| | Town of Smithfield Planning Board 64 FARNUM PIKE ESMOND, RHODE ISLAND 02917 May 20, 2021 Virtual Meeting Minutes |
Members Present: Richard Colavecchio, Jennifer Hawkins, Mike Pinelli, Mike Moan, Ken Orabona, Curtis Ruotolo, John Steere and John Yoakum
Members Absent: Al Gizzarelli
Others Present: Michael Phillips, Town Planner, Scott Levesque, Assistant Town Solicitor
Vice Chairman Curtis Ruotolo opened the May 20, 2021 virtual meeting of the Smithfield Planning Board at 6:00 p.m.
MINUTES:
Discuss and approve the April 15, 2021 meeting minutes.
Richard Colavecchio made a motion, seconded by John Steere, to approve the April 15, 2021 meeting minutes. The vote on the motion was as follows:
Voting In Favor: Members Colavecchio, Pinelli, Moan, Ruotolo, Steere and Yoakum
Voting In Opposition: None
Abstaining: Members Hawkins and Orabona
The vote on the motion being six in favor with two abstentions the motion carried.
MEMBER APPOINTMENT:
Planning Board member appointment to Soil Erosion Committee.
Curtis Ruotolo made a motion, seconded by Ken Orabona, to appoint Al Gizzarelli to the Soil Erosion Committee. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
REGULAR AGENDA
NONE.
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.
John Steere made a motion, seconded by Ken Orabona, to continue the Smithfield Fire Station application to the June 17, 2021 meeting. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
Comprehensive Permit Application / Major Land Development - Preliminary Plan Review
AP 23 / Lot 1 – 95 Farnum Pike
.79 Acres (approx.) / R-20 Zone
Applicant/Owner: Farnum Development, LLC
Engineer: Joe Casali Engineering, Inc.
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.
Attorney Nicholas Goodier represented the applicant stating that they received master plan and comprehensive permit approval in November of 2020 and seeking preliminary plan approval tonight.
Joe Casali, Professional Engineer with offices at 300 Post Road in Warwick, stated that the proposal is for 9 units with 5 LMI units. Mr. Casali stated that they will raze the existing residential structure and with more than 50% of the units being LMI they are allowed a density bonus of 12 units per acre which yields 9 units. Mr. Casali stated that they have a landscape architect and they will try to keep the existing mature trees in the front yard. Mr. Casali stated that they have filed an easement to cross the National Grid property to be able to tie into the sewer and are awaiting permitting from RI DEM, Providence Water, National Grid, the Sewer Authority and the Fire Marshall. Mr. Casali noted that Soil Erosion approval has already been received.
Jennifer Hawkins questioned how the stormwater plan will benefit Georgiaville Pond and Joe Casali replied that it will go into an underground infiltration system before going into the pond which is a positive in terms of water quality.
Richard Colavecchio stated that the TRC report indicates that the Zoning Official requested a 3d color rendering and Town Planner Mike Phillips replied that a 3d rendering of a building is not one of the submission requirements.
Curtis Ruotolo questioned construction activities and mitigating pollution during construction; and Joe Casali replied that they will meet with the Town Engineer to discuss soil erosion measures around the perimeter of the property.
Mike Moan questioned whether there were any comments from Robert Leach about the property being listed on the Historic Inventory and Town Planner Michael Phillips replied that the properties listed are based on being a 1900 building but that the aerial topography from 1939 does not show that property being built.
The public hearing was opened at 6:25 p.m.
Catherine Gorman, 93 Farnum Pike, stated that they have sink holes and questioned what will happen once they start digging and putting underground pipes with a monstrous 3 story building and whether the ground can hold it? Mrs. Gorman stated that there is a rumor that their condos were built on filled land and that the ground has very poor soil and strong rain storms bring 4-6 inches of water. Mrs. Gorman requested that the developer looks at issues they are having before they start digging. Joe Casali replied that they have standard operating procedure for geotechnical issues and perform test pits to determine how much that soil can bear. Mr. Casali added that the design is based specifically on the soil conditions and this project will not exacerbate their issue. Mrs. Gorman questioned whether there will be any dynamiting and Mr. Casali replied if they need to blast they will obtain a permit from the State Fire Marshal and be required to do a pre-blast survey to record what is present.
Lisa Berard, 97 Farnum Pike, questioned whether will the units be built completely or as units are sold and Joe Casali replied that the plan is to build the units simultaneously and not one unit at a time. Ms. Berard questioned how long they anticipate construction to last and Mr. Casali replied that is weather dependent but will likely be a 5-7 month process. The applicant, Scott Ringland, stated that he anticipates both foundations going in simultaneously and he would like to get the project done as quickly as possible. Ms. Berard questioned construction noise and Mr. Ringland replied that they will abide by the zoning laws. Ms. Berard questioned the fence line and Joe Casali replied they will plant 3-4 foot white pine spruce trees on center along the property line. Town Planner Michael Phillips stated that white pine is not preferential and Curtis Ruotolo suggested green giants. Ms. Berard questioned whether there will be decks and Mr. Ringland replied there will be a balcony on the mid-level.
Catherine Gorman, 93 Farnum Pike, questioned the price range of the units and Attorney Goodier replied that will be driven by the market and the price of the LMI units are dictated by the median income in Smithfield.
There being no one else present to speak to this application, the public hearing was closed.
Ken Orabona made a motion, seconded by John Steere, to approve the preliminary plan application with the Planner’s memo dated May 11, 2021 being marked as Boards Exhibit #1, the compilation of findings of fact marked as Board’s Exhibit 2, being conditioned on the submission of RIDEM stormwater permit, RIDOT physical alteration permit, all outstanding utility permits, and recommending that the final plan be handled administratively.. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
a. The Board may make a recommendation to the Town Council on the release of the performance bond.
b. The Board may recommend acceptance of the Laurel Woods Drive & Kylie Circle public improvements.
c. The Board may recommend a maintenance bond amount.
Town Planner Michael Phillips stated that a memo has been submitted from the Town Engineer and Director of Public Works acknowledging that the public improvements have been substantially completed, recommending the bonds be reduced, recommending that the Town Council to accept all public improvements, and requesting a maintenance bond in the amount of $2,500.
Ken Orabona made a motion, seconded by Mike Pinelli, to recommend that the Town Council accept all public improvements associated with Laurel Woods Estates, authorizing the release of any remaining surety, and requesting a maintenance guarantee in the amount of $2,500. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
a. The Board may make a recommendation to the Town Council on the release of the performance bond.
b. The Board may recommend acceptance of the Stone Post Way public improvements.
c. The Board may recommend a maintenance bond amount.
Town Planner Michael Phillips stated that a memo has been submitted from the Town Engineer and Director of Public Works indicating that the project is basically complete and ready for acceptance.
Ken Orabona made a motion, seconded by Mike Pinelli, to recommend that the Town council accept all public improvements associated with Stone Post Estates, authorizing the release of any remaining surety, and requesting a maintenance guarantee in amount of $2,500. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
John Steere made a motion, seconded by Jennifer Hawkins, to adjourn the meeting at 7:02 pm. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 17, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna Corrao, Recording Secretary