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THIS MEETING CAN BE HEARD IN ITS ENTIRETY ON THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN WEBSITE WWW.MIDDLETOWNRI.COM OR THE DVD IS AVAILABLE AT THE MIDDLETOWN LIBRARY.
At a Special Meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Middletown, RI at the Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road, Middletown, RI in person, on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 6:00 P.M.
Council President Paul M. Rodrigues, Presiding
Vice President Thomas P. Welch, III
Councillor Peter D. Connerton, Sr.
Councillor M. Theresa Santos
Councillor Dennis B. Turano, Members Present
Councillor Christopher M. Logan, Absent
Councillor Emily M. Tessier
There was no Town Solicitor present for the meeting.
POSTED – JANUARY 11, 2023
SPECIAL MEETING – JANUARY 18, 2023
The following items of business, having been filed with the Town Clerk under the Rules of the Council, will come before the Council at a special meeting to be held on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. at the Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road, Middletown, Rhode Island. Said meeting will be conducted in person, by telephone conference call/ webinar, members of the public may access and listen to the meeting in real-time by calling 1-877-853-5257 (Toll Free) or 1-888-475-4499 (Toll Free) and entering Meeting ID: 892 7557 0187 or on the web at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89275570187
Wendy J.W. Marshall, Town Clerk
Town of Middletown
Town Hall – 350 East Main Road
Middletown, Rhode Island 02842
Dear Ms. Marshall:
Pursuant to the provisions of Article II, Section 203 of the Town Charter and in accordance with Sections 42-46-2., 42-46-4., 42-46-5., and 42-46-6., RIGL, I hereby call a Special Meeting of the Town Council to formally consider, discuss and act upon the following items of business. All items on this agenda, may be considered, discussed and voted upon.
____________________________________
Paul M. Rodrigues, President
Middletown Town Council
cc : Town Council Public Library Finance Director
Town Administrator Town Solicitor School Committee
This meeting location is accessible to the handicapped. Individuals requiring interpreter services for the hearing-impaired should notify the Town Clerk’s Office at 847-0009 not less than 48 hours before this meeting.
Posted on January 11, 2023 at Middletown Town Hall, Middletown Public Library, Middletown Web Site and Secretary of State Web Site.
1. Presentation by the Affordable Housing Committee, re: Concepts for proposed Affordable Housing at Berkeley Peckham School and Oliphant School and matters related thereto.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to begin Presentation of Concepts for proposed Housing at Berkeley Peckham School and Oliphant School and matters related thereto.
Also, present was Town Administrator Shawn Brown the Town’s Affordable Housing Project Manager Frank Spinella.
Present representing the Affordable Housing Committee were Chair Dennis Turano, Town Council Liaisons Paul M. Rodrigues, Theresa Santos, Committee members Kim Blass, Christopher Bove, Alicia Hicks and Arthur S. Weber, Jr.
Council President Rodrigues noted that the Affordable Housing Committee (AHC) has been working on Affordable Housing issues in the Town for a few years. Mr. Rodrigues explained that across the county senior, workforce and family housing is needed and the AHC is working on several proposals.
Councillor Turano, Chair of the Affordable Housing Committee noted that there is a need throughout the Town for Affordable Housing. Mr. Turano explained Frank Spinella has been assisting the Town with the process.
Town Administrator Shawn Brown reviewed the history of the Affordable Housing Committee and projects.
Frank Spinella, addressed the Council reviewing the following, entered here:
Discussion centered around the Oliphant School site will be for both senior and affordable housing, Little Oliphant School has the potential to be a community space or two units, Berkeley Peckham is for Senior Housing, the Town will lease the land to the developers, funding is from the state, federal and grants, no local tax dollars will be used, the state requires the town to have a 10% affordable housing stock and Oxbow apartments do not count towards Middletown’s affordable housing percentage.
Scott Jestings, Middletown, addressed the Council presenting photos of his property during rainstorms which abuts Oliphant School. Scott Jestings noted concern with maintaining control of the water in the area.
Art Weber, Middletown Planning Board member, addressed the Council noting the Planning Board is addressing housing issues through the Comprehensive Community Plan. Mr. Weber noted concern that if the Town does not achieve the 10% affordable housing the state will tell the Town what to do and how to achieve the 10% affordable housing stock.
Discussion centered around when the Comprehensive Community Plan is updated it should include the proposed plans/properties which are designated to be affordable housing, working with the legislators to have mobile home parks be included in the 10% affordable housing stock and making sure the affordable housing goes to Middletown residents.
Charlie Roberts, Middletown, addressed the Council noting there is a need to help seniors with housing needs. Mr. Roberts expressed concern that the Oliphant School site is for both affordable and senior housing, explaining this will increase traffic in the area.
