I.                     CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL:

 Michael DeFrancesco called the meeting to order at 6:09 p.m.

II.                 NEW BUSINESS:

A.    The Planning Board shall elect from its membership a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary by majority vote.

Chairman DeFrancesco introduced the Election of Officers for the Planning Board and noted that he will not be seeking the position of Chair going forward and opened the floor to nominations. For Chairman, Robert Corriea, nominated Gina Thurn, other board members agreed, a vote was taken, all in favor, and Gina Thurn was chosen as the newly elected Chairperson of the Planning Board. (M. DeFrancesco, J. St. Lawrence, R. Corriea, John Toro, M. Viveiros, Norman Machon).

Joseph St. Lawrence placed Robert Corriea’s name in nomination for Vice-Chairman. A vote was taken, all in favor, and Robert Corriea was named the newly elected Vice-Chairperson of the Planning Board. (G. Thurn, M. DeFrancesco, J. St. Lawrence, John Toro, M. Viveiros, Norman Machon).

Gina Thurn placed Michael DeFrancesco’s name in nomination for Secretary. A vote was taken, all in favor, and Michael DeFrancesco was named the newly elected Secretary of the Planning Board. (G. Thurn, J. St. Lawrence, R. Corriea, John Toro, M. Viveiros, Norman Machon).

B.      Preapplication Review – Minor Land Development Application for a Farm Overlay District (FOD); AP 64-1-8, 64-1-17, 64-1-19, 64-1-22, 64-1-23 and 64-1-26.

Newley elected Chairperson Gina Thurn introduced this Preapplication for a Farm Overlay District (FOD). Ms. Thurn asked Town Planner William DePasquale to review this request with the Board. The Planner revisited with the Board the preapplication of Mr. Earl Adams and the plans Mr. Adams intends to bring forward to the Town Council for his property. Planner DePasquale noted that the Planning Board will officially have to make a recommendation on this application next month. The Planner explained that there are two actions to be taken. One is the

recommendation to the Town Council by the Planning Board as to whether or not the applicant is eligible for the Farm Overlay District, which requires specific eligibility criteria. The second action is a recommendation to the Town Council on the request for a slaughterhouse, which is a prohibited use, but an allowed use by the Town Council. If the Farm Overlay is approved by the Town Council it would include a slaughterhouse and the Planner will then offer his ideas on what that may/should look like.

The Planning Board will have an official formal review on this application at their next Work Shop meeting on September 9, 2025. The Planner explained that there is an entire notification process, including to abutters and also through the local newspaper, requiring a specific number of days prior to the Town Council hearing. Should the Farm Overlay District be approved, all the uses that are allowed by use or by the Town Council will be allowed on the applicant’s property.

Chair Gina Thurn turned the discussion over to Attorney John Pagliarini who represents the applicant. Attorney Pagliarini noted that each of the properties are owned by Mr. Adams. That approximately 175 acres are included in the request for the Farm Overlay District. Attorney Pagliarini then gave a brief history of the types of activities and work that has taken place on the property and that the land has been continuously farmed since its inception (1738).

Attorney Pagliarini noted that his client is asking for the Farm Overly District and should the Town Council see fit to approve the Overlay, then they will request the Slaughterhouse, but that the FOD should not be held up because of the slaughterhouse. He referenced the minutes from a previous Town Council Meeting which indicated that the Council was concerned mostly with the size of the slaughterhouse, questioning how big should it be and the discussion concluded it should be under 10,000 square feet. Attorney Pagliarini indicated that they have met the criteria for a Farm Overlay District.

Board member Michael DeFrancesco clarified with the Planner that when this application moves forward as a minor land development, that it will then go right to preliminary and the Planner indicated that is the process. Attorney Pagliarini offered to have the Board tour the property, should they like to do so. The question was asked who regulates the business and it was noted that both USDA, the RI Department of Health and others would be regulating the property.  

Chair Thurn asked of the 175 acres being considered, is there at least one lot that is 75 acres, and is that where the slaughterhouse would be? Mr. Pagliarini stated that no, the slaughterhouse would not be on a single 75-acre lot, but that the way the ordinance was drafted it was as continuous parcels, so as long as there are 75 acres in total, it does not need to be a free-standing parcel.

Board member Michael Viveiros asked if the other lots would be encumbered? Asking that in order to always maintain the 75 acres, is there some connection between the parcel that is less than 75 acres and some future parcel that would give them the 75 acres, or could they sell them all off in the future and be left with less than 75 acres? Attorney Pagliarini stated that as he understands it, they have applied 175 acres of the property for the FOD. If they are granted the FOD to the property, the zoning is now FOD on that property, he imagines that 100 acres could be sold off, and the eligibility would come into question for the new owner. Chair Thurn asked if all the properties should be joined together for future security.

Chairperson Thurn mentioned that the original discussion around a slaughterhouse was for homegrown animals, raised on the site, to be used for farm to table dinners and that now it appears that this is not the case. Attorney Pagliarini noted that as a matter of right, the way the FOD was approved, you can have and process your homegrown on the property; the Town Council went down a different road indicating that they want the ability to have a commercial slaughterhouse allowing others to use the facility.

