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| Planning & Economic Development Public Notice |
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
61 Harris Road
Planning Application PLN-26-19
Planning Board Public Hearing
Thursday, October 15, 2026 — 6:00 p.m.
The Smithfield Planning Board will consider the following requests concerning 61 Harris Road (AP 45, Lot 43A), a vacant lot of approximately 2.14 acres on the east side of Harris Road, north of Douglas Pike (Route 7), in the Commercial (C) zoning district. Owner and applicant: Harris Holdings, LLC. Representative: Garofalo & Associates, Inc.
Zoning Map Amendment: change the zoning district classification of the property from Commercial (C) to Multi-Family Residential (R-20M).
Comprehensive Plan Amendment: change the Future Land Use Map designation of the property from Commercial to High Density Multi-Family (R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-22.2-8).
Major Land Development – Master Plan: “The Residences at 61 Harris,” under Unified Development Review (R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-46.4): construct seven (7) residential condominium units in four buildings (one single-family detached and three two-family), with the dimensional variances listed below.
On the zoning map and comprehensive plan amendments, the Planning Board makes a recommendation to the Town Council, which holds its own public hearing on those amendments.
The following dimensional variances from the R-20M zoning district requirements are requested:
| Dimensional Variance | Required | Proposed |
| Density (land area per dwelling unit) | 20,000 sq ft per unit | Seven units on approximately 2.14 acres |
| Rear yard setback (one structure) | 30 ft | 24 ft |
| Separation of a commercial structure from a residential zone | 100 ft | Residential zone extends to within 36 ft of a commercial structure |
Map: 200-foot radius map, Sheet R-1, prepared by Garofalo & Associates, Inc. (August 2026), reduced and not to the stated 1″ = 100′ scale. The site (AP 45, Lot 43A) is the solid outline labeled “SITE”; the 200-foot radius is the dashed line labeled “200′ RADIUS”; zoning district boundaries are the heavy dotted lines, with district labels (“ZONE:”).
These requests may be altered or amended prior to the close of the public hearing without further advertising, as a result of further study or because of the views expressed at the public hearing. Any alteration or amendment must be presented for comment in the course of the hearing.
The hearing will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., in the Town Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 64 Farnum Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917.
REVIEW MATERIALS
The application materials may be viewed online at smithfieldri.portal.opengov.com/records/192604. A copy may also be obtained or examined and copied at the Department of Planning & Economic Development, Town Hall, Second Floor, 64 Farnum Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (except holidays).
SUBMIT COMMENTS
If you are unable to attend the hearing, please send your comments to: Gregory Guertin, Director of Planning & Economic Development, at gguertin@smithfieldri.gov.