| CHAIRPERSON Joseph Lembo VICE-CHAIRPERSON George Lazzareschi SECRETARY Gina Sabitoni-Arakelian ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Thomas E. Deller, AICP. |
Town of Johnston Planning Board 100 Irons Avenue, Johnston, RI 02919 TEL (401) 231-4000 FAX (401) 231-4181 | MEMBERS Louis Prata Laura-Jean Ferranti Eric Carter Nicholas Samartino ALTERNATES Robert Pingitore Eric Peloquin BOARD COUNSEL Joseph R. Ballirano, Esq |
Draft Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, April 7th, 2026, at 6:00 PM
Johnston Senior Center, 1291 Hartford Avenue, Johnston, RI
I. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL
Board Members: Joseph Lembo, Chairman, George Lazzareschi, Vice-Chairman, Gini Sabitoni- Arakelian, Secretary, Eric Cartier, Nicholas Samartino, Laura-Jean Ferranti
I. Alternate Members: Eric Peloquin, Robert Pingitore
Also Present: Sarah F. O’Toole, Board Counsel, Edward Civito, Building Official, Isabella Czajka, Assistant Planner
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
February 3rd, 2026 Regular Meeting- Mr. Lazzareschi made the motion to approve. Second by Mr. Cartier. All in favor
March 10th, 2026 Regular Meeting – Ms. Sabitoni- Arakelian made the motion to approve. Second by Mr. Pingitore. All in favor.
II. OLD BUSINESS
None
III. NEW BUSINESS
PB 26-08 – 2334 Plainfield Pike – Major Land Development with Unified Development Review to develop a 7,500 square foot warehouse facility. Property is Zoned B-1. Land area – 0.78 acres. Applicant and Owner – Gerald McGraw. Ms. Sabitoni- Arakelian made the motion to open up to the public hearing. Second by Mr. Pingitore. All in favor. Resident, Alex Abatecola stated his traffic concerns. Resident, Nayeema Eusuf stated construction & delivery concerns. Mr. Lazzareschi made the motion to close the public hearing. Second by Ms. Sabitoni- Arakelian. All in favor.
Mr. Lazzareschi made the motion that the staff believes this application conforms to all requirements of the zoning ordinances for both Master and Preliminary Plan approval of a Major land development with the conditional approval of the Unified Development Review. Staff recommends approval conditioned upon the following:
Number one, submission of applicant permits including RIDOT, physical alteration permit approval, RIDEM storm water approval, and multiple lien certificate.
Number two, items identified in the review are addressed so we’ll go to number three.
Enhance landscaping discussed. Also, that the discussion between the land developer and the abutter would need to further talk about what vegetation they want on their side.
Number four would be hours of operation will conform to the town ordinance for hours of operation.
Number 5, the agreement would be that the Applicant agrees that they will sell nothing to do with any marijuana, selling of products, growing business products. Second by Ms. Sabitoni- Arakelian. All in favor.
PB 26-10- 80 Waterman Avenue- Advisory Opinion on Subdivision. A public meeting for a pre-application review of a Minor Subdivision, in which the applicant proposes to divide an existing lot into two (2) separate lots and construct a new single-family dwelling on the newly created lot. AP 16 Lot 333, Zoned R-15. Owners Anthony and Barbara Sisto, Trustee and Applicant Sheri Silva. Discussion.
IV. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT & SPECIAL ITEMS
PB 25-61 – Land Development and Subdivision Review Regulations – Discussion on draft
revisions to bring the regulations into conformance with updated state law.
V. ADJOURMENT 7:05 PM -Mr. Pingitore made the motion to adjourn. Ms. Sabitoni- Arakelian: Second. All in favor.
| o The Planning Board Agenda and Minutes are available for review at https://clerkshq.com/johnston-ri or Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the Planning Office, 100 Irons Avenue, Johnston. o Items not heard by 9:00 p.m. may be continued to the next Regular Meeting or a special meeting at the discretion of the Board. o Facilities are handicap accessible. Interpreter services may be requested from TTD (401) 792-9642 at least 72 hours in advance. |