Board member Robert Corriea asked about their plans for water use, water run-off, waste disposal, sanitation and clean-up operations, traffic, hours of operation, the number of persons to be employed, etc. Town Planner indicated that the size of the facility is determined by the numbers and types of animals to be slaughtered.

C.     Exeter Comprehensive Plan: Site Readiness Analysis – Route 102 and Route 3 – Next Steps

Chairperson Thurn introduced this topic and turned it over to Town Planner William DePasquale.  He noted that the Exeter Comprehensive Plan: Site Readiness Analysis was started a number of years ago through a grant process and was recently finalized. He stated that now is the time to implement this site analysis in terms of turning policy into implementation actions.

Planner DePasquale noted that the Route 3 Corridor is located at the Intersection of Route 3 and Route 102, directly adjacent to I-95 and the highway on-off ramp, on the norther border of Exeter. He stated that this property is ideal for industrial business uses because of its access to 95, both north and south. (He noted that this is one of the only cloverleafs in the State of Rhode Island, allowing both North and South access to Rt. 95). Logistics and distribution are very important because of this property’s proximity to I-95 in the southern part of the state.

Planner DePasquale felt that the logistics is based on much smaller buildings, that it could be a series of buildings or one or two buildings, again ideal because of the property’s proximity to I-95. These properties could become economic development generators for the community. He noted that in the Comprehensive Plan that the use of the North area, which has about four acres, would be considered for low-moderate housing opportunities. For the additional 55 acres (or so) on Rt. 3 and Rt. 102 consideration should be given to possibly working with the Quonset Development Corporation on a preapproved package.

The Planner asked Vice-Chair Robert Corriea to offer his insights. Mr. Corriea reminded the members of how quickly the Board was asked to address the proposed Farm Overlay District and how they were pressed for time. He felt that they now had the opportunity to hold public hearings in order to get the Exeter community involved.

The Planner asked the Board to offer any additional thoughts on the types of uses that may be missing. Board Member DeFrancesco felt there should be a Masterplan before bringing it to the community. Board Member St. Lawrence offered an example of a business owner, he knows, (Vieco) who operates out of a small location, but is able to manufacture a number of different items successfully. The Planner indicated that manufacturing should be considered, but only specific types of manufacturing. Board Member Vivieros stated that the plan should be to get ahead of what types of business they would like to see on these properties. The need to create a list of all the possible ideal businesses. Chair Thurn reiterated that the one thing they heard throughout the Comprehensive Plan process, was to protect Exeter’s water supply.

The Planner offered that if there were an overlay district that culled out some of those uses that would be consistent, offered market opportunity, compatibility with the area, that it could be a distribution center for many different opportunities.

The Planner asked the Board what they didn’t want to see.  Board member Michael DeFrancesco offered his past experience with the redevelopment of land. Storage facilities were added to the types of businesses the Town doesn’t need; mixed use retail, No “Off-ramp” uses.

The Planner noted that here are two scenarios that could happen, a traditional smaller footprint, a series, connected with a roadway or one or two big boxes for a more economic distribution hub for the region.

The Planner noted that the grant was through the Economic Development Corporation, and that what you get with them is their ability to market. That they also have a hit list of companies who are looking for XYZ, and if Exeter could get on their list, with our proposed economic development plans, then they would be able to do our economic development for us.

Chairperson Thurn asked if any of the Town’s current businesses would have any desire to expand into the newly planned space. Mr. DeFrancesco suggested looking into increasing the Cannabis business. Also, that the Quonset Development Corporation (QDC) is looking for additional space, which should be under consideration along with studying their development plans for insight on building out Rt. 3 and 102 properties.

Chairperson Gina Thurn asked if the Quonset Development Corporation would have a list of what businesses they considered acceptable on their property. It was suggested to look into inviting QDC feedback with regards to what Exeter has to offer them.

There was a suggestion to speak with the property owners on the Rt. 3/102 Intersection in order to discuss the Town’s future plans for the area.

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a public financing method used to stimulate economic development and revitalize blighted areas by capturing future tax revenue increases generated from improvements.

The Town Council could allow tax stabilization for businesses.  In addition, the Town could offer regulatory zoning capacity—allowing speedy approvals for an overlay district.

III.              ADMINISTRATIVE:

A.     Approval of Minutes: July 22, 2025

Robert Corriea made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted; the motion was seconded by Joe St. Lawrence.  A vote was taken, all in favor the motion passed 7-0. (M. DeFrancesco, G. Thurn, J. St. Lawrence, R. Corriea, John Toro, M. Viveiros, Norman Machon).

B.      Future Meeting: Planning Board Regular Meeting—Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. 

Suggestion for future Workshop Meeting –Yawgoo Valley Road area, as a possible development area, invite the family to offer an update on their future plans. Joint Training with the Fire Department.

IV.               ADJOURNMENT:

Motion to adjourn made by Robert Corriea, seconded by Joe St. Lawrence; voted all in favor.  The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. (G. Thurn, J. St. Lawrence, R. Corriea, John Toro, M. Viveiros, Norman Machon).

Respectfully submitted,

Rebecca M. Lukowicz

Planning Clerk

rebecca.lukowicz@exeterri.gov