[31:24] books. However, um we didn't feel great
[31:28] about the housing chapter that we had at
[31:29] the time to be honest. Um we had a
[31:32] comprehensive plan that um when I first
[31:34] came on board the town, which was about
[31:36] three years ago, was um just being
[31:38] submitted to the state statewide
[31:39] planning. uh statewide planning was
[31:42] considering um comments on the plan. At
[31:45] that point, the town's housing chapter
[31:47] said its strategy for developing
[31:50] affordable housing was that later on we
[31:53] would develop a plan to tell us how we
[31:55] would develop affordable housing. So, we
[31:56] had no meat, no details. That doesn't
[31:59] work for the state. At the end of the
[32:01] day, we're all here to comment on
[32:03] policies. We're all here to comment on a
[32:04] comprehensive plan. Ultimately, the plan
[32:06] is guided by state level documents that
[32:09] tell us topics that we need to hit. Um,
[32:12] so we actually need to tell tell people
[32:14] in our comprehensive plan how we're
[32:16] going to achieve and make progress with
[32:17] affordable housing. And we hadn't did
[32:20] that. We didn't do that in our first
[32:21] draft. Staff spent some time um trying
[32:24] to work strategies into place. Uh it
[32:27] took a it took a while. We were working
[32:28] with stakeholders. We assembled some
[32:30] groups of stakeholders to give us
[32:32] feedback on this. Um, and then we
[32:35] realized that a period of time had
[32:37] passed. A lot of the data that we were
[32:39] relying on was getting a little stale.
[32:42] And around that time, we found money to
[32:44] hire a consultant really just to focus
[32:46] on this particular element, this
[32:48] chapter, which if you're asking me is
[32:50] one of the most critical chapters to
[32:53] this community. Um, we certainly are a
[32:56] community that is seeing a lot of
[32:57] interest um from the development sector.
[33:00] um a lot of available land in Coventry.
[33:03] Um not all projects are uh created
[33:06] equal. Not all projects have been uh
[33:08] well-loved by all the neighbors. That's
[33:10] fair to say. But um Coventry is a
[33:13] community that has a lot of increased
[33:16] interest in development. Uh and there
[33:18] are a lot of projects that are being
[33:20] cited in uh good locations. Um, but long
[33:24] story short is in the midst of this, we
[33:26] wanted to really nail down and make sure
[33:27] the policies of our comprehensive plan
[33:29] were were sound. We were growing the way
[33:31] that we wanted to. And that's why we're
[33:34] revisiting this element in particular.
[33:36] The goal is that as the state is right
[33:39] now reviewing our recently adopted
[33:41] comprehensive plan, by the time we're
[33:43] rounding this element into shape, it
[33:46] will actually realign and the overall
[33:48] plan will both reach uh state approval
[33:52] as well as being to able to incorporate
[33:54] the recent revised chapter that we're
[33:56] working on now. So, a bit of a unique
[33:58] approach for folks that are wondering
[34:01] what are we here for and and how does
[34:02] this correlate to the plan we adopted
[34:04] last month? That's a little That's
[34:06] probably enough for me. Thanks, Ashley.
[34:08] >> Thank you.
[34:09] » Thank you.
[34:09] Next slide.
[34:11] So, I'm going to ask Elizabeth to come
[34:13] up and speak to us about the key
[34:16] findings and the needs assessment that
[34:19] was done. And again, we're asking you to
[34:22] sort of keep this framework in mind,
[34:25] keep this information in mind as you
[34:27] walk through these stations. It's how
[34:29] the um goals and policies were generated
[34:32] and it's where the action items came
[34:34] from was all based on this needs
[34:36] assessment and the data findings that
[34:38] that came out of that.
[34:44] » Thanks everybody. Got to move this down.
[34:46] Not tall enough today. I didn't wear the
[34:47] right shoes. Um so thanks for having me.
[34:50] My name is Elizabeth. Um and so um we
[34:54] have slides with each of our I think
[34:55] it's nine key findings. And so the first
[34:57] one is around u the characteristics of
[34:59] Coventry's housing stock. And so 76% of
[35:02] Coventry's housing stock is uh single
[35:04] family detached housing. Um and that
[35:07] compares to the county which is uh 67%.
[35:10] And for the state um that's closer to
[35:12] 56%. And that that gap kind of
[35:14] historically has widened. So Coventry's
[35:16] housing stock has gone to more towards
[35:18] single family in contrast to the state
[35:21] and the county overall. um in Coventry 2
[35:25] to four unit buildings which is
[35:27] sometimes called the missing middle um
[35:29] is just 5.7% of the stock versus 22%
[35:32] statewide. Um something really unique
[35:35] about Coventry is actually that 6.5% of
[35:38] the housing units in Coventry are
[35:39] manufactured homes. Um it's over a
[35:41] thousand units in five parks. Um that's
[35:44] seven times the amount um of uh like the
[35:48] typical state rate. Um, and the
[35:50] characteristics of those parks vary in
[35:52] terms of which ones have affordability
[35:54] restrictions and which ones are resident
[35:55] owned communities versus which ones are
[35:57] privately owned. Um, which we'll get to
[35:59] more later. Um, you can go to the next
[36:01] slide, please. Or hold on, let me check.
[36:04] Okay. Um so in terms of ownership and
[36:09] renters um the median single family home
[36:11] price is uh 40 sorry 438,000 in 2025 and
[36:17] that's tripled since 2000 um which was
[36:19] around 12 24,000 in 2000 um condos as of
[36:24] last year and this can vary because of
[36:26] the sales volume but the price for
[36:28] condos has actually exceeded the median
[36:31] single family home price in Coventry um
[36:33] as of last year It's it's a smaller
[36:35] volume. So that might just be a
[36:36] characteristic of which condos were
[36:38] coming online, but is also interesting
[36:40] when you think about condos as kind of
[36:42] an entrylevel point for folks to buy in.
[36:45] Um in terms of what the median income
[36:50] needed to buy the medianric home, um you
[36:53] would need an income of around 140,000
[36:56] to buy the medianric single family home.
[36:58] Um but the median uh income in Coventry
[37:01] is 102,000.
[37:03] Um, and even if you make 120% of area
[37:06] median income, you'd still be $40,000
[37:09] short. Um, the sales volume has declined
[37:14] over the past few years. Um, so in uh
[37:18] 2025,
[37:20] we're down um 400 from 640 sales per
[37:24] year to 490 sales per year. So there's
[37:27] less homes on the market, which relates
[37:29] to those home prices going up. Um, and
[37:33] the the the
[37:36] average rent for the for a two-bedroom
[37:38] in Coventry, my numbers are slightly
[37:39] different than EOH is because uh I I
[37:42] pulled a little bit more recent data, um
[37:44] is now up to $2,281
[37:47] per month. And so you would need to make
[37:49] $91,000 a year to be able to afford um
[37:52] that rental price. And um but the median
[37:56] renter in Coventry earns $37,000 a year.
[38:00] Um, and so the the affordable rent for
[38:02] that household would be uh 9 $9344.
[38:07] Um, and so that means that uh for folks
[38:10] making below 80% of area median income,
[38:13] um, they really can't afford the rentals
[38:15] that are available on the market. Um,
[38:18] and in that survey that Dennis
[38:21] highlighted, which I'll just cherrypick
[38:22] a survey from, but of the renters who
[38:24] responded to that survey, 76 of 80
[38:27] renters who responded to that survey
[38:29] said that cost is a concern for them.
[38:32] Um, you can go to the next slide.
[38:35] And so, um, Coventry has 916 units on
[38:40] the low and moderate income housing
[38:41] inventory. And so those are the units
[38:43] that have um a an affordability
[38:46] restriction, but it also um due to
[38:49] changes in state legislation also
[38:50] includes um manufactured homes and
[38:53] vouchers. Um so you can see if you look
[38:55] at the breakdown of what are the details
[38:59] behind Coventry's low and moderate
[39:00] income housing inventory, you can see
[39:02] that um it sort of looks like there are
[39:05] more family units than elderly units,
[39:07] but that's because we're counting
[39:09] manufactured homes and vouchers as part
[39:11] of that count. But in terms of actual
[39:13] like units on the ground, there are
[39:15] actually fewer family units than elderly
[39:17] restricted units in Coventry. And that
[39:21] also somewhat differs um compared to the
[39:23] chart of who is costbururdened in
[39:25] Coventry. And so the chart on the left,
[39:27] the font might be kind of small, but it
[39:29] breaks down kind of the orange and the
[39:32] red are who is costburdened or severely
[39:34] cost burdened. Severely cost burden
[39:36] means you're paying more than 50% of
[39:38] your incur income towards housing costs.
