New Shoreham Planning Board
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
4:00 P.M.
16 Old Town Road, Town Hall
Block Island, RI 02807
MINUTES
The Planning Board convened for a meeting on March 13, 2024, at 4:00 P.M. Present were Chair Margaret Comings, William Rose, Socha Cohen, Christopher Willi, Clair Comings and Attorney Dylan Conley. Absent: Vice Chair Gail Ballard Hall Mary Anderson. Town Planner Alison Ring and Town Solicitor Michelle Hawes were present via Zoom.
Chair Margaret Comings opened the meeting.
1. Unified Development Review
2. Eureka Hotel, LLC and Garden Lot, LLC. Plat 7, Lots 33, 36, 37 and 38. Application for an Administrative Subdivision to reconfigure Lots 33, 36, 37, 38 on High Street and Spring Street.
Owner Seth Draper and Attorney Dylan Conley were present on behalf of the owners.
The board reviewed the waiver requests.
Ms. Comings moved to approve the waivers and schedule the public hearing for April 10, 2024. Motion seconded by Ms. Cohen and the motion passed unanimously.
5 Ayes (M. Comings, Rose, Cohen, Willi, C. Comings) 0 Nays
3. Garden Lot, LLC. Plat 7, Lot 33. Fire #160, Spring Street. Application by the Draper Family for a Special Use Permit under 407, Hotels, to convert the existing Mill Building previously approved by SUP, to a hotel.
Owner Seth Draper and Attorney Dylan Conley were present on behalf of the owners.
The board reviewed the waiver requests.
Ms. Comings moved to approve the waivers and schedule the public hearing for April 10, 2024. Motion seconded by Ms. Cohen and the motion passed unanimously.
5 Ayes (M. Comings, Rose, Cohen, Willi, C. Comings) 0 Nays
4. Garden Lot, LLC. Plat 7, Lot 33. Fire #160, Spring Street. Application by the Draper Family for a Special Use Permit under 407, Hotels, for a new restaurant.
Owner Seth Draper and Attorney Dylan Conley were present on behalf of the owners.
The board reviewed the waiver requests.
Ms. Comings moved to approve the waivers and schedule the public hearing for April 10, 2024. Motion seconded by Ms. Cohen and the motion passed unanimously.
5 Ayes (M. Comings, Rose, Cohen, Willi, C. Comings) 0 Nays
5. Eureka Hotel, LLC. Plat 7, Lot 37. Fire #45, High Street. Application by the Draper Family (Eureka) for a Special Use Permit under 407, Hotels, to renovate an existing structure to a hotel.
Owner Seth Draper and Attorney Dylan Conley were present on behalf of the owners.
The board reviewed the waiver requests.
Ms. Comings moved to approve the waivers and schedule the public hearing for April 10, 2024. Motion seconded by Ms. Cohen and the motion passed unanimously.
5 Ayes (M. Comings, Rose, Cohen, Willi, C. Comings) 0 Nays
6. Eureka Hotel, LLC. Plat 7, Lot 38. Fire #1005, High Street. Application by the Draper Family (Dodge House) for a Special Use Permit under 407, Hotels, to renovate an existing structure to a hotel.
Owner Seth Draper and Attorney Dylan Conley were present on behalf of the owners.
Ms. Ring questioned the use of this property as it does not meet the room requirements for a hotel. It meets the requirement for an Inn. Mr. Conley stated that further down the line in the plan for the property they would be adding rooms. They wanted to show what was currently there met the standards for a hotel.
The board reviewed the waiver requests.
Ms. Comings moved to approve the waivers and schedule the public hearing for April 10, 2024. Motion seconded by Ms. Cohen and the motion passed unanimously.
5 Ayes (M. Comings, Rose, Cohen, Willi, C. Comings) 0 Nays
Documents requested of the owners for the hearings by the Board:
Floor plans for the buildings, Parking plans for the new lots, Subdivision map separated by colors, Layout of the rooms with construction, Water and Sewer Allocation Letters, Fire plan.
7. Discussion regarding possible zoning amendment to clarify the language in Section 406(G)(4) regarding second story decks.
Ms. Ring will be checking with Attorney Browning on DPR.
Attorney Hawes reminded the Board these suggestions should be a design standard and not a Special Use Permit.
Suggestions made by the Board:
· Definitions needed for porch, deck, and balcony.
· It should fit the architecture of the house.
· Does not need to be anchored by two walls.
· Limit on how many decks a house has.
· Cumulative deck space.
8. Approval of Minutes
Mr. Willi made a motion to approve the minutes for the meeting on February 14, 2024.
Ms. Cohen seconded the motion, and all were in favor 5-0.
5 Ayes (M. Comings, Rose, Cohen, Willi, C. Comings) 0 Nays
Ms. Comings made a motion to adjourn at 5:35 P.M., seconded by Mr. Willi and the motion passed with a unanimous vote.
5 Ayes (M. Comings, Rose, Cohen, Willi, C. Comings) 0 Nays
Respectfully submitted,
Amanda Boulay
Administrative Assistant
Land Use Department
Town of New Shoreham