Planning Board

Meeting Date:           Monday, October 4, 2021

Time:                          6:00 p.m.

Location:                    West Warwick Town Hall

Town Council Chambers

1170 Main Street

West Warwick, RI 02893

Members Present:     Joseph DiMartino, Chair

                                    Felix Appolonia, Vice Chair

Anthony Petrarca

                                    Joshua Barrette

Jessica Rubery (Alt. member)

Members Absent:      Joe Gardosik

Joe Garcia (Alt. member)

Planning Staff:           Mark Carruolo, Town Planner

Legal Counsel:           Albert DiFiore, Esquire

Meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by the Chairman.

Item 1  Approval of Minutes

Review and approval of the August 2, 2021 meeting minutes.

Motion to approve the minutes as amended, changing the date from December 7, 2020 to June 2021, was made by Mr. Appolonia, seconded by Mr. Petrarca and passed unanimously.

Item 2  Public Meeting

Request for Extension

Residences at the West Valley

The applicant was represented by Attorney Thomas Cronin and was requesting a one-year extension to the Master Plan approval in accordance with the West Warwick Subdivision and Land Development Regulations Section 17-14(G)(1) and RIGL 45-23-40 (g)(1) for the construction of sixty-six (66) residential condominium units on 12.81 acres Zoned Residential R-7.5.

Attorney Cronin provided a brief history of the project and explained that the applicant’s engineers have been working with RIDEM, KCWA and WWSA to complete the preliminary design of the project.  Attorney Cronin informed the Board that the engineers were very close to securing the necessary approval from the required agencies and that the project would be back before the Planning Board for preliminary approval within a year.

Vice-chair Appolonia asked if there was any limit on the number of extensions the Board could authorize.

Planning Staff responded that the first extension is allowed by-right but any further extension would require the applicant to provide cause (or a specific reason for the extension request).

Planning Office Recommendation

After conferring with the Planning Board Legal Counsel, the Planning Office recommendation was to grant the requested one (1) year extension; Master Plan approval now to expire in October 2022.

Item 3  Public Hearing

Major Subdivision

Attorney Thomas Cronin the applicant and was requesting preliminary plan approval to subdivide a single 10.68-acre parcel with an existing building to create two lots with a building on each lot, said buildings having less than the required setbacks and less than the required parking in a Business Park (BP) zone.

Attorney Cronin also introduced Mr. Richard Bzdyra, PLS & President of Ocean State Planners, surveyor of record for the development.

Attorney Cronin explained that the request was classified as a major subdivision because it required dimensional variances from the ZBR for less than the required setbacks and less than the required parking.  Attorney Cronin explained that the existing uses are to remain with the front building on JP Murphy being used as offices and the Energy Way building to be utilized as warehouse and storage.  Mr. Cronin also informed the Board that the applicant petitioned the Town Council and abandoned a portion of Crudale Avenue abutting the rear of the subject property to the North.

Attorney Cronin explained that the applicant was currently in discussions with the KCWA and WWSA working on the approvals to provide individual water and sewer service to each building.  Mr. Cronin asked the Planning Board for preliminary approval with final approval to be administrative once the water and sewer connections were approved by the appropriate agencies.

Board member Barrett asked if there was a sewer pump station in proximity to the property that may be affected by the subdivision.

Mr. Richard Bzdyra responded that there were no sewer pump stations close to the property although he was not sure if there were any pump stations elsewhere within the business park.  The Board voted to accept Mr. Bzdyra as an expert surveyor.

Planning Office Findings

The Planning Office found the proposal to be generally consistent with Section 17-5 “General Purposes” of the Towns Subdivision and Land Development regulations, and:

1)     Generally consistent with the Comprehensive Community Plan.

2)     In compliance with the standards and provisions of the Town Zoning Ordinance having received Zoning Board of Review approval (Petition# 2021-10) to create two lots with a building on each lot, said buildings having less than the required setbacks and less than the required parking in a Business Park (BP) zone.

3)     That there will be no significant negative environmental impacts from the proposed development.

4)     That the development will not result in the creation of individual lots with such physical constraints to development that building on those lots according to pertinent regulations and building standards would be impracticable.

5)     That the proposed development possesses adequate physical access to a public street.

6)     That the proposed development provides for the safe circulation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, adequate detention of surface water runoff, suitable building sites, and the preservation of natural, historical and cultural features; and

7)     That the proposed development will not result in any increased flooding and soil erosion.

Planning Office Recommendation

After conferring with the Planning Board Legal Counsel, the Planning Office recommendation was to approve the preliminary plan with the following stipulations:

1)     That each proposed building and lot shall have separate utility connections, including but not limited to sanitary sewer, public water, natural gas and electricity to be determined by the utility providers.

2)     That Parcel A shall include a utility easement for the benefit of Parcel B for water and sanitary sewer connections and use of the fire hydrant.

Motion was made by Mr. Barrette, seconded by Ms. Rubery to approve an administrative final approval.  The following vote was taken on the motion.

Planning Board Vote

A second motion was made by Mr. Appolonia, seconded by Mr. Petrarca to approve grant preliminary approval with the Planning Office recommended stipulations with final approval to be through the Administrative Officer.  The following vote was taken on the motion.

Planning Board Vote

Item 4  Administrative Subdivision/Approval for Informational Purposes

None

Item 5  Public Comment

There was no public comment.  Chairman DiMartino informed the board members that Member Gardosik requested a temporary leave of absence until January due to health concerns.  The Chairman informed the members that he would be authorizing the leave and would readdress the request in January if necessary.

Being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:21 PM.