[39:40] So you you really got to make decisions
[39:42] about where your money is going. Um and
[39:44] so you can see that among small
[39:47] families, there's something like500
[39:50] small families that are spending more
[39:52] than 30% of their income towards housing
[39:54] in Coventry. But you also have higher
[39:57] percentages of elderly non-family
[39:59] households and um other types of
[40:01] households who are also burdened. Um
[40:05] you can go to the next slide.
[40:09] Um, and so Coventry, like the state, has
[40:12] an aging population. The population
[40:14] that's 65 and over, grew um 48% between
[40:18] uh 2010 and 2020. Um, one in three
[40:20] residents are now 55 and older. Um,
[40:23] there's also sort of a wave of folks who
[40:24] are age incoming. So, uh, folks who are
[40:27] in the 55 to 64 cohort, um, that
[40:30] proportion of the population is bigger
[40:32] than the county and the state. Um, those
[40:34] are folks who may want to down downsize
[40:36] in coming years. um there's a smaller
[40:39] percentage compared to the state of
[40:40] folks who are uh 18 to 34. Um which
[40:44] means there's fewer households um moving
[40:46] to start families and start their
[40:48] careers here. Um there are also folks
[40:51] who work in Coventry but aren't able to
[40:53] live here. So um we have a table here of
[40:57] occupations in Coventry of some of the
[40:59] industries that exist here. And so you
[41:01] can see that the average annual wages
[41:03] for a lot of these professions um aren't
[41:05] able to afford the they they can't
[41:09] access an affordable rent or an
[41:10] affordable home price. So if you look at
[41:12] this chart, folks who work in the
[41:14] accommodations or food sector, retail,
[41:17] healthcare, or construction for none of
[41:20] those sectors can they afford um the
[41:23] typical Coventry rental or the median
[41:25] home price. The only folks who are able
[41:27] to afford just the rental are folks who
[41:30] work in man manufacturing or
[41:32] professional services.
[41:34] Um you can go to the next slide.
[41:40] and uh Coventry does have an aging
[41:42] housing stock. So 58% of the units are
[41:46] uh built before 1978. Um in housing
[41:49] units from that era there is a risk of
[41:51] uh lead paint. um those those older
[41:55] households are more prevalent in eastern
[41:57] Coventry. Um that has real impacts. Six
[42:00] children um had elevated blood levels
[42:03] according to 2025 data in Coventry and
[42:07] the tenant surve the the reports for
[42:10] folks from Dennis's survey in kind of
[42:13] the comments if we looked at the
[42:14] comments there were folks who talked
[42:16] about things like mold, water intrusion,
[42:18] water coming through the roof, um
[42:20] failing heat and electric. um folks who
[42:22] are renting in Eastern Coventry. Um
[42:26] sometimes those types of units, older
[42:29] multif family units are what's called
[42:31] naturally a occurring affordable
[42:33] housing. So those are units that don't
[42:35] have an official deed restriction, but
[42:36] folks are able to um able to rent
[42:40] without costing too much. Um but they
[42:43] are in poorer condition. You can go to
[42:45] the next slide.
[42:49] And um one of our other other finding is
[42:51] is um that cost burden data that I
[42:54] already sort of talked about. So I won't
[42:56] walk you through this in great depth,
[42:58] but severe housing cost burden is
[43:01] concentrated among non-family households
[43:03] which can be folks living alone or
[43:05] living with roommates and but small
[43:07] families account for the largest number
[43:09] of folks who are a cost burden. So
[43:11] paying more than 30% of their income for
[43:13] housing. Um and then you can go to the
[43:15] next slide. And so we kind of wrapped
[43:19] all that up with a summary of needs for
[43:21] folks in Coventry
[43:25] and oh we have some dynamic graphics. Um
[43:29] and so though it's not exciting to speak
[43:31] about these statistics. So um folks in
[43:34] Coventry there's a need for more housing
[43:37] that can um meet the population changes
[43:40] for folks here. um folks who are elderly
[43:43] and aging, folks with disabilities,
[43:45] which can sometimes come with folks who
[43:47] are aging, um extremely lowincome
[43:49] households, as well as manufactured home
[43:52] park residents and renters
[43:54] and households experiencing housing
[43:56] instability. some of the official um
[43:59] kind of statistics about homelessness
[44:01] like don't show Coventry as having um
[44:05] homeless homelessness um in the official
[44:07] counts but folks in the survey reported
[44:09] that folks are camping in different
[44:11] locations in Coventry and if you look at
[44:13] the schools data where they report on
[44:15] kids who are living doubled up which
[44:17] also get counted as homeless there are
[44:19] 40 students sorry I believe there's 40
[44:21] students in Coventry public schools who
[44:23] are reported as homeless
[44:26] you can go to the next slide
[44:28] And so um kind of going towards housing,
[44:32] what that means is that we find that
[44:33] there's a broad a need for a broader
[44:35] range of housing types for more
[44:37] attainable ownership opportunities as
[44:39] well as a need among uh the workforce
[44:41] and local employees. Um kind of like
[44:43] that table that I went through. You can
[44:46] go to the next slide. And then we had a
[44:48] few additional findings that were just
[44:49] worth noting. And I think I've discussed
[44:52] um most of these.
[44:54] Yeah.
[44:57] And then this is just a chart to kind of
[44:58] visualize um a statistic that's often uh
[45:02] frequently talked about. Um so there's a
[45:04] lot of discussion in Rhode Island about
[45:05] the 10 the 10% threshold for the low and
[45:08] moderate income housing act and
[45:09] communities are subject to comprehensive
[45:11] permits when you have less than 10% of
[45:14] your housing designate designated as low
[45:16] and moderate income. Um commentary today
[45:19] is at um 6.23% 23% but looking at the
[45:24] projects that are in the pipeline. Um we
[45:26] made this graph and kind of put in what
[45:29] year projects might come online for any
[45:31] of the projects that are in um the
[45:34] planning approval process. I just put
[45:36] those for 2029. But what this shows is
[45:39] that Coventry is going to come very
[45:40] close to getting to 10% by 2030. Um but
[45:44] then that number will be recalculated in
[45:46] 2030 and the target will shift up a
[45:48] little bit. So there may be a gap when
[45:50] you get to 2030.
[45:54] Um and you can go to the next slide. And
[45:58] so this is sort of uh where we are. So
[46:01] we have just completed the needs
[46:03] assessment. Tonight we are going over
[46:04] the goals, policies and actions um
[46:06] coming from that analysis. And those
[46:09] those will go into the final chapter
[46:12] which will be approved by town council
[46:13] and then submitted to statewide planning
[46:15] for approval.
[46:18] All right. And then I think Are you up
[46:21] next for the instructions?
[46:22] >> Sure.
[46:24] » Sure.
[46:24] >> So, keeping all of that in mind, we're
[46:26] » So, keeping all of that in mind, we're
[46:26] going to ask you to engage in some
[46:28] exercises with us. Um, we have three
[46:32] stations that we've set up. Number one
[46:34] is over here. We've labeled them the
[46:36] best that we can. Number two is over
[46:38] here. Number three is a map over here.
