Town Manager Report for the week ending July 24, 2026
The Parks and Recreation Summer Concert Series continues on Friday July 24 at 630pm with the sounds of the Stone Cold Gypsies until 800pm. Grab a beach chair and some friends and come by the Town Hall Annex for some great entertainment.
On Monday July 20 we had a very informative Housing Workshop put on by our Planning Department, in particular Director McClean and Housing Planner Dennis Haggerty, with special guest R.I. Housing Secretary Deborah Goddard and her staff. We also had a great presentation from one of our vendors, Weston and Sampson, who has compiled a lot of real time data that covers all types of housing in Coventry but specifically detailed the need for affordable rental properties. We also received the same feedback from the Housing Survey the Planning Department sent out over the past year. The disparity between what the average income needed to rent, never mind own a home in Coventry, is astonishing. We need to build more housing to help bring down the costs and make housing a reality and not a burden.
There was a Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday to start the approval process for Mishnock Woods a 400-unit complex with multiple buildings with mostly studio and 1 bedroom rentals including 100 Low to Moderate Income units. There was much discussion over parking, traffic, stormwater, DEM restrictions, fire access, a traffic light, and other concerns. The hearing was continued to September with additional information forthcoming.
On Thursday we met with our engineer GZA and our contractor MAS on the Tiogue Lake gate replacement project. The process is currently with the Army Corps of Engineers and the R.I. Historic Preservation Office and we should have our final permit around August 21 at which point they will begin the project with an estimated completion date of December 15, 2026.
There is a very important Town Council meeting on Tuesday July 28 at which time the Tax Stabilization Agreement proposal from developer Tim Eden will be continued/presented for his 400 rental unit project at the Centre of NE. Included in that resolution is Starr Capital agreeing to reimburse the Town up to $525k for the temporary and permanent traffic signal that will be built at the intersection of Hopkins Hill Rd and Centre of NE Blvd. We are anticipating the wetland crossover roadway currently under construction will be complete in October. Please visit the Town website www.coventryri.gov for the full agenda.