MEETING MINUTES
Town of West Warwick
Planning Board
Meeting Date: Monday, January 9, 2023
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
Jessica Rubery
Joshua Barrette
Rene Coutu
Paul Villa (Alt. member)
Joe Garcia (Alt. member)
Planning Staff: Marilyn Shellman, Town Planner
Elaine L. Mansour, CDBG Manager (Zoom)
Legal Counsel: Albert DiFiore, Esquire (Zoom)
All witnesses were sworn in by Legal Counsel.
Review and approval of the October 3, 2022 meeting minutes.
Motion to approve the October 03, 2022 minutes by Mr. Appolonia, seconded by Mr. Barrette. All in favor.
511 East Greenwich Avenue – Major Land Development
Applicant: Padula Builders, Inc.
Location: 511 East Greenwich Avenue
Assessor’s Plat: 30
Lot: 17
Zoning District: R-10
Land Area: 6.33 Acres (275,734.80 Sq. Ft)
Number of units: 20
Engineer: SFM Engineering Assoc., Scott Moorehead, P.E.
The applicant is requesting Preliminary Plan approval to subdivide an existing 6.33 Acre parcel of land with an existing dwelling to create 20 condominium units; permitted by Special Use Permit with the existing dwelling to be demolished in the R-10 zoning district and in accordance with the West Warwick Subdivision and Land Development Regulations Section 17-14, 15, &16 and RIGL 45-23-41 &42.
Planning Office Recommendation
After conferring with the Planning Board Legal Counsel, the Planning Office recommendation is to approve the Preliminary Plan with the following stipulations for Final approval:
1) That the applicant submits Condominium Documents indemnifying the Town of West Warwick from all maintenance within the development for review and approval by Legal Counsel, Al DiFiore.
2) Certification from the Tax Collector that all property taxes are current.
3) Two original signed copies of all legal documents describing the property to be recorded in the Town of West Warwick Land Evidence records.
4) One (1) mylar for Final Plan approval signed by the Administrative Officer to be recorded in the Land Evidence Records in the Town of West Warwick.
Discussion
Attorney Tom Cronin is representing. Mr. DiFiore read the exhibits into the record.
This is a 6.33 acre lot, 3.944 usable area with a two family dwelling on the property which will be demolished. The applicant is in talks with the WWFD to take down the building. There is a wooded wetland with a 50 foot buffer, there will be 40 on site parking spaces for a total of 60 spaces including garages. There will be a fence installed between the property at Plat 30, Lot 16. The proposed will be townhouse style residences with a single entrance, water and sewer accessed from East Greenwich Avenue. Mr. Cronin also noted the Landscape Plan has been submitted to the planner. The applicant is also requesting final to be done administratively.
Scott Moorehead sworn in as an expert witness, motion made by Mr. Appolonia, seconded by Mr. Coutu. All in favor. Mr. Moorehead noted this plan is identical to the Master Plan, they have added drainage, Kent County Water and WW Wastewater approvals and they have spoken with Jim Geremia regarding the drainage, they will tie into an on-site system and into a drainage detention basin and slowly meter to a culvert down the street on East Greenwich Ave. Mr. DiMartino asked if this will help with the current drainage problems and Mr. Barrette asked about the drainage for building two. Mr. Moorehead said all roof drainage will be picked up and put into the drainage system. The Town Planner also noted the landscape plan shows the whole area will have cedars. Mr. Coutu asked what would happen if there were an overflow of the detention basin, would the water then flow to the end of the roadway? Mr. Moorehead said the overflow would go to the swamp. He also noted there is a 12” pipe controlled by a one inch orifice which drains over a 24 hour period.
Mr. Appolonia questioned the KCWA note on the original submission, Mr. Moorehead said the ninth sheet is wastewater which was added after. The DEM plans showed the buildings in the same places.