[46:41] At station one, we have those key
[46:44] findings. So, we've got those nine key
[46:46] findings that Elizabeth went over for
[46:48] you. And really, we're just interested
[46:50] to know, is this something that you were
[46:52] aware of in your community, or did you
[46:54] were you surprised by what you heard and
[46:56] the statistics and the data that was
[46:58] that Elizabeth talked through? We're
[47:01] interested in just understanding what
[47:02] the general knowledge is out in the
[47:04] public about where where people in
[47:06] Coventry are in their life and in their,
[47:08] you know, where they are in their
[47:09] housing needs. Um, station number two is
[47:13] the goals and policies that we've
[47:15] developed with the staff's assistance to
[47:19] um, kind of high level set the tone for
[47:23] how is Coventry going to address these
[47:25] key issues that we've identified. So,
[47:28] when you're at and you got a pet little
[47:30] packet of sticky dots, we're going to
[47:32] ask you to use your red dots. And the
[47:34] instructions are on the back of your
[47:35] agenda, so you don't need to memorize
[47:37] this. You can just flip it over and look
[47:38] at it. We're going to ask you to use
[47:40] your red dots at station number one and
[47:42] tell us is this something you knew or
[47:44] something that surprised you. You also
[47:46] have some purple dots. Um we're going to
[47:49] ask you to use those at station two and
[47:52] we're going to ask you to prioritize
[47:54] your six top when you read through
[47:56] those. What are the six things that
[47:58] resonate with you the the most? What are
[47:59] the things that you think Coventry needs
[48:01] to focus on out of those goals and
[48:04] policies? Um, so we'll ask you to use
[48:06] your your purple dots over there. And
[48:09] then station number three is over here.
[48:12] We have a large map. Um, we have the
[48:14] whole town on this map. We've pointed
[48:18] out some part particular location so you
[48:21] can sort of orient yourself and you have
[48:23] some smaller little half inch dots. Um,
[48:26] each of those sort of ref represents a
[48:29] different category. And we're asking you
[48:31] to put those dots on a map and tell us
[48:34] where these things make the most sense
[48:35] to you. So you can use the post-it notes
[48:39] here. You can use your smaller dots on
[48:41] this board um according to kind of the
[48:43] themes that we have come up with um with
[48:46] staff's help in terms of where you think
[48:48] housing is most appropriate. We also
[48:50] have another it's kind of behind the
[48:53] screen. You can't really see it, but we
[48:54] have another station over here where we
[48:56] just have some blank white paper for
[48:57] you. And there's markers and pens and
[48:59] post-it notes. And anything that you
[49:02] have as a thought or an idea or a
[49:04] commentary that's not captured in one of
[49:06] those three stations, we ask you to just
[49:09] put it down on paper for us. We will
[49:11] look at all of that and we will give all
[49:13] of that information to staff. So any
[49:15] thoughts or ideas that you have that
[49:17] somehow don't get captured in these
[49:18] three stations, um there's a a we're
[49:21] calling it a parking lot basically.
[49:23] That's a great place to put any of your
[49:25] ideas or thoughts that are not related
[49:27] to one of the three stations.
[49:29] >> Um, yep. Can you just go back to slides
[49:32] » Um, yep. Can you just go back to slides
[49:32] just for folks who are listening online
[49:34] or to the one with the um the URL on it?
[49:37] I think it's slide might be before one.
[49:40] So, if folks are are are listening in
[49:42] online, um you're able to also
[49:44] participate in these activities. If you
[49:45] go to tinyurl.comousing26,
[49:49] that'll take you to an online survey
[49:51] where you're able to drop pins on a map
[49:54] and complete um parallel activities to
[49:56] the activities folks are doing tonight.
[49:58] So, it's tinyurl.comousing26.
[50:03] Thank you for that reminder.
[50:06] If you can go back. Yep. Thank you.
[50:10] Um you can go one more.
[50:14] So, this is a QR code. This you can use
[50:17] to scan this on your phone. And what
[50:19] we've done on this survey that is online
[50:21] is all of the action items. I think
[50:23] there's like 36 of them. We talked about
[50:26] the idea of being able to discuss those
[50:28] here tonight, but it's just too much
[50:30] information um to ask everyone to read
[50:33] 36 action items, think about those, and
[50:35] dot vote on all of that. And so, we took
[50:37] this to a higher level and did goals and
[50:39] policies. We're doing the map so that we
[50:42] can get an idea of where people think
[50:44] specifically it's appropriate for
[50:45] certain types of housing development.
[50:47] But what we've also done online is given
[50:49] you this QR code. You can scan this with
[50:52] your phone. I believe we also had we'll
[50:55] get you the URL. I thought it was on
[50:57] this slide. Um to you can go there and
[51:00] it lists the 36 action items and it
[51:03] gives you the ability to sort of give
[51:05] your you know give your gauge your
[51:07] interest in those. Do these seem
[51:08] appropriate? to these seem like maybe
[51:10] not a great idea for commentary. This
[51:12] that survey will stay open until the
[51:15] close of business tomorrow. Um and then
[51:17] we'll close that. And anyone that's um
[51:20] online will also see that at the end of
[51:23] the link that Elizabeth just gave you,
[51:25] you'll be able to move over to this
[51:27] survey right from that one and you'll be
[51:29] able to do both of the activities from
[51:32] home. Next slide. again promoting that
[51:37] the comp plan, the website has
[51:39] comprehensive plan information and that
[51:41] Doug is offering to invite people to
[51:44] come speak to him or to email him um at
[51:48] the address there. Absolutely. Please.
[51:52] And then it's it's fair to say um as a
[51:56] as a last remark before I think we turn
[51:59] it over to the engagement exercises. Um
[52:02] this was our our first big uh public
[52:04] engagement opportunity for the housing
[52:08] chapter. That's what's in front of us.
[52:10] Uh these policies, this is very much uh
[52:12] the the document itself hasn't been
[52:14] assembled. Uh these are this is a very
[52:17] strong draft, but we're looking for that
[52:19] feedback now. But this is going to be
[52:21] moving into the local adoption process.
[52:24] So there'll be important steps where
[52:25] this is going to be reviewed uh by the
[52:28] planning commission and a recommendation
[52:29] from the planning commission will be
[52:31] provided to the council. There'll be a
[52:32] council hearing on this matter. Um this
[52:35] is going to be the stand alone or the uh
[52:38] the the the the standing website that
[52:40] we're going to use throughout the whole
[52:42] process. Uh, and uh, the idea is through
[52:44] the entire process, we're going to have
[52:46] my email address be where you can give
[52:48] comments throughout it all. I'm going to
[52:51] oftentimes be just passing those along
[52:54] to our decision makers as we move from
[52:56] one board to another. Uh, but this is
[52:59] the first step. We want to hear from you
[53:00] early. We want to hear from you often,
[53:02] but this is the place that you should be
[53:04] checking back over the course of the
[53:05] next few months. We anticipate bringing
[53:08] these plans in front of our boards in
[53:09] the course of the next month or two. Um,
[53:12] we want to get the feedback here, but
[53:14] this is something that this will be
[53:16] moving towards local decisions in the
[53:18] next few months. So, please keep this
[53:20] website handy. Keep looking for updates
[53:22] and email me with any questions. Um,
[53:24] >> thank you.
[53:25] » thank you.
[53:25] >> Yep. Thank you.
[53:25] » Yep. Thank you.
[53:25] >> So, you do not have to start at station
[53:27] » So, you do not have to start at station
[53:27] one. You can pick any one of them and
[53:29] move in order or not in order. It really
[53:32] doesn't matter. We just hope that you're
[53:34] able to visit all three of them. Um, and
[53:36] we encourage you to stick around
[53:38] afterwards so that if there are
[53:40] questions, we can have a bit of a an
[53:42] open dialogue before we end the meeting.
[53:46] >> I think that's it. So, please, you know,
[53:48] » I think that's it. So, please, you know,
[53:48] take your sticky dots, your
[53:50] instructions, pick a station, start
[53:51] anywhere, and there's going to be staff
[53:53] there to help you or answer your
[53:55] questions as you go.
[54:12] No.
[54:18] But they haven't changed the
[54:28] » area.
[54:37] Just want to get a sense.
[54:49] You can actually do up to three.
[55:33] Happy.
[55:51] both.
[56:47] I probably don't have
[57:05] That's your John.
[57:14] [laughter]
[57:27] Trying to find space
[57:30] over
[57:56] supposed.
[58:24] I hope this
[58:27] [laughter]
[58:35] is
[58:38] your point.
