The city’s Housing Commission has not met since February 2024, becoming dormant after a string of vacancies.

According to the city’s Code of Ordinances, the Housing Commission consists of nine members. Five are members of the public, all appointed by council members.

Amy Rainone is one of the few members still on the commission. She said the board hasn’t operated normally due to a lack of members. According to the city’s Code of Ordinances, a quorum of five members is necessary for the commission to take any action.

Rainone said mustering a quorum was always a challenge, but it’s been more difficult with a general lack of attendance and some members stepping down.

According to the city’s website, three vacancies are listed. Rainone said the appointments that need to be made are the public members. The only two public members still on the commission are Rainone and Kristina Brown, both of whose terms end in January 2027.

One of the things the commission has focused on through the years is the city’s sprawling Comprehensive Plan, a land-use guide that the Planning Department has been working on.

A Comprehensive Plan serves as the city’s roadmap for future development, helping the municipality shape decisions about where and how new housing should be built.

“It was something that folks were very interested in coordinating with the city on and providing input on …” Rainone said about the commission’s involvement with the Comprehensive Plan. “But obviously, without a full body being able to move forward, that hasn't happened.”

The Plan Commission held a special meeting on Aug. 26 that focused on various amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning ordinances.

One of those amendments was meant to update the city’s approach to housing following changes to state law that introduced new housing goals for communities across the state. The state set a goal of 1,367 new housing units for Cranston by 2030, with 205 units aimed at low- or moderate-income households.

During the Aug. 26 meeting, a resident raised concerns about the lack of public engagement in the amendments being heard, particularly the housing element.

“I understand the reasons why this got rushed, but I think that’s going to really diminish the value of this plan to the nearly 80,000 people who live in Cranston,” said Annette Bourne, a city resident who formerly served on the Housing Commission.

Plan Commission President Steven Frias said the reasons behind the push for these amendments is that last year, a Comprehensive Plan was approved, but under then-Planning Director Jason Pezzullo, state approval of it was not pursued.

Frias explained that since then, changes were made in state law.

One of the changes now requires cities and towns to exceed a 10% goal of low- or moderate-income housing in new construction.

“I wish I [wasn’t] in this position right now, where I feel that I have to move this chapter quickly,” Frias said at the meeting. “I feel it’s in our best interests to move this as quickly as reasonably possible, knowing that further changes can be made.”

Rainone said it’s valuable to have an active Housing Commission, especially when there is a housing crisis and overall lack of affordable housing.

According to the city’s Code of Ordinances, the Housing Commission’s duty is to study and inform the city of its housing needs and the things that need to be done to address those needs, especially with the production of low-and-moderate-income housing.

“The housing element of the municipality's Comprehensive Plan … that's the perfect kind of thing for the Housing Commission to help with,” Rainone said.

Bourne said she has been in regular contact with City Council about the vacancies on the commission.

Rainone acknowledged that a lot of work needs to be done, and she said the commission could be a great resource to do it.

“So I think it's disappointing that the membership has been sort of allowed to dwindle like that,” Rainone said. “I hope that the council fills those remaining seats so that the body can get back together and provide that input.”