January 10, 2023 MEETING MINUTES

The Planning Board of the Town of Johnston held their monthly meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January10, 2023 at the Johnston Senior Center, 1291 Hartford Avenue, Johnston, RI.

IV.              OLD BUSINESS

PB 17-36 – Residences at Hopkins Pond – Request to Modify Final Approval of a Major Land Development. Public Meeting to discuss the request of the Association to modify the Final plan by eliminate and/or relocating guest parking.  A.P. 44 Lot 26 located between 620 Central Avenue and I-295.  Applicant: Residences at Hopkins Pond condominium Association. Member Gina Sabitoni-Arakelian made the motion to reduce 32 parking spaces to 25.  Seconded by Member George Lazzareschi.  VOICE VOTE; ALL IN FAVOR.

PB 21-47 – Central Avenue Solar/Residential – A Public Hearing on a Preliminary Plan application to create seven road frontage lots for residential development and one larger lot for a solar field.  The property is located at 1252 – 1262 Central Avenue AP 43 Lots 70 & 95 - Zoned: R-40. Applicant: Revity Energy LLC.  Mr. Lembo made the motion to continue to the February meeting.  Seconded by Taylor Russo.  VOICE VOTE; ALL IN FAVOR.

PB 21-30 – Hartford Ave Self Storage I - Public Hearing for a proposed Major Land Development and Unified Development Review for a self-storage facility.  Located behind 1357 Hartford Avenue AP 20 Lot 25.  Property is zoned - B-2.  Applicant: National Development Group.  The Applicant is seeking a Special Use Permit to allow the self-storage facility, dimensional variances to the yard requirements and possibly other variances.   Mr. Lazzareschi made the first motion. The staff recommends the Board grant a Special use Permit subject to land approval to major development and submission from evidence to show that the project meets special use criteria. Seconded by Mr. Pingitore. VOICE VOTE; ALL IN FAVOR. 

Member Lazzareschi made the second motion.  Motion to approve the dimensional variances needed subject to the same conditions, hours of operation, no outside storage, and support you adopt the Land use planning report for Hartford Avenue Self-Storage Facility as my finding fact.  Seconded by Member Sabitoni-Arakelian.  VOICE VOTE; ALL IN FAVOR.

Mr. Lazzareschi made the motion for the Preliminary Plan.  The application conforms to all requirements of the conditions of the Preliminary plan approval of major land development with conditional approval of the unified development review.  Seconded by Member Sabitoni-Arakelian.  VOICE VOTE; ALL IN FAVOR.

 PB 21-44 – Hartford Ave Self Storage II - Public Hearing for a proposed Major Land Development and Unified Development Review for a self-storage facility.  Located behind 1347 Hartford Avenue AP 20 Lot 81.  Property is zoned - B-2.  Applicant: Commonwealth Investments Group LLC The Applicant is seeking a Special Use Permit to allow the self-storage facility and may seek dimensional variances to the yard requirements and possibly other variances. Chairperson Laurito made the motion to accept Exhibit 2.   Correspondence from Mr. Steve Altieri. Seconded by Member Pingtore. VOICE VOTE; ALL IN FAVOR.  Member Russo made Motion to grant the special use permit and the requested dimensional variances subject to final approval of the Major Land Development and the submission of evidence to show that the project meets Special Use Criteria.  Seconded by Member Lazzareschi. VOICE VOTE; ALL IN FAVOR.

PB 22-59 – Advisory Opinion to the Town Council on the Petition of Robert Cardillo to rezone 180 & 184 Shun Pike from R-40 to Industrial.  Council Petition 2022-CP-167.  Assessor’s Plat 33 Lots 27 and 84.  Mr. Lembo made the motion for a positive recommendation to the Town Council on this petition.  Seconded by Mr. Pingatore.  VOICE VOTE; ALL IN FAVOR.