[58:55] probably.
[59:10] Okay.
[59:25] Yeah, I see.
[59:48] That's what you find.
[1:00:03] This is
[1:00:09] not
[1:00:31] Fore
[1:01:05] most.
[1:25:40] Someone wants to say something.
[1:25:44] » Check, check, check, check.
[1:25:46] >> So, if you guys want to sort of
[1:25:48] » So, if you guys want to sort of
[1:25:48] reconvene, um, we'd like to give
[1:25:51] everyone an we, first of all, we want to
[1:25:53] thank everyone for coming, for
[1:25:55] participating. Um, we encourage we
[1:25:58] encourage you to use the QR code and go
[1:26:01] to the the small survey for the um
[1:26:05] action items. There are Doug has passed
[1:26:08] out um a document to everyone that's
[1:26:11] here. This has all of the goals and
[1:26:13] policies that you saw on the boards at
[1:26:15] station 2 and it also has all of the
[1:26:18] action items outlined. Um, and Doug is
[1:26:21] asking if you have comments on these,
[1:26:23] you know, please contact the department.
[1:26:25] Um, if you're not able to go online and
[1:26:27] do that survey or if you have thoughts
[1:26:28] beyond what the survey captures, um, get
[1:26:31] in touch with the department. Um, and we
[1:26:34] do want to open it up and give you guys
[1:26:36] a chance to ask any questions and I can
[1:26:39] certainly field questions related to the
[1:26:41] process and the project that we're
[1:26:42] working on. And Doug is also available
[1:26:44] if there are more specific questions.
[1:26:46] So, I don't know if anyone has anything
[1:26:48] specific they wanted to ask. I think
[1:26:54] » actually it helps anyone who's watching
[1:26:56] from they can hear you.
[1:26:57] >> Okay.
[1:26:58] » Okay.
[1:26:58] >> Um so my first question is regarding the
[1:27:01] » Um so my first question is regarding the
[1:27:01] um housing element of the comprehensive
[1:27:03] plan. I know Doug you said that we
[1:27:06] adopted a new comprehensive plan in
[1:27:08] June. Prior to that was there no housing
[1:27:11] element at all to the comprehensive plan
[1:27:14] or was it just totally inadequate? Was
[1:27:17] it something that we couldn't even look
[1:27:18] to to see if what we're doing is in line
[1:27:22] with the plan?
[1:27:23] >> The um the comprehensive plan that we
[1:27:26] » The um the comprehensive plan that we
[1:27:26] had uh representing the community prior
[1:27:29] to what we adopted last month was dated
[1:27:32] uh 1999. So, we did have a comprehensive
[1:27:34] plan. It was just 27 years old. In 2005,
[1:27:37] we did develop an uh affordable housing
[1:27:40] production plan. And that actually
[1:27:43] stands as the the town's prior to us
[1:27:45] adopting what we did last month, that
[1:27:47] stood as the town's plan for how we're
[1:27:49] going to further affordable housing. Um,
[1:27:52] this current uh effort basically
[1:27:54] incorporates the needs that the state
[1:27:56] has of us having an affordable housing
[1:27:58] plan. It incorporates that into this
[1:28:00] housing element. So any requests for
[1:28:05] affordable housing that have come
[1:28:07] between that update and 2025,
[1:28:12] >> would those have been weighed against
[1:28:14] » would those have been weighed against
[1:28:14] that whatever that temporary plan was
[1:28:17] that was in place?
[1:28:18] >> Yeah. So we we've we've had since that
[1:28:20] » Yeah. So we we've we've had since that
[1:28:20] time, we've always had this 10% rule and
[1:28:22] law from the state. Um but the idea is
[1:28:26] as we had affordable housing projects um
[1:28:29] come to the town if there was a
[1:28:31] measurement of is this furthering the
[1:28:33] town's plan for affordable housing they
[1:28:35] were measured against the 2005
[1:28:38] affordable housing production plan
[1:28:40] >> and is the 2005 plan something that we
[1:28:42] » and is the 2005 plan something that we
[1:28:42] can see absolutely that we could what we
[1:28:44] just
[1:28:44] >> we have a digital doc I can certainly
[1:28:46] » we have a digital doc I can certainly
[1:28:46] email it to you um it's a it's a dated
[1:28:49] doc but we yeah we certainly have a
[1:28:51] version that we can email
[1:28:52] >> okay yeah if you could email that that
[1:28:53] » okay yeah if you could email that that
[1:28:53] would be No problem.
[1:28:54] >> Um, second is the um
[1:29:00] » Um, second is the um
[1:29:00] survey that the planning department did.
[1:29:03] >> Yep.
[1:29:03] » Yep.
[1:29:03] >> Um,
[1:29:05] » Um,
[1:29:05] there were 353 responders.
[1:29:08] >> Yep.
[1:29:08] » Yep.
[1:29:08] >> Which is less than 1% of Coventry.
[1:29:11] » Which is less than 1% of Coventry.
[1:29:11] >> Yep.
[1:29:11] » Yep.
[1:29:11] >> So, I just want to state that that I
[1:29:14] » So, I just want to state that that I
[1:29:14] don't feel is something that even should
[1:29:16] be being shown on slides to support
[1:29:19] where we're headed in this plan. It's
[1:29:21] 353 people out of 35,000.
[1:29:24] So, I just wanted to state that as a
[1:29:27] >> That's fair. Yeah. I mean, we we were we
[1:29:28] » That's fair. Yeah. I mean, we we were we
[1:29:28] were happy with the outcome we got. Um I
[1:29:31] mean, you know, we
[1:29:33] >> That's bad. It's kind of sad. 353
[1:29:35] » That's bad. It's kind of sad. 353
[1:29:35] people. That's
[1:29:37] >> Yeah. And I can describe the promotional
[1:29:39] » Yeah. And I can describe the promotional
[1:29:39] efforts of the survey. Um I mean, we we
[1:29:41] ran ads in the paper. We ran it on the
[1:29:44] town Facebook multiple times. We uh we
[1:29:46] actually had Dennis um out at multiple
[1:29:49] community events um making people aware.
[1:29:52] Um it's difficult to get people to and
[1:29:54] it was it was a detailed survey. It
[1:29:56] wasn't a answer two questions and you're
[1:29:58] done. I mean it it it was a it estimated
[1:30:00] about 15 minutes. Uh it's hard to get
[1:30:03] people to take 15 minutes out of their
[1:30:04] day no matter how well you promote it.
[1:30:06] >> Um
[1:30:07] » Um
[1:30:07] >> and I read everything about how you
[1:30:08] » and I read everything about how you
[1:30:08] promoted it, you know, while we were
[1:30:10] going through this which is great. I'm
[1:30:13] an involved person. I never saw it.
[1:30:18] >> Never saw it because I would have
[1:30:19] » Never saw it because I would have
[1:30:19] participated if I ever saw it. I never
[1:30:21] saw it. And I believe you did all those
[1:30:23] things. But
[1:30:24] >> I guess that's just
[1:30:27] » I guess that's just
[1:30:28] >> just an encouragement to figure out how
[1:30:30] » just an encouragement to figure out how
[1:30:30] to get the word out on these things
[1:30:31] better. Maybe it's you have
[1:30:34] maybe it's the um
[1:30:37] the the the people who are over here
[1:30:40] that committee, you know, they're in
[1:30:43] touch with the day-to-day people a lot.
[1:30:45] Maybe they need to be going out to their
[1:30:47] constituents and saying, "Hey, you need
[1:30:48] to fill this out. You know, you you have
[1:30:50] everything to say about everything, but
[1:30:52] if you want something on the record,
[1:30:54] then fill these out."
[1:30:55] >> No. And we definitely did we did ask the
[1:30:57] » No. And we definitely did we did ask the
[1:30:57] council to share with as they saw fit,
[1:30:59] but again it's it's difficult to reach
[1:31:01] everybody. We did we didn't um mail
[1:31:03] something to every resident in town.
[1:31:05] That would have been a sticker price. I
[1:31:07] don't think we want to delay.
[1:31:07] >> Yeah, I totally get that.