Mr. Villa asked if the pump station has adequate capacity and stated every project should have a calculation done by Geremia & Assoc for adequate capacity. Mr. DiFiore stated if the board approves it a stipulation can be added for a report from Jim Geremia. Mr. Barrette asked about the three concrete covers and Mr. Moorehead said they are most likely an old septic system and shouldn’t be a problem if the house was tied into the sewer system. Mr. Barrette also asked about dumpsters and was told there will be individual roll outs as they are much cleaner. Mr. DiMartino asked if the flow that comes off the property will be reduced and Mr. Moorehead said yes, it will be less.
Public Hearing:
Wade Wilks, 500 East Greenwich Ave: Fully supports the project, concerned about the current water flow and Mr. DiMartino said the intent is to take the water currently going across the street and direct it into the culvert. Mr Di Martino also said the developer stepped up and added the catch basins, he didn’t have to do that.
Peter Calci, 260 East Greenwich Ave: Concerned with the area drainage. A 12” culvert is probably not capable of collecting the water going down the street. He also mentioned the drainage basins and culverts at the other end of EG Ave. Perhaps you may need culverts at the entire entrance, one or two may not be adequate. The Town Planner noted the November 22, 2022 drainage letter from Jim Geremia.
Bob Boyer, 15 Water St: He stated the culvert on EG Ave was a concern when the Business Park was built. He thinks Jim Geremia should look at the grading of the two new recently built homes.
Motion to close the public hearing by Mr. DiMartino, seconded by Mr. Barrette. All in favor.
Mr. DiMartino read the planner’s recommendations into the record.
Motion to approve with stipulations listed in the planner’s recommendations as well as a letter from Jim Geremia stating the pump station has adequate capacity by Mr. Barrette, seconded by Mr. Coutu.
Planning Board Vote
Joseph DiMartino Yes
Felix Appolonia Yes
Joshua Barrette Yes
Rene Coutu Yes
Jessica Rubery Yes
Joseph Garcia (Alt.) Yes
Paul Villa (Alt.) Yes
Motion passes.
Motion to approve that Final approval be done administratively by Mr. Appolonia, seconded by Mr. Barrette.
Planning Board Vote
Joseph DiMartino No
Felix Appolonia No
Joshua Barrette No
Rene Coutu No
Jessica Rubery No
Joseph Garcia (Alt.) No
Paul Villa (Alt.) No
Motion fails
Advisory to Town Council/ Amendment of Section 24 and 25 of the West Warwick Zoning Code of Ordinances of the Town of West Warwick
Planning Office Recommendation
Al DiFiore, Planning Board Legal Counsel, shall present the amendment to the Planning Board for review and recommendation to the Town Council.
Mr. DiFiore said this will bring the ordinance in line with the State statute.
Motion to forward a favorable recommendation to the Town Council by Mr. Barrette, seconded by Mr. Coutu.
Joseph DiMartino Yes
Felix Appolonia Yes
Joshua Barrette Yes
Rene Coutu Yes
Jessica Rubery Yes
Joseph Garcia (Alt.) Yes
Paul Villa (Alt.) Yes
Motion passes.
January 9, 2023
February 6, 2023
March 6, 2023
April 3, 2023
May 1, 2023
June 5, 2023
July 10, 2023
August 7, 2023
September 11, 2023
October 2, 2023
November 6, 2023
December 4, 2023
ALL MEETINGS BEGIN AT 6:00 PM AND ARE HELD AT THE WEST WARWICK TOWN HALL, TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 1170 MAIN STREET, WEST WARWICK, RI 02893, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
The September 11, 2023 date is tentative and may be changed at a later date.
Planning Board Vote
Joseph DiMartino Yes
Felix Appolonia Yes
Joshua Barrette Yes
Rene Coutu Yes
Jessica Rubery Yes
Joseph Garcia (Alt.) Yes
Paul Villa (Alt.) Yes
None
Motion to adjourn at 7:10pm by Mr. Appolonia, seconded by Mr. Barrette. All in favor.