A new zone – the village district zone –is being proposed by the city administration for Apponaug and Conimicut.

The zone that would replace the historic district zone that currently applies to Apponaug would relax existing regulations thereby stimulating new and redevelopment while promoting aesthetic features designed to enhance the “feel” of a village and pedestrian traffic.

On the drafting board for more than two years, Mayor Scott Avedisian has chosen to move ahead with the village zone now, having proposed ordinance amendments that will first come before the Planning Board before being considered by the City Council. City Council President Bruce Place was briefed Tuesday on the changes by city planners and the concept has been discussed with members from both village associations and councilmen representing both areas.

Avedisian said yesterday with the downturn in the economy this is a good time to move ahead with the zone that he sees as “spurring economic development.”

Further, in the case of Apponaug he considers it timely because of the village bypass project aimed at diverting traffic from the village center.

“In Conimicut we see real changes taking place,” he said citing the conversion of the former Apponaug School into the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center, the construction of condos at the former site of Jenny’s Ice Cream and the Warwick Housing Authority project under construction across from the condos. He also mentioned new businesses in the village and the “rejuvenation” of the Conimicut Village Association.

For Apponaug the zone would simplify efforts to renovate, alter or even demolish existing buildings and remove a set of regulations, as well as historic district commission review that have stymied redevelopment. In both villages the zone would bring a consistent set of regulations to areas of mixed residential, commercial, industrial and institutional uses.

City Planner Mark Carruolo sees the zone as bringing “more uniformity than originality” to both villages. In the case of Apponaug with the removal of the historic overlay zone, he envisions it as allowing the area to evolve “instead of freeze it in time.”

He is hopeful the village zone will stimulate redevelopment along Apponaug Cove, especially of the former Eagle Lumber Company property. Also, with the $27 million Apponaug bypass project underway he looks to a future of less vehicle traffic and a more pedestrian-friendly village that will sustain more small businesses, small offices and residential uses.

Carruolo believes the Apponaug historic district has failed to work because the village lacks a critical mass of historic buildings. Where it has worked, he said, is Pawtuxet that has a proportionately greater number of historical structures – most of them residential – and strong support from residents. In the case of Pawtuxet, Carruolo sees the historic zone as serving to enhance property values.

Support for the historic overlay hasn’t reached to the Cranston side of the village where there are many more businesses and varied uses. In the last month, the council ordinance committee shot down Pawtuxet Village Association efforts to extend the zone to Cranston.

Carol Pratt, owner of Carol’s Country Corner in the village considers the proposed zone a doubled-edged sword. While she says relaxing regulations would spark redevelopment and allow for mixed uses of residential, offices and retail she would hate to see buildings of historic value and character go.

Speaking of the building where her business is located, which was built in 1927, Carol said, she doesn’t consider it to be historic but thinks it should be protected.

Jeff Gofton, president of the Apponaug Improvement Association helped write the zone and said he wasn’t to make it a walkable community.

“It’s ideal for a village; it’s designed for a village atmosphere,” he said. Gofton said the zone enables people to work, live and shop right in one spot. He doesn’t fear it will mean the loss of historic structures.

“We have design standards in there that would serve the same purpose (as the historic district overlay). The limits on size of retail space, encourages village scale development,” he said. “The idea isn’t to get rid of the old, but encourage development that is of the same scale of the old.”

Ward 7 Councilman Charles Donovan said he is “excited” about the zone, saying it has been worked on for years and, “is well put together and will enhance the village look.” He said there are the safeguards to save historical structures and yet the provisions to prevent “box developments” from coming into the village.

Had the zone been in place, he said, the city could have done more to create the feel of a village main street by having the relatively new Pawtucket Credit Union building closer to the corner.

“But that’s water over the dam. We have to look forward,” he said.

As described in the opening paragraph of the village zone, its purpose “is to create a mixed-use district that provides services useful to citizens within the district and surrounding residential areas.”

It goes on to say the aim of the zone is to reduce the need for residents to travel outside the area for products and services while creating increased pedestrian traffic in the village center and revitalizing the economic life and improving the appearance of the central village.

The zone intends to do this by easing setback, yard and parking regulations. For instance, there are no minimum side yard regulations, which would allow for buildings to be constructed next to one another. The minimum lot area would be 6,000 square feet and the maximum dwelling units per acre would be 12.

Principal structures on a lot are to be oriented to the street and main entrances are also to be facing the street even in situations where off-street parking may be in a lot next to the building.

“It is intended that the Village District regulations should encourage a high quality of architectural and site design to create a unique identity that distinguishes it from other districts in the city,” reads a draft of the proposed amendment.

As for parking, the zoning would allow on-street parking as meeting up to 25 percent of the off-street requirements set by regulations. The zone would also set requirements on signage, placement of building heating and air conditioning equipment, location of storage areas as well as screening from abutting residential properties.

Unlike the historic district zone where a commission must give its stamp of approval for new buildings and renovations that are subject to materials to be used, the city building department would have the power to determine if the design for a new structure fits within the village character. The intent, explain planners, is to streamline the review process without compromising the village feel.

Ward 4 Councilman Joseph Solomon likes the concept of the zone but wants to hear from residents and business owners.

“We want to fine tune it. It’s a good draft but not a final draft,” he said. He favors action that would cut red tape and spur economic development.

More pedestrian traffic is just what the village needs in the opinion of Frank Simonini, who grew up in the village and operates the Coffee Grinder on West Shore Road. The store opened two years ago and has a following of commuters and locals.

Simonini thinks the economy has hurt sales in recent months.

“Some days I see people (who usually stop for their morning coffee) drive right by.”

Simonini remembers Conimicut as a vibrant village. He starts naming businesses from Salk’s Hardware, the A&P, First National, Louie the cobbler, Kennedy’s Bakery, Duquette’s Market and the butcher shop.

“It was a village then,” he said.

He favors anything that could bring that back.