| | Town of Smithfield Planning Board 64 FARNUM PIKE ESMOND, RHODE ISLAND 02917 July 22, 2021 Virtual Meeting Minutes |
Members Present: Al Gizzarelli, Richard Colavecchio, Jennifer Hawkins, Mike Pinelli, Mike Moan, Al Nani, Ken Orabona, Curtis Ruotolo, and John Yoakum
Members Absent:
Others Present: Michael Phillips, Town Planner, Scott Levesque, Assistant Town Solicitor
Chairman Al Gizzarelli opened the July 22, 2021 virtual meeting of the Smithfield Planning Board at 6:00 p.m.
MINUTES: Discuss and approve the June 17, 2021 meeting minutes.
Mike Pinelli made a motion, seconded by Al Nani, to approve the Planning Board meeting minutes for June 17, 2021. The vote on the motion was as follows:
Voting In Favor: Members Gizzarelli, Colavecchio, Pinelli, Moan, Nani, Orabona, Ruotolo, and Yoakum
Voting In Opposition: None
Abstaining: Member Hawkins
The vote on the motion being eight in favor with one abstention, the motion carried.
REGULAR AGENDA
Nominate and vote upon the election of the following officers:
a. Chair
b. Vice Chair
c. Secretary
Al Nani nominated Ken Orabona for the position of Chairman.
Mike Moan made a motion, seconded by Curtis Ruotolo, to nominate Al Gizzarelli for the position of Chairman. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
Jennifer Hawkins made a motion, seconded by Mike Pinelli, to nominate Curtis Ruotolo for the position of Vice Chairman. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
Mike Pinelli made a motion, seconded by Mike Moan, to nominate Richard Colavecchio for the position of Secretary. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
Major Land Development – Preliminary Plan Review
AP 48/Lot 51 – 321 George Washington Highway
2.69 Acres (approx.) / Zone: Light Industrial/EGOD
Applicant/Owner: Town of Smithfield / Smile, LLC
Engineer: Brian King, P.E. - Crossman Engineering
a. The Board will review and discuss the proposed submission with the project proponent.
b. The Board will conduct a public hearing to receive input 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 authorize the Town Planner to prepare a written decision consistent with the Board’s findings of fact and motion for signature by the Chair and subsequent recording.
Brian King, with Crossman Engineering, stated that they have completed the final designs, drainage and stormwater systems, proposed utility connections, and a comprehensive landscape plan. Mr. King stated that they have received the necessary variances from the Zoning Board and have received permits from DEM but afterwards a slight modification was made. Mr. King stated that the general design is the same and that they just rotated the building but will have to resubmit the modified plan to DEM. Town Planner Mike Phillips noted that the shifting of the building makes the building more compliant with the setbacks.
The public hearing was opened at 6:27 p.m. and there being no one present to speak to this application was promptly closed.
Ken Orabona made a motion, seconded by Mike Pinelli, to approve the Preliminary Plan as submitted incorporating the Town Planner’s memo dated July 15, 2021 being submitted as Board’s Exhibit A, the Findings of Fact being marked as Board’s Exhibit B, being conditioned upon DEM insignificant alternation permit approval, Soil Erosion approval, and Final Plan be handled administratively. The vote on the motion being as follows:
Voting In Favor: Members Gizzarelli, Colavecchio, Hawkins, Pinelli, Moan, Orabona, Ruotolo, and Yoakum
Voting In Oppositon: None
Abstaining: Member Nani
The vote on the motion being eight in favor with one abstention, the motion carried.
Minor Subdivision – Final Plan Review
AP 49 / Lot 180 – 453 Farnum Pike
4.06 Acres (approx.) / Zoning District: R-80
Applicant/Owner: Eric Yeghian, Vikon Properties
Engineer: Daniel Campbell, P.E., Level Design Group, LLC
a. Review and discuss the proposed submission with the project proponent.
b. The Board may approve the Final Plan as submitted, approve with changes and/or conditions, deny the application, or continue the meeting to a future date.
c. The Board may authorize the Town Planner to prepare a written decision consistent with the Board’s findings of fact and motion for signature by the Chair and subsequent recording.
Sean Campbell, with Level Design Group, stated that they received requested variances from the Zoning Board on May 5th and that DEM approval has been granted on the first lot but that they will only approve the second lot once this subdivision plan is approved and recorded.
Town Planner Mike Phillips stated that the Zoning Board stipulated that the exterior of the barn would have to be renovated in compliance with the suggestions of the Historic Preservation Commission and maintained as a restriction in perpetuity and this being conditioned on being completed before a building permit is issued.
Ken Orabona made a motion, seconded by Curtis Ruotolo, to approve the Final Plan as submitted incorporating the Town Planner’s memo dated July 14, 2021 submitted as Board’s Exhibit A and the Findings of Fact being submitted as Board’s Exhibit B. The vote on the motion was as follows:
Voting In Favor: Members Gizzarelli, Colavecchio, Hawkins, Pinelli, Moan, Orabona, Ruotolo, and Yoakum
Voting In Opposition: None
Abstaining: Member Nani
The vote on the motion being eight in favor with one abstention, the motion carried.
Minor Subdivision – Preliminary Plan Review
AP 47/Lot 34 – 115 Mann School Road
3.1 Acres (approx.) / Zone: R-80
Applicant/Owner: John & Kristine Yoakum
Surveyor: Patricia A. Kelly, PLS #1968
a. The Board will 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 make a recommendation to the Town Council on the required Land Use and Zoning Map amendments for the proposed subdivision.
d. The Board may authorize the Town Planner to prepare a written decision consistent with the Board’s findings of fact and motion for signature by the Chair and subsequent recording.
Board Member John Yoakum recused himself from the hearing of this application.
Attorney Jean Fallago, with offices at 132 Pleasant View Avenue, represented the applicants stating that they are seeking conditional Preliminary Plan approval of a minor subdivision, amendments to the Future Land Use and Zoning Maps, and a Town Council zone change.
Attorney Jean Fallago stated that they are seeking a zone change from R-80 to R-40 and the subdivision frontage would meet with the new zoning requirements, no variances are being requested on the new lot and the property will be serviced by public water. Attorney Fallago stated that the subdivision will meet with all of the required Findings of Fact and requested that Final Plan be handled administratively.
Curtis Ruotolo questioned the topography of the land and Land Surveyor Patricia Kelly replied that there is a proposed site plan which slopes about 5% to the west and having a 6 foot RIDEM approved water table.
Mike Moan questioned the cemetery depicted on the site plan and Town Planner Mike Phillips replied that there is a right of way on this parcel to get to the cemetery which is located on another property.
Town Planner Mike Phillips stated that the applicant will need both a Land Use Map amendment and a zone change and that the Board will be seeing this again for a recommendation on the Land Use amendment.
Ken Orabona made a motion, seconded by Mike Moan, to approve the Preliminary Plan as submitted incorporating the Town Planner’s memo dated July 14, 2021, being subject to utility approvals, Town Council approval of the amendments to the Future Land Use Map and Zoning Map, and Final Plan being handled administratively. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
Mike Moan made a motion, seconded by Ken Orabona, to recommend that the Town Council amend the Future Land Use Map and Zoning Map. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
Ken Orabona made a motion, seconded by Al Nani, to authorize the Town Planner to prepare a written decision incorporating the Findings of Fact. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
Major Land Development - AP 32 - Lots 8 & 30 / 190 & 194 Old County Road
20.99 Acres / Zone: R-MED
Applicant: Old County Village, LLC.
Owner: Shawn A. Jorde
Engineer: Joe Casali Engineering, Inc.
a. The Board will conduct the project’s annual review.
b. The Board will vote on approval of the extension.
Attorney Joelle Rocha represented the applicant stating that they are seeking a by-right extension for Final Plan approval and that the agreement with the initial purchaser fell through but that they do have a new one and the project is moving forward.
Jennifer Hawkins made a motion, seconded by Mike Pinelli, to grant the extension of Final Plan approval. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
Major Land Development - AP 46 / Lot 63 – 150 George Washington Highway
2.21 Acres - R-80 Zone
Applicant/Owner: Blue Water Realty, LLC
Engineer: Joe Casali Engineering, Inc.
a. The Board will conduct the project’s annual review.
b. The Board will vote on approval of the extension.
Attorney Nicholas Goodier represented the applicant and stated that they are seeking a one year extension to Master Plan approval. Attorney Goodier stated that they have received Zoning Board approval and anticipate being back before the Board with a Preliminary Plan in September or October.
Ken Orabona made a motion, seconded by Al Nani, to grant the requested extension of Master Plan approval. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
a. Zoning Board Decision –Reilly, Randall Street
Town Planner Mike Phillips stated that the Reilly property, located on Randall Street, was a double corner lot that was previously two lots having been merged. Mr. Phillips stated that the Zoning Board reviewed this application and found that the proposal was in keeping with the neighborhood and ruled accordingly. Assistant Solicitor Scott Levesque added that the decision was well detailed and within the Board’s discretion.
Curtis Ruotolo made a motion, seconded by Al Nani, to adjourn the meeting at 7:05 pm. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna A. Corrao, Recording Secretary