Edward McPherson, Middletown, addressed the Council noting he would rather see ownership of affordable housing over rental in the Town.
Lori Bradley, Middletown, addressed the Council noting the importance of affordable housing, but explained that Oliphant is a poor site for affordable housing. Ms. Bradley explained that there will be environmental issues, traffic issues and concern with relocating the School Administration. Lori Bradley suggested using the Linden Park property for affordable housing.
Discussion centered around the Oliphant site has a current building which can be converted easily into apartments, there is a plan to relocate the school administration, wetlands are decided by vegetation, there was a consultant brought in to define the wetlands in the Oliphant School area which was verified with RIDEM.
Alicia Hicks, member of the Affordable Housing Committee, addressed the Council noting the need for Affordable Housing, explaining that Linden Park was submitted to the Town Council to consider for Affordable Housing.
Chris Bove, member of the Affordable Housing Committee, addressed the Council noting the need for affordable housing for seniors, young people and families. Mr. Bove explained that the community is aging and the Town needs more young residents. Chris Bove noted that a location should be chosen and not everyone will be happy with the choice.
Charlie Roberts, Middletown, readdressed the Council to clarify the two properties being considered should be senior housing.
Gordon Younce, Middletown, addressed the Council in support of Mr. Roberts idea to reduce the number of units in each location and chose a third location for additional Affordable Housing.
Rita Finn, Middletown, addressed the Council noting agreement with Mr. Roberts. Ms. Finn explained that the traffic would increase and there is no bus line for transportation on Green End Avenue.
Matt Alexander, Middletown, addressed the Council inquiring if there would be a loss for the Town by placing affordable housing at Oliphant School and Berkeley Peckham School. Mr. Alexander noted concern with traffic issues and water runoff at the properties.
Discussion centered around funding for the projects is a tax credit equity, low-income housing credit investor and soft sources, negotiations are strick for funding these types of projects, if the Town would lose control of the properties, there will be a fiscal impact statement completed for the properties and DEM requires that any development have net zero water runoff.
Dave Layman, Middletown, addressed the Council noting concern with the Town losing control over who is residing on the properties.
Denise S. Lyons, Middletown, addressed the Council noting concern with traffic, the area not being good for housing, due to no bus line and limited resources in the area. Ms. Lyons also noted concern with the additional lighting in the area with the completion of the housing project.
Mike Condry, Middletown, addressed the Council requesting netting for the baseball field for foul balls and that the parking for the field will not be reduced.
Catherine Roberts, Middletown, addressed the Council noting concern with additional traffic on Oliphant Lane and in the area. Ms. Roberts suggest spreading out the housing to several areas in the town.
Eileen Daschbach, Middletown, addressed the Council noting support for both projects.
Maura Overlan, Middletown, addressed the Council inquiring if this is a done deal and if abutters will be able to give input on the project.
Charles Aboyoun, Middletown, addressed the Council inquiring why the Town would not be putting affordable housing at Linden Park. Mr. Aboyoun noted concern with parking at the ball field and traffic increasing on Green End Avenue.
Kristine Santos, Middletown, addressed the Council inquiring if RIPTA would be adding a bus line on Green End Avenue.
Scott Jestings, Middletown, readdressed the Council noting he spoken to a gentleman who is working construction for Skater Island housing and was informed that when using federal monies, you must be the lowest bidder and some materials are low quality.
Maureen Aboyoun, Middletown, addressed the Council inquiring if the Town would be using Linden Park as a third space for Affordable Housing.
Lori Bradley, Middletown, readdressed the Council suggesting spreading out the Affordable Housing units throughout the town.
Discussion centered around the front of the Berkely Building will face Green End Avenue, protecting the windows at Berkely Peckham from foul balls from the ballfield, concern with overflow parking from the ball field at Berkeley Peckham and on Berkeley Court, it is unknow if RIPTA will be expanding a bus line to Green End Avenue, when projects receive Federal funding and State funding the developer must meet stringent guidelines, funding for affordable housing flows through the state, Linden Park is for recreation, requesting the Town to allow the committee to move forward with the master plan to a 30% detail design for the projects, the application to Rhode Island Housing must be filed by the end of the year and abutters for the projects will be notified certified mail during the Planning Board process.
On motion of Councillor Turano, duly seconded, to approve the architects and engineers to move forward with the Master Plan for Planning Board review.
Discussion centered around if there were any housing designs for Linden Park, relocating recreational fields, traffic studies will be performed for the areas, the need to maintain recreational space on the west side of town and Oliphant is a good location for affordable housing because there is an existing building.
A vote was taken.
On motion of Councillor Turano, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to approve the architects and engineers to move forward with the Master Plan for Planning Board review.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to adjourn said meeting at 8:16 p.m.
Wendy J.W. Marshall, CMC
Council Clerk