I.            CALL TO ORDER

City Council President Chris Paplauskas called the joint City Council—City Plan Commission Meeting to order at 777 Cranston Street.

The following Council members were in attendance for the meeting: President Chris Paplauskas, John Donegan, Jessica Marino, Aniece Germain, Lammis Vargas, and Richard Campopiano. Councilors Nicole Renzulli and Matthew Reilly were absent.

The following City Plan Commissioners were in attendance: Ann Marie Maccarone, Fred Vincent, and Robert Coupe. Commissioners Michael Smith, Ken Mason, Robert Strom, Joseph Morales, Robert DiStefano, and Kathleen Lanphear were absent, so a quorum was not reached for the City Plan Commission Meeting.

The following Planning Department members were in attendance: Jason M. Pezzullo, AICP, Planning Director; Douglas McLean, AICP, Principal Planner; and Joshua Berry, AICP, Senior Planner.

Also in attendance was State Rep. Brandon Potter, D-District 16.

   II.            PRESENTATION

Atty. Goodier introduced the project to the City officials and members of the public in attendance. He provided some background information about the site and said homage would be paid to its historic context as a trolley barn. He also said that some of the future tenants located on-site would include a gas station, a bank, and a fast-food establishment. Atty. Goodier noted that the applicant was still in the traffic peer review cycle and explained the need for a zone change as well as an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan.

III.            Q&A SESSION

The applicant team then opened the meeting to comments.

Councilwoman Marino asked about the current, three-light traffic situation and whether there would be any other point of ingress and egress for the site. Atty. Goodier said that the current traffic light arrangement anticipated that the site would be developed, and no replacement will be required.

Councilwoman Lammis asked if the City of Providence had expressed any concerns (such as traffic) about the project, as it was located on the city line. Atty. Goodier said their only point of interest was potential integration of both cities’ bike path networks through the site.

Councilman Donegan asked for clarification, specifically whether the applicant’s plans already included a bike path in their designs. Atty. Goodier said it was only conceptual at this point.

Councilwoman Germain asked if the applicants had considered any amenities for children, such as a playground, since there were few recreation options for children in the area. Councilwoman Marino echoed that question and wondered if a pocket park could be incorporated with a bike path as part of a greater plan for recreation on the site.

Two members of the public within the notification radius were present for the meeting (names were not recorded). Their only concerns revolved around the possible connection of the bike route through the site. They had no other issues with the proposed commercial development.

Councilman Donegan considered how the proposed uses for the site impacted whole health issues for the community and questioned whether the fast-food element would be integral to the applicant’s plan. Mr. Bannon pointed to the proposal as a whole as being an example of modernization, while Director Pezzullo reminded the Council to focus more on those aspects of the proposal which are public information during this portion of the meeting.

Representative Potter said he was not opposed to the applicants’ proposal but wanted to raise the issue of homelessness and the need for affordable housing back to the forefront. He felt that the site could have accommodated a large number of affordable housing units.

Commissioner Maccarone asked whether the traffic impacts of the development would negatively affect the nearby police station; Mr. Bannon said that police had not reviewed the plans, but he did not anticipate the project posing any traffic issues of that sort.

Commissioner Vincent also asked about traffic but focused more on whether there had been any notable accidents or pedestrian fatalities around the site or the intersection. Mr. Bannon said he was not aware of any.

IV.            ADJOURNMENT

      Director Pezzullo provided a timeline of the Plan Commission’s upcoming meetings and the next steps for the applicant in the review process just before the meeting concluded.

      Council President Paplauskas asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Upon motion made by Councilman Campopiano, and seconded by Councilman Donegan, the City Council voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting.