| | Town of Smithfield Planning Board 64 FARNUM PIKE ESMOND, RHODE ISLAND 02917 July 20, 2023 Virtual Meeting Minutes |
Members Present: James D’Ambra, Catherine Lynn, Michael Moan, Al Nani, Joseph Rotella and John Yoakum
Members Absent: Al Gizzarelli, Charles Boyd, Richard Colavecchio
Others Present: Michael Phillips, Town Planner, Scott Levesque, Assistant Town Solicitor
Board Member Michael Moan opened the July 20, 2023 meeting of the Smithfield Planning Board at 6:05 p.m.
Board Member Michael Moan read the Emergency Evacuation and Health Notification.
Discuss and approve the June 15, 2023 meeting minutes.
John Yoakum made a motion, seconded by Al Nani, to approve the Planning Board meeting minutes for June 15, 2023. The vote on the motion was as follows:
Voting In Favor: Members D’Ambra, Moan, Nani, and Yoakum
Voting In Opposition: None
Abstaining: Members Lynn and Rotella
The vote on the motion being four in favor with two in abstentions, the motion failed.
REGULAR AGENDA
Minor Subdivision – Pre-Application/Concept Review
AP 42 / Lot 64 – 332 Douglas Pike
8.24 Acres (approx.)/4 Lots/R-80 Zone
Applicant/Owner: DRG Realty, LLC
Engineer: Garofalo & Associates, Inc.
a. The Board will review the submission with the applicant and provide input for future review stages.
Attorney John Shekarchi represented the applicant on this request for a potential subdivision for a private family compound for the applicant and his daughters. Attorney Shekarchi noted that a zone change will be needed.
Sam Hemingway, with Garofalo & Associates, stated that the property is currently zoned R-80 but surrounding properties in the area are R-20 to R-80 to the south and R-40/R-Med to the north of the area. Mr. Hemingway stated there are significant wetlands onsite and feels the property is a good candidate for a zone change to one acre zoning. Mr. Hemingway stated they are proposing a private road off of Douglas Pike and that the soil testing yielded reasonably good groundwater depths and feels 4 lots is achievable on this property.
Town Planner Michael Phillips stated that in 2021the Town brought the Zoning map into compliance with the Comprehensive Plan and this property was changed from R-80 to R-40. Mr. Phillips noted that the properties to the west are R-20 and with this lot being sandwiched between R-20 and R-40 zones it seems appropriate to extend this property to the R-40 zone.
James D’Ambra questioned whether there are any other limitations to building on the lots and Sam Hemingway replied that they have reviewed the wetlands and drainage and is reasonably certain that the lots can be built on.
Catherine Lynn stated that it appears house #1 is being placed over a stone wall and questioned whether there is a different location for it. Sam Hemingway replied that is the location of the existing house which has been razed and they will comply with the town’s stone wall ordinance.
Joe Rotella questioned the easement on lot #1 and Sam Hemingway replied that is because the septic system previously having a common ownership and that this easement would potentially be extinguished.
Minor Subdivision – Final Plan Review
AP 26 / Lot 27 – 292 Waterman Avenue
.72 Acres (approx.) / 2 Lots / R-20 Zone
Applicant/Owner: J. Theodore Ray & Sandra Ray
Surveyor: Kelly Land Services, Inc.
a. The Board will 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.
Attorney Tim Kane represented the applicant stating that they received conditional approval by this Board a few months ago and have since received Zoning Board approval.
James D’Ambra made a motion, seconded by Al Nani, to approve the Final Plan marking as Exhibit A the Town Planner’s memorandum dated July 13, 2023 and the Zoning Board decision. The vote on the motion was as follows:
Voting In Favor: Members D’Ambra, Lynn, Nani, Rotella and Yoakum
Voting In Opposition: None
Abstaining: Member Moan
The vote on the motion being five in favor with one abstention, the motion carried.
AP 40 / Lots 1-169, 179-200, 208-235, 241-271, 274-298, 300-329, 333-360, 364-382, 389-414, 416-440 and AP 42 / Lot 139 – Douglas Pike & Ridge Road
43.4 Acres / Zoning District: Low Density Residential (R-80), Medium Density Residential (R-MED) and Commercial (C)
Applicant/Owner: Smithfield Estates, LLC; Earl Grey Estates, LLC
a. The Board will conduct the project’s annual review.
b. The Board will vote to approve or deny the extension.
Attorney Tim Kane represented the applicant and stated that the applicant is still looking into options to connect into the sewer system. Atty. Kane stated that hopes to be back in front of the Board on the front commercial portion of the property.
Joe Rotella 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.
Catherine Lynn made a motion, seconded by James D’Ambra, to adjourn the meeting at 6:27 p.m. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 17, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna A. Corrao, Recording Secretary