Newport City Council debates Tourism District, Accessory Dwelling Units in marathon meeting

The Newport City Council held a 4-hour and 10-minute regular meeting on Aug. 14, discussing a proposed tourism improvement district and new regulations for accessory dwelling units.

Council members debated a plan to establish a Newport Tourism Improvement District, which would impose a $1.50 per night fee on hotel rooms to fund marketing efforts. The proposal, supported by Discover Newport, faced pushback from some councilors who argued the city should receive more than the proposed 3% administrative fee.

Councilor David Carlin stated, “It’s an insult to the city of Newport. Perhaps the legislature would be so kind as to revise the passage of their legislation to allow us more than $16,000 to do this administrative work.”

The council voted to table the item for future consideration.

The meeting also included discussion on new regulations for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), mandated by recent state legislation. City Zoning Officer Nick Armour presented the proposed ordinance, which would limit ADUs to two bedrooms and 900 square feet for studios and one-bedrooms.

Councilor Carlin expressed concerns about the impact on neighborhood density, particularly in the Third Ward. “It will change the very characteristics of our city,” he said. “And it will do nothing, my friends, to change the affordable housing equation here in the city of Newport.”

Councilors Charlie Holder and Angela Lima voiced support for the measure. Lima stated, “We are a community. If we are truly one Newport, we understand that.”

The council also addressed several other zoning amendments and heard public comments on various issues throughout the session.