SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA

Pursuant to Executive Orders executed by

the Governor of RI as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic,

this meeting was held virtually via Zoom

Members present:     Scott Millar, William Haas, Gina Thurn, Joe St. Lawrence, Michael Viveiros and Donna Di Donato

Members Absent:      Michael DeFrancesco

Staff present: Steve Sypole, Solicitor, William DePasquale, Planner and Dixie Foisy, Clerk

I.                CALL TO ORDER:

Acting Chair Scott Millar called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.

II.              PUBLIC COMMENT:

None

III.            NEW BUSINESS:

A.    Pre-application: Mark and Dawn Caddick, Applicants and Susan Caddick, Owner, of property located at 231 Nooseneck Hill Road, Exeter, RI; Zoned LB/R and further designated as Accessor’s Plat 20, Block 3, Lot 17 for a proposed medical grow facility.

Acting Chair Scott Millar introduced this pre-application asked if there was someone present to share the information on this plan.  The Acting Chair also apologized on behalf of the Board for not being able to hear this at the last Planning Board meeting. 

Kelly Saleeba from Crossman Engineering introduced herself as representing the applicant.  Dawn Caddick, one of the property owners was also in attendance.  Ms. Saleeba shared the site plan on screen and reviewed for the Board members.  She gave a brief description of the property and current site conditions that includes an existing building which is currently used as a cannabis cultivation facility.  Ms. Saleeba stated they are proposing to construct a new 12,000 square foot building with a parking area with a new curb cut for driveway access, an on-site wastewater treatment system and a storm water management system.  She shared that the existing building and existing well will remain; the existing leach field will be removed and disposed and a new OWTS will be designed to accommodate both of the buildings.  The new building will be used for cannabis cultivation as well, but they will be expanding to cannabis product manufacturing of items such as oils and edibles. The size of the new building is needed for them to work efficiently, allowing them to have more equipment, office space and employee areas.  They expect to employ 12 employees at full capacity.  Ms. Saleeba stated they will require permits from RI DEM for OWTS and stormwater permit, as well as a physical alteration permit from RI DOT.  She then reviewed the necessary zoning relief required in several sections from the Town’s Zoning Board of Review.

At this time, questions and discussion took place between the Board members, Kelly Saleeba and the applicant(s) about the following topics:

1.     lot coverage amount;

2.     well head protection area;

3.     possibility to acquire additional property to relieve some of the non-conformance concerns;

4.     security regulations

Town Planner, Bill DePasquale added that prior to applying, the applicant should provide a notarized letter authorizing the applicant (different from the owner) to move forward with the application.  He also spoke to the 25% lot coverage, phasing schedule and show when/if the other residential building will be removed; encroachment of the existing shed needs to be depicted on the site plan, that it will be raised and by when; suggested sitting down with the Fire Marshal to review fire protection plan.  Lastly, Mr. DePasquale recommended that the applicant review section 2.5 Development Plan, Article II of the zoning ordinance that describes design and performance standards which include fencing, landscaping, lighting, security measures, etc.

Acting Chair Scott Millar posed a question to Solicitor Steve Sypole regarding expanding the use that has non-conformance with the zoning ordinance; he explained further that the applicant is looking for a lot of relief, some of which is existing non-conformance, as in the side yard setback and the well head protection area.  The acting Chair asked if it was possible to expand the use with those non-conforming issues.

Steve Sypole stated he would like to take a closer look at the ordinance but believes because these are pre-existing, non-conforming issues, not created by the applicant, he doesn’t think it would be an issue.  He added that he would like to have the Zoning Official and the Zoning Solicitor weigh in to be sure they’re all on the same page. 

Michael Viveiros stated he believes the goal should be to allow for the most minimum relief necessary.

Steve Sypole agreed that the least relief necessary is one of the elements considered by the Zoning Board.  Solicitor Sypole asked to share a comment on process and added that when/if the applicant comes back before the Planning Board and is approved at Master Plan stage, then they would come back for Preliminary, at which time could receive a “conditional” Preliminary approval.  At that time, they would go before the Zoning Board for dimensional relief that’s required and the Planning Board could provide an Advisory Opinion regarding Comprehensive Plan consistency.

Acting Chair Millar asked if there were any other questions.  As there were none, he stated that he felt the Board was very thorough in giving the applicant good feedback and ideas to move forward.

ADJOURNMENT:

Motion by Bill Haas to adjourn the Special Meeting, seconded by Gina Thurn; voted all in favor.  MOTION PASSED.   The meeting adjourned at 7:14p.m.

Respectfully submitted,  

M. Dixie Foisy

Planning Board Clerk