PLANNING BOARD MINUTES

Commercial Design Standard Subcommittee

December 18, 2023, 3:00pm

2^nd Floor Conference Room – Town Hall

350 East Main Road

Middletown, RI 02842

 

Members present:                                                            

Mike Fenton

Bill Nash           

Paul Croce

                                                           

Others present:

Ron Wolanski, Town Planner           

Anita Guo, Principal Planner

 

 

1.    Review, discuss, and make recommendations to the Planning Board regarding possible amendments to the Middletown Rules and Regulations Regarding the Subdivision and Development of Land, Article 5, Section 521 regarding commercial development design standards.

A.    The subcommittee continued the review of the commercial design standards. Proposed changes include:

1.    521.1.B.3 – Add in sentence that encourages providing ride-share spaces and references standards.

2.    521.1.E.4 – Change the minimum bicycle rack space to one space per ten automobile parking spaces, with a minimum of two.  

3.    521.2.A.2 – Change that all facades that are visible from the public way shall not consist of an unarticulated blank wall or unbroken series of garage doors. Change the architectural design feature must be a minimum of four feet wide.

4.    521.2.C.1 – Change so building sidings, roofs, and trim shall be constructed of, or resemble traditional materials such as wooden clapboards, shingles, patterened shingles, brick, or stone. Substitute materials may include fiber cement board or composite material that resembles traditional materials.

5.    521.2.C.2 – Change so non-traditional or substitute materials may be used subject to administrative approval.

6.    521.3.A – Consult the Tree Commission on the appropriate caliber size trees to require.

7.    521.3.D.3 – Change the landscaped buffer to at least 5’ wide

8.    521.3.E – Change so Planning Board “shall” seek advisory opinion from the Tree Commission.

9.    521.3.H – Require a landscape maintenance agreement.

10.  521.4. – Add in requirement for a stormwater management easement

11.  There was discussion about asking applicants to submit design plans of proposed signages.

12.  Planning Department will provide the final draft of the proposed changes to the subcommittee for review after receiving comments from the Tree Commission.

 

Meeting adjourned by consensus at 4:10pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Anita Guo, Principal Planner