| | Town of Smithfield Planning Board 64 FARNUM PIKE ESMOND, RHODE ISLAND 02917 March 25, 2024 Meeting Minutes |
Members Present: Angelica Bovis, Charles Boyd, Richard Colavecchio, James D’Ambra, Catherine Lynn, Michael Moan, Al Nani, Joseph Rotella, John Yoakum
Members Absent: None
Others Present: Greg Schadone, Assistant Town Solicitor
Chairman James D’Ambra opened the March 25, 2024 meeting of the Smithfield Planning Board at 6:00 p.m.
EMERGENCY EVACUATION AND HEALTH NOTIFICATION
Chairman James D’Ambra read the Emergency Evacuation and Health Notification.
MINUTES: None
Consider, Discuss and Act Upon 2023 Land Use Legislation Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations.
a. The Board will discuss the legislative amendments with staff and the Town’s planning consultant.
b. The Board may vote on certain aspects of the proposed amendments.
c. The Board may make a recommendation to the Town Council on adoption of the proposed amendments.
d. The Board may continue the matter for further discussion at a future meeting.
The Board reviewed Section III, Article J. of the Subdivision Regulations “Development Plan Review”. Ashley Sweet, with Weston & Sampson, stated that for Development Plan Review the permitting authority is a choice of the Administrative Officer or the Planning Board depending on whether the application is administrative or formal. Ms. Sweet stated that with a Minor Land Development the permitting authority is the Administrative Officer only.
Town Planner Michael Phillips stated the need to address the Administrative Officer’s section on the ability to grant waivers but since there are no design standards for minor land developments he couldn’t come up with any suggestions. The board agreed to leave the granting of waivers by the Administrative Officer out.
Ashley Sweet stated that only the Planning Board can grant a special use permit under unified development plan review. Michael Moan noted that the Planning Board is actually acting as an appeal board if a request for a special use permit is denied by the Zoning Official.
Ashley Sweet stated that the Subdivision Regulations checklists for minor and major are the same for subdivision and land development projects and suggested creating a Development Plan Review checklist that doesn’t entail the subdivision items to address changes of use, adaptive reuse projects, commercial, and 9 or less residential units.
Ashley Sweet stated that Michael Phillips is compiling all of the information on the changes to the Subdivision Regulations for the Board to hold a public hearing.
Ashley Sweet and the Board reviewed Ordinance 23. Ms. Sweet stated this section of zoning definitions was amended to add adaptive reuse, updating the definition of Development Plan Review to comply with the definition in State law, and updating a land development project.
The Board reviewed the proposed language on dimensional variances. Ashley Sweet stated that the Board now has the ability to grant a use variance and the standard for granting a dimensional variance has been lowered. Ms. Sweet stated that the language on variance standards as amended in the statutes is still being drafted.
Angelica Bovis made a motion, seconded by John Yoakum, to recommend that the Town Council adopt the Zoning Ordinance definitions. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
Joseph Rotella made a motion, seconded by Al Nani, to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 p.m. The vote on the motion was all in favor and the motion carried.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna A. Corrao, Recording Secretary