[1:31:09] » Yeah, I totally get that.
[1:31:09] >> I mean, we we did we did give it a lot
[1:31:10] » I mean, we we did we did give it a lot
[1:31:10] of effort. Um and to be honest, I know
[1:31:13] that that 1% of the community doesn't
[1:31:15] seem like much. I I think it it it was
[1:31:18] great in my eyes to still see 350 people
[1:31:21] uh give us responses when we've run
[1:31:23] similar surveys in this community. it
[1:31:25] was before my time. I can't speak to the
[1:31:26] effort. We didn't get anywhere near
[1:31:28] those responses. So, we
[1:31:29] >> I just don't think it's something you
[1:31:30] » I just don't think it's something you
[1:31:30] can hang your hat on less than 1%.
[1:31:33] >> I mean, I do think that the issues we
[1:31:35] » I mean, I do think that the issues we
[1:31:35] learned um it it does tend the the
[1:31:39] opinions and attitudes because really
[1:31:41] that's what it was. It was an opinion
[1:31:42] and attitude survey asking our
[1:31:44] residents, "What do you think?" It does
[1:31:46] turn out the opinions and attitudes were
[1:31:48] kind of aligned with a lot of the data
[1:31:51] on, you know, where is there the biggest
[1:31:53] crunch? who is at a disadvantage, who's
[1:31:55] struggling with these issues, and then
[1:31:57] then the survey actually turned out
[1:31:58] similarly, people reporting those issues
[1:32:01] from their own perspective.
[1:32:03] >> So, kind of in line with that, so you
[1:32:05] » So, kind of in line with that, so you
[1:32:05] gave us that tiny URL, which I think is
[1:32:08] where people who weren't here tonight
[1:32:10] can participate in these exercises,
[1:32:12] right? That's where that tiny URL is.
[1:32:14] >> And then you gave us this QR code.
[1:32:17] » And then you gave us this QR code.
[1:32:17] >> The tiny URL one is going to close, I
[1:32:19] » The tiny URL one is going to close, I
[1:32:19] think you said, end of business
[1:32:21] tomorrow. that no the the URL was for
[1:32:24] anyone that was just online and wanted
[1:32:26] to engage in these exercises. Um that
[1:32:28] was that was for that uh the other QR
[1:32:31] code that is there on the screen. So
[1:32:34] anyone that's on Zoom uh it's it's the
[1:32:36] QR code that's on the screen. Um this is
[1:32:39] uh reflecting this document. So, what we
[1:32:43] didn't have time to do tonight is to
[1:32:45] look at the the 30 plus detailed action
[1:32:48] items that are the details behind some
[1:32:50] of the broad goals and policies. Uh,
[1:32:52] we're very happy to keep getting
[1:32:54] comments on this. I do encourage people
[1:32:56] if you want to go on, you can give your
[1:32:58] comments on this um uh tomorrow.
[1:33:00] However, nothing stops anybody from
[1:33:03] taking your time digesting this, getting
[1:33:06] uh, you know, your own reactions to it
[1:33:07] and email me any level of detailed
[1:33:10] comments you have. We will incorporate
[1:33:12] it in the process. Uh, some folks will
[1:33:14] give me comments now, and I'd love them
[1:33:16] now, and we actually will reflect on
[1:33:18] them and incorporate them in the plan.
[1:33:19] Some folks might want their comments to
[1:33:21] go to the council or the planning
[1:33:22] commission who are ultimately going to
[1:33:23] vote on these things. Any comments we
[1:33:25] get, we're going to share with our
[1:33:27] decision makers as well. So, that that
[1:33:29] puts it on the record. So, I suggest
[1:33:31] absolutely
[1:33:33] um spend time if you can tomorrow, but
[1:33:36] don't be afraid to email anytime to me
[1:33:38] and and this my email and the website
[1:33:41] are going to kind of stand throughout
[1:33:43] the whole process. We're probably
[1:33:44] another two months from going through
[1:33:47] public hearings and we want to be
[1:33:49] focused on hearing from people in one
[1:33:51] place so you don't have to keep
[1:33:52] switching your your your input to
[1:33:54] different um receivers.
[1:33:56] >> Well, and it's a lot easier if you as a
[1:33:57] » Well, and it's a lot easier if you as a
[1:33:57] survey monkey, right? all the answers
[1:33:59] are going to come in and Survey Monkey
[1:34:00] is going to do all the work for you. Why
[1:34:02] wouldn't you leave it open more than
[1:34:03] just 24 hours from now so that people
[1:34:06] who were here can get the word out and
[1:34:08] say, "Hey, you know, go online and fill
[1:34:09] out the survey. It's going to take you
[1:34:11] 10 minutes. It's multiple choice."
[1:34:13] >> Yeah.
[1:34:13] » Yeah.
[1:34:13] >> And get like more than 353 pe more than
[1:34:17] » And get like more than 353 pe more than
[1:34:17] 1% like
[1:34:19] >> one day is not a long time. Can't you
[1:34:21] » one day is not a long time. Can't you
[1:34:21] leave it open for like
[1:34:23] two days and let people get the word
[1:34:24] out? For this, I think our goal was uh
[1:34:27] to kind of tie it to the event and then
[1:34:30] the consultant's going to want to take
[1:34:31] the feedback we got from this event and
[1:34:33] consider how that addresses it and draft
[1:34:36] it. My my thought is
[1:34:39] let us hear from you. I think we can
[1:34:41] happily leave it open longer than today.
[1:34:44] Um happy to leave it open um another 3
[1:34:47] days. Uh my thought is after we get that
[1:34:51] feedback, we're going to try to rework
[1:34:52] it in a consolidated fashion and then it
[1:34:55] goes to the decision makers. Once it
[1:34:56] goes to the decision makers, the
[1:34:57] planning commission, the town council,
[1:34:59] we still want to get your feedback,
[1:35:01] >> but it's hard for us to take a
[1:35:02] » but it's hard for us to take a
[1:35:02] consolidated rewrite of a lot of things.
[1:35:04] At that point, we're editing through
[1:35:06] board meetings. Uh we're editing, you
[1:35:08] know, in a different way. That's why we
[1:35:10] wanted to get feedback soon as opposed
[1:35:12] to leave it open for so long. we knew we
[1:35:14] wanted to use this meeting to hear from
[1:35:16] folks and see what the reactions were. I
[1:35:18] mean, I'd love I would have hoped to see
[1:35:21] um you know twice as many people here,
[1:35:23] but as much as you try and you reach out
[1:35:25] and you you seek people's guidance on
[1:35:27] these, my my my takeaway is that it's
[1:35:30] hard to get people to take their time
[1:35:31] and engage. I appreciate you guys are
[1:35:33] here. It's hard to get people to engage
[1:35:35] on these things.
[1:35:36] >> Yeah. Um, that's why no matter if we
[1:35:37] » Yeah. Um, that's why no matter if we
[1:35:37] could leave that up for longer. We may
[1:35:39] not get the engagement we would hope to
[1:35:41] get, but we want to get what we can.
[1:35:44] This meeting was a great start. We'll
[1:35:46] leave that open for three more days.
[1:35:48] >> Yeah. And I really appreciate everything
[1:35:50] » Yeah. And I really appreciate everything
[1:35:50] that you guys put before us tonight.
[1:35:52] It's it's really great. And I wish that
[1:35:54] more people were actively involved, but
[1:35:56] I feel like those of us
[1:35:57] >> who were were here just from the
[1:35:59] » who were were here just from the
[1:35:59] community
[1:36:00] >> that at least we can get word out, you
[1:36:03] » that at least we can get word out, you
[1:36:03] know, I have two a sister, two nieces
[1:36:06] who live in Coventry and, you know,
[1:36:09] they're not here.
[1:36:10] >> Yeah.
[1:36:11] » Yeah.
[1:36:11] >> You know, but I just feel like you're
[1:36:12] » You know, but I just feel like you're
[1:36:12] going to get the same thing. You're
[1:36:14] going to get there was what maybe 10
[1:36:16] people here who are not on one of the
[1:36:17] councils. Yeah.
