Town of Smithfield
Planning Board
64 FARNUM PIKE ESMOND, RHODE ISLAND 02917
January 16, 2020
Meeting Minutes
Members Present: Al Gizzarelli, Michael Moan, Mike Pinelli, Curtis Ruotolo, Steve Tillinghast, John Steere, and John Yoakum
Members Absent: Richard Colavecchio, Jennifer Hawkins, Steve Tillinghast
Others Present: Michael Phillips, Town Planner, Scott Levesque, Assistant Town Solicitor
The January 16, 2020 meeting of the Smithfield Planning Board opened at 7:02 p.m.
Chairman Al Gizzarelli read the Emergency Evacuation and Health Notification.
The minutes from the December 5, 2019 Planning Board meeting were reviewed.
John Yoakum made a motion, seconded by Mike Pinelli, to approve the minutes from the December 5, 2019 meeting. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
The minutes from the December 12, 2019 Planning Board meeting were reviewed.
Al Gizzarell requested a change to read that the Vice Chair John Yoakum read the Emergency Evacuation and Health Notification.
John Yoakum made a motion, seconded by Mike Pinelli, to continue minutes from December 12, 2019 to the next meeting due to lack of quorum for approval. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
Comprehensive Permit Application/Major Land Development Project – Master Plan Review
AP 46/Lot 10 – 8 Mann School Road and Log Road
54.95 Acres/R-80 Zone
Applicant/Owner: Sand Trace, LLC.
Engineer: Diprete Engineering
a. Review and discuss the proposed submission with the project proponent.
b. The Board may approve the request as submitted, approve with changes, deny the request, or continue the item to a future date.
Al Gizzarelli requested that Board members summarize their concerns with the project.
Mike Pinelli stated his concern with traffic flow over Pleasant View Avenue. Town Planner Mike Phillips stated that the recommended conditions of approval request that the applicant work with the Town and the RI Department of Transportation. Attorney William Landry, representing the applicant, stated that they have already engaged DOT who determined that there is no warrant needed at this time but that they will revisit this at the preliminary plan stage of review.
Curtis Ruotolo stated that the potential findings of fact states there will be two 11 foot travel lanes and that his recollection was for two 12 foot lanes with bituminous berms. Chris Duhamel, with Diprete Engineering, stated that the proposal was for two 11’ lanes totaling 24 feet from back of berm to back of and that the applicant is 24 feet inside and 26 feet outside of the berm.
Mike Moan stated that it is difficult to make a solid determination of findings for conservation of open space. Chris Duhamel replied that they will have a detailed open space management plan at the preliminary stage and stated that they are not planning active recreation areas or clear cutting. Mr. Duhamel added that the areas shown in green on the site plans will be wooded passive open space
John Steere made a motion, seconded by John Yoakum, to grant master plan approval for Sand Trace, Phase II, with the findings of fact as enumerated in the Planner’s Proposed Findings of Facts for Approval and Conditions submitted as Board’s Exhibit A with a change to the overall road width to 26 feet and travel lanes to 12 feet each, and requiring an environmental impact statement to include soil, groundwater, vegetation, archaeological, noise, air quality, and wetlands at preliminary. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
AP 45/Lot 61 – West Farm Road
Applicant/Owner: Clark Homes, LLC.
Town Planner Mike Phillips stated that there is a request from the developer of Deer Run who has completed 90% of the improvements and is looking for a reduction in the amount of the bond.
Mr. Phillips stated that the Town Engineer has recommended a reduction of $115,684 and retaining $233,285 for the remaining work.
John Steere made a motion, seconded by Mike Moan, to approve the bond reduction in accordance with the Town Engineer’s recommendation. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
John Yoakum made a motion, seconded by Mike Moan, to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 pm. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 13, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna A. Corrao, Recording Secretary