| | Planning Board 64 FARNUM PIKE ESMOND, RHODE ISLAND 02917 August 20, 2020 Virtual Meeting Minutes |
Members Present: Richard Colavechio, Mike Moan, Mike Pinelli, John Steere, and John Yoakum
Members Absent: Al Gizzarelli, Jennifer Hawkins, Curtis Ruotolo
Others Present: Michael Phillips, Town Planner, Scott Levesque, Assistant Town Solicitor
Secretary Richard Colavecchio opened the August 20, 2020 virtual meeting of the Smithfield Planning Board at 6:15 p.m.
MINUTES
The minutes from the July 16, 2020 Planning Board meeting were reviewed.
Mike Moan stated that, during discussion of the May 21, 2020 meeting minutes, he requested a change to read “the Board was polled to determine feeling of changing (R-20) zoning to allow two-family dwellings and the overall feeling was negative.” Mr. Moan requested adding “R-20” to the sentence.
Solicitor Scott Levesque stated that, on page 2 during discussion of the motion on Comprehensive Plan, there is a statement by Mike Moan that does not make sense. Recording Secretary Donna Corrao stated that she will review the tape and revise the minutes and the minutes were tabled to the next meeting.
Major Land Development Project – Preliminary Plan Review – Public Hearing
AP 45 / Lots 43A, 61 Harris Road / 2.14 Acres (approx.) / Commercial (C) Zone
Applicant/Owner: ARR Retail Development LLC
Engineer: Pare Corporation - Victoria Howland, P.E.
a. Review and discuss the proposed submission with the project proponent.
b. Receive input from the public on the proposed project.
c. The Board may approve the Preliminary Plan as submitted, approve with changes and/or conditions, deny the application, or continue the meeting to a future date.
d. The Board may delegate Final Plan approval to the Administrative Officer.
Attorney David Igliozzi stated that this Board previously granted master plan approval and gave a positive recommendation on a special use permit in June with three conditions of approval. Atty. Igliozzi stated that all conditions have been met.
John Shevlin, with Pare Corporation, stated that there was a concern with the driveway location and questioned its necessity on Harris Road. Mr. Shevlin stated that, after speaking with RIDOT, they are proposed one driveway onto Douglas Pike but RIDOT would still like some access onto Harris Road. Mr. Shevlin stated that they are now proposing emergency access only onto Harris Road and the driveway will be to enter only.
The public hearing was opened at 6:20 p.m. and there being no one present to speak to this was promptly closed.
John Yoakum made a motion, seconded by Mike Pinelli, to approve the preliminary plan as presented this evening with an entrance only from Harris Road, with the conditions of approval made at the master plan, incorporating the Town Planner’s memo marked as Board’s Exhibit #1, the findings of fact marked at Board’s Exhibit #2, and delegating Final Plan approval to the Administrative Officer. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
Major Land Development Project - Preliminary Plan Review - Public Hearing
AP 37 / Lot 19A – 438 Putnam Pike
1.21 Acres (approx.) / Planned Development (PD) Zone
Applicant: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Owner: Janco Central, Inc.
Engineer: Core States Group
a. Review and discuss the proposed submission with the project proponent.
b. Receive input from the public on the proposed submission.
c. The Board may approve the Preliminary Plan as submitted, approve with changes and/or conditions, deny the application, or continue the meeting to a future date.
d. The Board may delegate Final Plan approval to the Administrative Officer.
Alan Roscoe, with Core States Group, represented the applicant on this request for Preliminary Plan approval and stated that the site layout was revised to reduce 20,000 square feet of impervious surface and to address stormwater runoff but that there were no other substantial changes to the plan. Mr. Roscoe stated that they received a special use permit and dimensional variances from the Zoning Board.
Mike Moan questioned when they anticipate construction and Alan Roscoe replied that they anticipate construction to begin in September/October.
The public hearing was opened at 6:42 p.m. and there being no one present to speak to this application was promptly closed.
John Steere made a motion, seconded by Mike Pinelli, to approve the Preliminary Plan application incorporating the Town Planner’s memo submitted as Board’s Exhibit #1, the findings of fact submitted as Board’s Exhibit #2, and delegating Final Plan approval to the Administrative Officer.
Minor Subdivision – Preliminary Plan Review
AP 43 / Lot 6 - 71 Elmgrove Ave
4.5 Acres (approx.) / R-20 Zone
Applicant: Fred Marszalek, Jr.
Owner: Marszalek Family Trust
Surveyor: Anthony E. Muscatelli, PLS #1718
a. Review and discuss the proposed submission with the project proponent.
b. The Board may approve the Preliminary Plan as submitted, approve with changes and/or conditions, deny the application, or continue the meeting to a future date.
c. The Board may delegate Final Plan approval to the Administrative Officer.
Anthony Muscatelli, Professional Land Surveyor, represented the applicant on this request for a minor subdivision on Elmgrove Avenue. Mr. Muscatelli stated that they have soil evaluations and approval for septic systems from DEM. Mr. Muscatelli stated that the applicants would like to increase 10,000 square feet along the in the northeast direction to create a new lot being 32,000 square feet instead of 22,000 square feet in order to give the applicants more of a backyard.
John Steere made a motion, seconded by Mike Pinelli, to approve the Preliminary Plan application with the additional 10,000 square feet to the new lot as discussed this evening and delegating Final Plan approval to the Administrative Officer. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
Minor Subdivision - Preliminary Plan Review
AP 9 / Lot 79 – 2 Danecroft Ave
.988 Acres (approx.) / R-20 Zone
Applicant/Owner: Kenneth Bombardier
Engineer: Todd Chaplin, PE, Mount Hope Engineering, Inc.
a. Review and discuss the proposed submission with the project proponent.
b. The Board may approve the Preliminary Plan as submitted, approve with changes and/or conditions, deny the application, or continue the meeting to a future date.
c. The Board may delegate Final Plan approval to the Administrative Officer.
Kenneth Bombardier, as applicant and owner, represented himself on this request for a minor subdivision of 2 Danecroft Avenue.
Town Planner Mike Phillips stated that the Board previously granted a subdivision of a lot on Briarcliff Avenue and this subject property is adjoining on the other side of that plat. Mr. Phillips stated that the subdivision would result in approximately a 23,000 square foot lot and that abandoning the road was discussed but that, for now, the lot will be accessed from the private driveway on the public right of way. Mr. Phillips added that, if the road is abandoned, the new lot would not have frontage on a public street and that he believes a private driveway with an agreement on maintenance between the two homeowners is the way to go.
Solicitor Scott Levesque stated that he has concerns with putting a private driveway on town-owned property and suggested looking into the legal aspects further.
Mike Phillips stated that the applicant may have to abandon the roadway in order to get relief for a substandard lot and substandard frontage.
John Steere made a motion, seconded by Mike Pinelli, to continue the application to the next meeting on September 17, 2020. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
Mike Pinelli made a motion, seconded by John Steere, to adjourn the meeting at 7:10 pm. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 17, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna A. Corrao, Recording Secretary