If enacted, S0302 will significantly alter the process by which towns manage highways deemed surplus or unnecessary. The bill emphasizes efficient use of local resources by allowing towns to transfer ownership of such properties directly to adjacent landowners, which may facilitate new development and improve land use within those areas. This shift not only enhances the control of local governments over local assets but may also stimulate economic growth as property owners invest in the newly acquired land.
Senate Bill S0302, introduced by Senator Alana DiMario, proposes amendments to Rhode Island's laws concerning the abandonment of highways and driftways by municipalities. The primary provision allows towns, specifically Narragansett among others, the authority to sell abandoned highway or driftway land to abutting property owners at fair market value. This amendment aims to streamline the abandonment process, providing clarity and a legal framework for towns managing non-functional roadways that are no longer deemed necessary for public use. The new law would enable abutting owners to acquire these lands, potentially benefiting land development and real estate opportunities.
During discussions of S0302, there were notable points of contention regarding how the bill balances public utility against private property rights. Supporters emphasized that the reform would prevent unnecessary maintenance costs for towns, whereas critics expressed concerns about the potential loss of public access to these lands. Some stakeholders raised alarms that such policies could disproportionately favor developers and affluent landowners at the expense of community access and shared local space, raising questions about equitable land distribution.