[1:36:18] >> And then four people on Zoom. You're
[1:36:20] » And then four people on Zoom. You're
[1:36:20] going to get feedback from 14 people.
[1:36:23] Yeah.
[1:36:23] >> What good is that really?
[1:36:25] » What good is that really?
[1:36:25] >> No, I mean that that's why we
[1:36:27] » No, I mean that that's why we
[1:36:27] continuously have on our website, which
[1:36:30] is a document that you'll see, you know,
[1:36:32] we have promoted that, you might have
[1:36:33] seen it pop up on Facebook. Uh you you
[1:36:36] might have read the ad in the paper.
[1:36:39] That's where the website's still going
[1:36:40] to live on. A month from now when we
[1:36:42] feel like we've taken this input, we've
[1:36:43] done what we can. I want to keep
[1:36:45] pointing people back to that because
[1:36:46] that will point you to here's the latest
[1:36:48] documents. Please review them. If you
[1:36:50] have comments, please email Doug. That
[1:36:52] doesn't stop that communication and I
[1:36:54] don't mind if I get 50 emails the week
[1:36:56] of the planning commission or the
[1:36:57] council meeting.
[1:36:58] >> No, I totally get that and that's great.
[1:37:00] » No, I totally get that and that's great.
[1:37:00] I just think getting more feedback on
[1:37:04] leaving it open for a few days and
[1:37:06] trying to get more people to participate
[1:37:09] is a much easier way for you to gather
[1:37:11] data. I mean, it's survey monkey. Yeah.
[1:37:13] It's going to come together and you're
[1:37:14] going to have all your answers, you
[1:37:16] know, versus 20 emails from people after
[1:37:18] the fact who say, "Oh, I should email
[1:37:20] Doug about this, you know,
[1:37:22] >> is that or that Survey Monkey thing that
[1:37:25] » is that or that Survey Monkey thing that
[1:37:26] you're talking about?"
[1:37:26] >> Yeah. If you if you uh take your phone,
[1:37:28] » Yeah. If you if you uh take your phone,
[1:37:28] go to that QR code that's on the screen,
[1:37:31] it'll take you to this document. I know
[1:37:33] we were handing this out. I know you
[1:37:35] guys were just at the stations and I'll
[1:37:36] give this I'll give a copy of this. Yep.
[1:37:38] Take take two of Yeah. Take one of those
[1:37:40] each. It's it's imagine that the
[1:37:43] policies and and uh goals that you were
[1:37:45] reviewing this provides a little bit
[1:37:47] more meat on terms of the smaller steps
[1:37:49] we'll we'll need to take to accomplish
[1:37:50] them. We want to hear from you on that.
[1:37:52] Um we knew tonight was probably a bit
[1:37:54] much to go through 30 plus of them, but
[1:37:56] we want to hear from you. We kind of
[1:37:58] used tonight as like a hook and asking
[1:38:00] people I don't mind. Uh share with your
[1:38:02] neighbors, share with your friends. You
[1:38:04] guys are passionate about it and I think
[1:38:06] that'd be helpful to hear from the folks
[1:38:08] that you guys think want to weigh in on
[1:38:10] this. Feel free to share that link,
[1:38:13] share this document, and if anybody has
[1:38:16] feedback and they're thinking they want
[1:38:18] to wait another few weeks, then we want
[1:38:20] to hear from you still. But at that
[1:38:22] point, we're we're taking the feedback
[1:38:23] from tonight, creating a document,
[1:38:26] making that a formal doc out there, and
[1:38:28] then that doc can still be edited
[1:38:29] through the process.
[1:38:35] » Well, you got Zoom and you have all your
[1:38:37] >> Yes. Yes.
[1:38:38] » Yes. Yes.
[1:38:38] >> Yeah. anyone that's on Zoom has actually
[1:38:40] » Yeah. anyone that's on Zoom has actually
[1:38:40] got access to this. And you want to try
[1:38:42] to distribute it to people all over
[1:38:44] commentary. Like not just the people who
[1:38:46] live right around you or the people you
[1:38:47] know have the same ideas as you, but
[1:38:51] really just spread it out to anybody
[1:38:53] that you know or put it on your own
[1:38:54] Facebook page and say, "Hey, if you live
[1:38:55] in Coventry,
[1:38:57] >> you know, I encourage you to fill this
[1:38:58] » you know, I encourage you to fill this
[1:38:58] out so that you are getting a a fair
[1:39:01] representation from different areas, you
[1:39:03] know, different people,
[1:39:07] » embedded bugs or whatever in there."
[1:39:09] >> Yeah.
[1:39:10] » Yeah.
[1:39:10] So, if I were to go to some random
[1:39:12] person and say, "Hey, Skins QR, take
[1:39:14] this survey." They'd be like, "No,
[1:39:17] >> I can show you after.
[1:39:19] » I can show you after.
[1:39:19] >> Go to the QR code." There's also a
[1:39:20] » Go to the QR code." There's also a
[1:39:20] website address that you can go to. So,
[1:39:22] I can show you that after if you'd like.
[1:39:24] >> Yeah. No, this one's not bugged unless
[1:39:25] » Yeah. No, this one's not bugged unless
[1:39:25] you get bugged by uh 30 housing
[1:39:28] questions. This one, this one's clean.
[1:39:31] >> So, if we send it out, what's the
[1:39:34] » So, if we send it out, what's the
[1:39:34] deadline? Uh I know that um I'm uh yeah,
[1:39:39] I'm okay with Friday. I'm I'm only in
[1:39:41] the office for part of this week and I
[1:39:42] did want to be part of the you know when
[1:39:44] we closed it, see what kind of feedback
[1:39:46] we got. Uh but we can leave it open till
[1:39:48] Friday. I'm fine with that
[1:39:49] >> vacation. Don't worry about it.
[1:39:52] » vacation. Don't worry about it.
[1:39:52] >> Yeah. No, but I think part of it is the
[1:39:54] » Yeah. No, but I think part of it is the
[1:39:54] consultant team wants to be able to take
[1:39:55] feedback and
[1:39:56] >> but I want them to have valuable
[1:39:58] » but I want them to have valuable
[1:39:58] feedback.
[1:39:58] >> No, no, no. Valuable feedback if you
[1:40:01] » No, no, no. Valuable feedback if you
[1:40:01] leave it open for a while longer. I
[1:40:03] might be wrong.
[1:40:05] Give it a whirl.
[1:40:16] » Founding action. If you type that in
[1:40:18] like it'll take you the same.
[1:40:20] >> Is that is that's the link we've got
[1:40:21] » Is that is that's the link we've got
[1:40:22] right up there on the top right.
[1:40:24] It's the same link except it's a
[1:40:25] different.
[1:40:28] All right. Never mind. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
[1:40:30] Okay.
[1:40:31] >> Right. So, so pe people only the people
[1:40:33] » Right. So, so pe people only the people
[1:40:33] who were on the phone could participate
[1:40:35] in this exercise.
[1:40:37] >> Yeah. Yeah. Because it's hard to leave
[1:40:38] » Yeah. Yeah. Because it's hard to leave
[1:40:38] an exercise like this open-ended for
[1:40:40] weeks. Okay. And I mean part of it is
[1:40:42] our goal is to move forward with the
[1:40:44] feedback and then draft the plan the
[1:40:46] best we can. That doesn't mean that the
[1:40:48] feedback doesn't end, but it means that
[1:40:49] we want to get a plan in front of our
[1:40:51] decision makers. The only other question
[1:40:52] I had is you um I I forget your name,
[1:40:55] but you mentioned that I think it was
[1:40:57] and I might get my numbers wrong because
[1:40:59] there was so many numbers and so many
[1:41:00] slides so fast, but you mentioned I
[1:41:03] think that the average renter like to
[1:41:06] rent a home in Coventry is about $2,000
[1:41:10] a month, which means you have to make
[1:41:13] 91,000 a year, but the average renter in
[1:41:17] Coventry makes 37.
[1:41:20] How is that possible?
[1:41:21] How are they living here if they make 37
[1:41:24] and you need to make 91? It just those
[1:41:27] numbers don't make sense to me. So, I
[1:41:29] need it in context.
[1:41:30] >> I can I can speak to that. So, it's
[1:41:32] » I can I can speak to that. So, it's
[1:41:32] partly what the nature of the data
[1:41:34] that's available for renting. Um, and so
[1:41:37] the data that we have about the average
[1:41:38] two-bedroom rent comes from Rhode Island
[1:41:40] Housing, and they use a database called
[1:41:42] Co-Star, which is like a corporate
[1:41:44] database of rental data. So, that rental
[1:41:47] data is is more about larger properties.
[1:41:50] So, it probably includes some of the
[1:41:52] renovated mills, but it may not reflect
[1:41:54] the smaller scale um like old mill
[1:41:59] housing that may also be rented. It kind
[1:42:01] of is skewed towards larger buildings.
[1:42:03] Um, and so that is that's the reason for
[1:42:07] the the kind of disjuncture is that that
[1:42:09] data set only looks at buildings that
[1:42:11] kind of corporate interests are
[1:42:13] interested in knowing the information
[1:42:15] about and it doesn't they don't
[1:42:16] necessarily survey all of the small
[1:42:18] landlords to know what the small
[1:42:20] landlords are renting for.
[1:42:23] >> So I'm sorry, but that's misleading.
[1:42:27] » So I'm sorry, but that's misleading.
[1:42:27] That's misleading.
[1:42:29] You know, that's misleading information.
[1:42:32] You need to be fully transparent in the
[1:42:34] information that you're sharing and not
[1:42:37] sharing information that supports what
[1:42:39] you want to do. And that's how it comes
[1:42:42] across to me is that you're giving me
[1:42:44] information that supports where you want
[1:42:45] to go with this plan. I want real
[1:42:49] information that's totally transparent.
[1:42:51] That's not transparent. And it doesn't
[1:42:54] make anybody who looks at that says it
[1:42:56] doesn't make sense. If it costs 91 and
[1:42:58] they're making 37, how are they living
[1:43:00] here? they'd be on the streets.
[1:43:03] >> Part of it also is that Coventry does
[1:43:04] » Part of it also is that Coventry does
[1:43:04] have affordable rental housing. And so
[1:43:07] when you look at census data, which
[1:43:08] looks at the full population, that's
[1:43:10] partially capturing the fact that some
[1:43:12] of the people who do rent here are able
[1:43:14] to access housing at Coventry Housing
[1:43:16] Authority. So, but I I totally hear you
[1:43:18] and I do recognize that that data is has
[1:43:22] that disjuncture, but I do want to
[1:43:23] explain kind of the background behind it
[1:43:25] and part of it is a data source issue in
[1:43:27] that there is no comprehensive resource
[1:43:30] to capture what small landlords are
[1:43:33] renting for.
[1:43:34] >> I totally understand that, but you don't
[1:43:35] » I totally understand that, but you don't
[1:43:35] tell us that when you give us those
[1:43:37] numbers. I
[1:43:38] >> mean, one thing to be clear is I you
[1:43:41] » mean, one thing to be clear is I you
[1:43:41] guys are seeing highlights tonight. When
[1:43:43] you see the full document, the document
[1:43:45] is going to have its sources. So, we can
[1:43:47] only work with the sources of data we
[1:43:48] have and we'll be transparent about the
[1:43:50] sources of data. Um, at the end of the
[1:43:53] day, no one's trying to hide where we're
[1:43:56] ga gathering our data from and we can't
[1:43:58] gather data from sources that don't
[1:44:00] exist. But it's also critical for us to
[1:44:02] gather the data that does exist. And so,
[1:44:04] we will be transparent about the
[1:44:06] sources. You guys maybe didn't see all
[1:44:08] like you wouldn't see the full document
[1:44:10] with the data and the citations on where
[1:44:12] the data is coming from. So that's maybe
[1:44:15] helps you in terms of your question on
[1:44:16] the transparency
[1:44:19] >> and I would just say that the text
[1:44:20] » and I would just say that the text
[1:44:20] responses to the survey indicate that
[1:44:22] folks are experiencing what's consistent
[1:44:24] with that data like multi multiple
[1:44:27] respondents who are saying that I am
[1:44:28] stuck in the unit where I am living it
[1:44:30] is in poor condition but I have nowhere
[1:44:32] to go. Um, so you know, we we try to
[1:44:36] triangulate as best we can from commonly
[1:44:38] available data sources as well as
[1:44:40] hearing from folks at public meetings as
[1:44:42] well as looking at kind of the details
[1:44:43] behind the survey data. Um, but we can
[1:44:46] definitely reflect that nuance better in
[1:44:48] the final report.
[1:44:50] >> So, I just had a thought. I'm not sure
[1:44:52] » So, I just had a thought. I'm not sure
[1:44:52] if this is even possible, but if you
[1:44:55] really want to know what the residents
[1:44:57] of Coventry feel possibly when the next
[1:45:02] election, is it possible to have some
[1:45:04] type of survey, not on the election
[1:45:06] ballot, but at that facility and have
[1:45:09] somebody available? So, as people are
[1:45:13] going in to vote, say, "Hey, you know,
[1:45:16] would you mind filling out a quick
[1:45:17] survey?" And would that
[1:45:22] No.
[1:45:23] >> No. Is that something you can check
[1:45:25] » No. Is that something you can check
[1:45:25] into?
[1:45:28] >> You can't
[1:45:31] » You can't
[1:45:31] polling place is
[1:45:33] >> what you're there for. Anything else can
[1:45:36] » what you're there for. Anything else can
[1:45:36] be construed as misleading or courage
[1:45:39] courage. That's just a simple
[1:45:46] » right. I'm just thinking an idea how how
[1:45:49] to get more people.
[1:45:50] >> The idea, Mike, I mean,
[1:45:51] » The idea, Mike, I mean,
[1:45:51] >> there you go.
[1:45:52] » there you go.
[1:45:52] >> We we we want to hear from people and we
[1:45:55] » We we we want to hear from people and we
[1:45:55] want to get engagement. Um,
[1:45:57] unfortunately, it can be difficult to
[1:45:59] engage with people on a complex subject.
[1:46:01] Takes a lot of time. I appreciate you
[1:46:03] guys are here. It takes time to come out
[1:46:04] of your day and do this. Um, I mean, I
[1:46:07] hear you.
[1:46:10] Yeah. And I'm glad you came. I mean, we
[1:46:13] we we want to engage with folks. It's an
[1:46:15] important topic. it can be difficult to
[1:46:17] keep people um to get as much feedback
[1:46:20] as we'd like. We get the best we can.
[1:46:23] Typically, uh the feedback can sometimes
[1:46:24] come in spades when it's in front of our
[1:46:26] decision makers. And that's why I keep
[1:46:28] relying upon the idea of when it's in
[1:46:30] front of us and our decision makers and
[1:46:32] folks are still thinking there's
[1:46:33] something with this plan they're not
[1:46:34] sure about. That's why we want to hear
[1:46:36] from you. All the gailed comments will
[1:46:38] be considered by staff, they'll all be
[1:46:40] also passed to the decision makers. It
[1:46:42] can be difficult to get people in front
[1:46:44] of us when there's not a decision made
[1:46:46] tonight, right? This is an academic
[1:46:48] discussion and it's hard to get people
[1:46:50] to come out. But this is where we start
[1:46:51] to gather the underpinnings of the plan.
[1:46:58] » I can't hear you.
[1:46:59] >> I'm sorry.
[1:47:02] » I'm sorry.
[1:47:02] >> Many people can understand me from yards
[1:47:05] » Many people can understand me from yards
[1:47:05] away without a microphone. Sorry. Um,
[1:47:08] can I ask a question about the data that
[1:47:11] you do have from the survey results that
[1:47:13] you gathered? Is there a way I know that
[1:47:16] you made a comment about someone said
[1:47:18] about their rent.
[1:47:20] Is there a way that you are determining
[1:47:23] whether they're a homeowner or a renter?
[1:47:27] Let's say something about that, Doug.
