Lemus confronted Langevin after the event and reported that not all business owners were allowed to participate in the planning. Langevin said he hadn’t read the proposal but assured Lemus his office would speak with him.

“The stakeholders have not been given the opportunity to talk to the planning department or the City Council,” Lemus told Langevin.

Yet, according to a Hummel Report story, the disgruntled business owners have had pubic meetings with Bonnie Nickerson, the city’s director of planning and development, and City Council members.

Nickerson said all 25 of the city’s neighborhoods were engaged in a yearlong planning process. She noted that there are two plans, the completed Woonasquatucket Vision Plan and a business redevelopment plan that is still being crafted and will address concerns of property owners.

Nickerson said the goals of the project are to keep the neighborhoods affordable and not displace businesses.

The Woonasquatucket Vision Plan transforms city blocks along the Woonasquatucket River between Providence Place and Manton Avenue.