I.        CALL TO ORDER:

Chair Scott Millar called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. 

II.      PUBLIC COMMENT:

III.     OLD BUSINESS:

A.     Continued Discussion: Zoning Study

Chairman Millar suggested postponing the Board’s continued discussion on the Zoning Study. He indicated that he had hoped to have information from other towns to compare, but was unable to complete that review for tonight’s meeting.

Town Planner DePasquale noted that he was able to garner zoning use table information from the towns of Richmond, Burrillville, Hopkinton, Foster, Glocester and South Kingstown and has distilled the best from each, and the relevant uses that he felt may offer a problem for Exeter. The Planner indicated that they will need to extract criteria from each town’s zoning guidelines, which will assist them in building a complete and model zoning ordinance.

Chairman Millar spoke to the language, if it is not in the table it’s prohibited. He felt there was a need for performance standards, such as noise, odor, size of structures, parking area size, etc. The Planner suggested getting away from the special use permit exact performance, that basically performance standards override the use, the use table would have to say the category umbrella of uses for commercial, industrial and other, shall comply with these performances to be approved by right. Then the standards would be equally applied. Discussion continued and they agreed to continue the zoning study conversation at the Board’s next work session on May 14, 2024.                

B.      Continued Discussion: Rural Residential Compounds, Conventional Subdivisions and Conservation Developments

Chairman Millar continued the discussion around rural residential compounds, conventional subdivisions and conservation developments. He defined a conservation development as “a type of cluster development that allows a community to guide growth to the most appropriate areas within a parcel of land to avoid impacts to the environment and to protect the character-defining features of the property.” That the goal is to preserve 50 percent of the land, that would otherwise be developed, protected in perpetuity through a conservation easement.

Chairman Millar went on to review his PowerPoint presentation on conservation developments with the Board. Chairman Millar distributed copies of The Rhode Island Conservation Development Manual to each of the Planning Board members. He covered the economic, social, cultural and environmental advantages of conservation developments. That conservation developments help meet the requirements for low impact development and DEM stormwater permitting. Mr. Millar also covered the design process for a conservation development and future issues to be addressed:

1.       Should CD be encouraged for Minor subdivisions?

2.       What density should be allowed for residential compounds?

3.       Under what conditions should private roads be allowed?

4.       How to include LMI in new subdivisions?

5.       Where should village density be allowed?

Board member Michael Viveiros suggested looking at developments that Exeter would like to replicate in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Chairman Millar offered his thoughts at the conclusion of his presentation. One item mentioned was, should private roads be allowed and suggested getting feedback from Attorneys Sypole, Ruggiero and Marusak who have all worked in a number of different towns. The Planner felt that another important resource to include in the conversation would be an engineer. The Planner also indicated that this work has all been done before and the information is out there regarding this type of development. The Board recommended that the discussion continue, when they will cover residential compounds, private roads and road standards.   

IV.    ADMINISTRATIVE:

A.     Zoning Board of Review: No applications for the month of May.

B.      Approval of Meeting Minutes:  March 26, 2024

Chairman Millar asked for a motion to approve the March 26, 2024 meeting minutes. William Haas made the motion to accept the March 26, 2024 meeting minutes and was seconded by Joe St. Lawrence. The vote was all in favor, (5-0).  The minutes were approved. (Scott Millar, William Haas, Gina Thurn, Joe St. Lawrence, Michael Viveiros). Michael DeFrancesco was not present at the March 26, 2024 meeting.

C.    2024 Planning Board Calendar – Chairman Scott Millar asked for a motion to amend Planning Board meeting start time to 6 p.m. beginning at the next work session meeting on May 14, 2024.  Bill Haas made the motion; Joe St. Lawrence seconded.  A vote was taken and was all in favor.  The motion passed.

D.     Future Meeting - Planning Board Work Session on May 14, 2024:

The following items were suggested for the next meeting agenda: Residential Compounds, Private Roads and Road Standards.

V.      ADJOURNMENT:

Motion to adjourn made by Bill Haas, seconded by Joe St. Lawrence; voted all in favor. 

MOTION PASSED.   The meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,  

Rebecca Lukowicz

M. Dixie Foisy

Planning Board Clerk