[1:47:28] So, something we do when we do get
[1:47:30] survey results is we try to at least
[1:47:31] gauge kind of does this represent the
[1:47:33] community or not. And like typically it
[1:47:35] doesn't. I was actually quite surprised
[1:47:37] when I looked at the survey data from
[1:47:38] Coventry that it kind of lined up like
[1:47:40] almost exactly at least with the age
[1:47:42] data that I can remember off the top of
[1:47:44] my head because typically excuse older.
[1:47:46] Um but the percentages of participation
[1:47:48] on this survey were fairly reflective of
[1:47:50] the demographics of Coventry. Um which I
[1:47:53] was pleasantly surprised about um get
[1:47:56] like with the survey results I typically
[1:47:58] see.
[1:47:59] >> Yeah. And um the [clears throat] survey
[1:48:01] » Yeah. And um the [clears throat] survey
[1:48:01] uh the survey results are public. You
[1:48:03] can find them on the planning department
[1:48:04] web page. We did ask not just your
[1:48:07] attitudes and opinions about housing. We
[1:48:08] asked a series of demographic questions.
[1:48:10] Um we tried not to get too detailed, but
[1:48:12] we did ask, for example, what's your
[1:48:14] range of income? And we have the ability
[1:48:16] to even do further studies and
[1:48:18] cross-correlate. The people who make
[1:48:19] this income, how did they answer that
[1:48:21] question? The people who rent, how did
[1:48:22] they answer that question? So, we can do
[1:48:24] that kind of crossorrelation study. We
[1:48:26] did a bit of that and the the document
[1:48:29] that's on the web now gives a sense of
[1:48:31] some of the like the the findings that
[1:48:33] jumped out to us about the survey and
[1:48:36] >> I'm sorry. Okay.
[1:48:37] » I'm sorry. Okay.
[1:48:37] >> So, keep in mind that's just the
[1:48:39] » So, keep in mind that's just the
[1:48:39] attitudes opinion survey from our town
[1:48:41] residents which is somewhat different
[1:48:43] than a lot of the work they're doing
[1:48:45] pulling data from different sources.
[1:48:48] >> Someone take this please.
[1:48:49] » Someone take this please.
[1:48:49] >> Yeah.
[1:48:50] » Yeah.
[1:48:50] >> I drop it. [laughter] Thank you.
[1:48:56] » I drop it. [laughter] Thank you.
[1:48:56] Any other questions? We're open to any
[1:48:58] feedback. This isn't the end of the
[1:49:00] conversation, but we want to hear from
[1:49:01] you if you have any questions, something
[1:49:03] to say. Doug,
[1:49:04] >> I was gonna make a suggestion.
[1:49:05] » I was gonna make a suggestion.
[1:49:05] >> Please maybe make a good push on
[1:49:08] » Please maybe make a good push on
[1:49:08] Facebook for the next three days.
[1:49:10] >> No, I appreciate it.
[1:49:13] » No, I appreciate it.
[1:49:13] >> The cheapest and best option available.
[1:49:16] » The cheapest and best option available.
[1:49:16] >> I Everybody loves Facebook these days.
[1:49:19] » I Everybody loves Facebook these days.
[1:49:19] Thanks, J.
[1:49:21] That's
[1:49:24] hand.
[1:49:25] >> Oh, we got someone's hand up. Uh
[1:49:27] » Oh, we got someone's hand up. Uh
[1:49:27] Samantha Sergeant, we see your hand up
[1:49:29] in the Zoom. We're going to uh bring you
[1:49:31] in. Uh feel free to unmute yourself and
[1:49:34] and uh go ahead and speak.
[1:49:39] » We don't hear you yet, Sam. Oh,
[1:49:41] >> go ahead, Samantha.
[1:49:42] » go ahead, Samantha.
[1:49:42] >> Did that come through? Hi. I um I I just
[1:49:45] » Did that come through? Hi. I um I I just
[1:49:45] want to say um great job on the
[1:49:47] presentation. Um Ashley, I believe that
[1:49:49] was your name, right?
[1:49:51] Um, and then yeah, and then I just I
[1:49:54] missed um the tiny URL URL, excuse me.
[1:49:58] Um, what that was. I was trying to um to
[1:50:02] to switch from my phone to a laptop for
[1:50:04] the meeting so I could use my phone to
[1:50:05] get on the tiny URL. But um
[1:50:08] >> I I couldn't find I was like looking
[1:50:09] » I I couldn't find I was like looking
[1:50:09] everywhere for it.
[1:50:10] >> Yeah, the one the one for the activities
[1:50:12] » Yeah, the one the one for the activities
[1:50:12] for tonight for follow.
[1:50:14] >> Yeah. So that's um at covousousing26
[1:50:18] or tinyurl.comousing26.
[1:50:22] That should work and take you to an
[1:50:24] arcgis URL.
[1:50:26] >> Oh, okay. Is it too late to do it or
[1:50:28] » Oh, okay. Is it too late to do it or
[1:50:28] >> I think it's open till 9. So you have 10
[1:50:31] » I think it's open till 9. So you have 10
[1:50:31] minutes.
[1:50:32] >> Okay.
[1:50:33] » Okay.
[1:50:33] >> Is there a way to boost that?
[1:50:35] » Is there a way to boost that?
[1:50:35] >> Oh, sorry. I I can't read the
[1:50:37] » Oh, sorry. I I can't read the
[1:50:37] >> I can't read the clock. So you have some
[1:50:39] » I can't read the clock. So you have some
[1:50:39] time.
[1:50:40] >> Yeah. And then um we'll we'll put that
[1:50:43] » Yeah. And then um we'll we'll put that
[1:50:43] uh just so you have it, Samantha, the
[1:50:44] URL uh will be back on the web screen in
[1:50:48] just a bit. I think I'll ask Cody to
[1:50:49] screen share that particular page of the
[1:50:52] presentation just so you can see it.
[1:50:54] >> Awesome. Thank you.
[1:50:55] » Awesome. Thank you.
[1:50:55] >> Yep. It's in the top right corner of
[1:50:59] » Yep. It's in the top right corner of
[1:50:59] >> and this is this is the URL for the
[1:51:01] » and this is this is the URL for the
[1:51:01] activities that occurred just here
[1:51:02] tonight. It's the mapping activities.
[1:51:04] It's the prioritization of the goals and
[1:51:06] policies. when you get into the end of
[1:51:08] that um you'll get to a link to take you
[1:51:11] to the action items which is that's the
[1:51:14] more detailed work that we've basically
[1:51:15] didn't tackle tonight but I'm very happy
[1:51:17] to hear from people uh who are
[1:51:19] interested
[1:51:20] >> okay great thank you so much
[1:51:22] » okay great thank you so much
[1:51:22] >> thank you
[1:51:26] » all right if there's any other questions
[1:51:28] folks on Zoom uh feel free to raise your
[1:51:30] hand if you want to have a question
[1:51:32] anything to contribute uh and anybody
[1:51:34] else in the room happy to take any Last
[1:51:36] questions.
[1:51:41] » I don't see anybody. Thank you very
[1:51:42] much. It's not the end of the
[1:51:44] conversation. Feel free again there's
[1:51:46] ways to engage with us. Uh we'll be
[1:51:48] promoting uh some of the you know as
[1:51:50] these events evolve towards meetings as
[1:51:52] these events uh come into our decision
[1:51:54] makers. Uh these will be opportunities
[1:51:58] for you to engage again. Uh the
[1:52:00] documents on the web will be updated as
[1:52:02] we take this feedback. we consider how
[1:52:04] we would draft a final housing chapter
[1:52:07] draft. Um, keep your eyes open for us
[1:52:10] and uh, uh, use that website to see
[1:52:13] when's the next meeting, when can you
[1:52:14] engage uh, and what are the best
[1:52:16] materials to be reflecting on. Thank you
[1:52:18] very much for all those that came and
[1:52:20] uh, and I'll just ask at the very end
[1:52:22] uh, Mr. Clooney, if you don't mind just
[1:52:24] adjourning the the board.
[1:52:32] » All right. So the planning commission
[1:52:34] meeting's adjourned and then we also are
[1:52:36] done here.