1.         Approval of Minutes

Motion to table the minutes of June 5, 2023, until August Meeting, was made by Rene Coutu and seconded by Joshua Barrette

2.         New Business

2a        Lot Minor Subdivision and recommendation for area variance to Zoning Board of Review Tripoli Street -

Applicant:                Rhode Island Custom Builders

Location:                 Tripoli Street

Assessor’s Plat:        37

Lot:                           104

Zoning District:        R – 7.5

Number of Units:     3

Number of Lots:      2

Developer:               Ryan Russo

Represented by:       David Johnson, Esq.  

This application is for a two lot Minor Subdivision in the R 7.5 zoning district.  Proposed “Lot A” will have an area of 7,500 sq. ft. for a single-family dwelling.

Proposed “Lot B” will have an area of 9,578 sq. ft. with a 2-family dwelling unit.  This lot requires 10,000 sq, ft. for the 2-family dwelling unit and will need an area variance of 622 sq.  ft. to meet the 10,000 sq. ft. area for the proposed use in the R-7.5 zoning district. 

Recommendation: That the Planning Board render a favorable advisory to grant the 622 sq. ft. area variance for “Lot B” to the West Warwick Zoning Board of Review.

Motion to approve the Subdivision by Joshua Barrette seconded by Jessica Rubery. All in favor, motion passed.

Planning Board Vote

Joseph DiMartino          Yes

Felix Appolonia          Yes

Joshua Barrette           Yes

Rene Coutu     Yes

Jessica Rubery Yes

Motion to recommend to the West Warwick Zoning Board of Review that they approve the variance for Lot B by Joshua Barrette, seconded by Jessica Rubery. All in favor, motion passed.

Planning Board Vote

Joseph DiMartino          Yes

Felix Appolonia          Yes

Joshua Barrette           Yes

Rene Coutu     Yes

Jessica Rubery Yes

2b        Major Land Development – Combined Master & Preliminary Plan – Recommendation for Special Use Permit for Multi-Family Units and administrative approval of an Administrative Subdivision to merge lots 658 & 659.  

The Falcon Crossing Condominiums aka Hillcrest Condominiums

Applicant:              Delia Donato

Location:               Cowesett Avenue

Assessor’s Plat:     13

Lots:                      658 & 659

Zoning District:     R-6

Number of Units:   8

Developer:             MD Capital, LLC

Represented by:     Tom Cronin, Esq.

This application is for an 8-unit multi-family condominium project.  It will consist of 6 single -family units and one 2-family unit for a total of 8 units.  The development will be served by town water and wastewater, will have access to a public street, will have underground utilities for electric and stormwater and will have adequate protection from the freshwater wetlands on-site. The application meets the parking and landscaping standards of the town. An Administrative Subdivision will be required to merge lots 658 & 659 into one lot.  A fee-in-lieu of $2,500.00 per unit will be required with each building permit.

Recommendation:    

·       Approve a favorable advisory to the West Warwick Zoning Board of Review for Multi-family development in the R-6 zoning district.

·       That the Planning Board approve the combined Master and Preliminary Plan,

·       Final Plan approval be conducted Administratively or returned to the Planning Board for Final approval. 

Motion for a recommendation for a special use permit to be approved by the West Warwick Zoning Board by Joshua Barrette, seconded by Rene Coutu.  All in favor.

Planning Board Vote

Joseph DiMartino                   Yes

Felix Appolonia          Yes

Joshua Barrette           Yes

Rene Coutu     Yes

Jessica Rubery Yes

Motion to pass the combined Master and Preliminary Plan by Joshua Barrette, seconded by Jessica Rubery.  All in favor.

Planning Board Vote

Joseph DiMartino       Yes

Felix Appolonia          Yes

Joshua Barrette           Yes

Rene Coutu     Yes

Jessica Rubery Yes

Motion for Administration Approval of the subdivision to merge of Lots 658 & 659 by Jessica Rubery, seconded by Joshua Barrette.  All in favor.

Planning Board Vote

Joseph DiMartino       Yes

Felix Appolonia          Yes

Joshua Barrette           Yes

Rene Coutu     Yes

Jessica Rubery Yes

Motion for project final approval to be done by the Planning Board by Jessica Rubery, seconded by Joshua Barrette. All in favor.

Planning Board Vote

Joseph DiMartino       Yes

Felix Appolonia          Yes

Joshua Barrette           Yes

Rene Coutu     Yes

Jessica Rubery Yes

3.         Advisory to Town Council – Proposed Zone Change,

to rezone 649 sq. ft. of parcel Zoned B (Business) to R-8 (Residential) for the purposes of residential use. Assessor’s Plat 2; Lot 51, 701 Main Street, West Warwick

Motion to give recommendation to the West Warwick Zoning Board to approve the proposed zone change for Plat 2; Lot 51 from Business to R-* Residential by Joshua Barrette, seconded by Rene Coutu.  All in favor.

Planning Board Vote

Joseph DiMartino       Yes

Felix Appolonia          Yes

Joshua Barrette           Yes

Rene Coutu     Yes

Jessica Rubery Yes

4.         Advisory to Town Council –

Town of West Warwick Ordinance Amending Section 5.3 – Use Regulations – Non -Residential Districts (B Zone) of the Code of Ordinance of the Town of West Warwick

Motion to give recommendation to the West Warwick Town Council to Amend Section 5.3 of the Code of Ordinance by Joshua Barrette, seconded by Felix Appolonia.  All in favor.

Planning Board Vote

Joseph DiMartino       Yes

Felix Appolonia          Yes

Joshua Barrette           Yes

Rene Coutu     Yes

Jessica Rubery Yes

5.         Approval of Letter of compliance

with the West Warwick Sanitary Sewer Standards. The letter will stipulate that an application meets the standards of the Town of West Warwick Sanitary Sewer Standards regarding the impact of wastewater flow on pump stations and related force mains within the town.

Motion to approve the Letter of Compliance for the West Warwick Sanitary Sewer Standards by Rene Coutu, seconded by Joshua Barrette.  All in favor.

Planning Board Vote

Joseph DiMartino       Yes

Felix Appolonia          Yes

Joshua Barrette           Yes

Rene Coutu     Yes

Jessica Rubery Yes

6.         Discussion – Unified Development Review –

attached are copies of existing RIGL regarding the process called Unified Development Review.  The town of West Warwick does not use this land use tool but with the new proposed legislation this will be a mandate from the state, and I wanted to inform the board how it is used and how and at what stage the board will be deciding.  The attachments are the present RI General Laws and how they are used.  I have highlighted the relevant parts. 

7.         Public Comment:

Jason Licciardi of Carlson Circle, spoke of his concerns about the June Carr development. Mr. Licciardi also presented a possible Ethics Violation by Joseph DiMartino.  Mr. DiMartino had been represented by Attorney Tom Cronin in the past and Mr. DiMartino did not recuse himself on planning projects brought in front of the Planning Board by Tom Conin, Esq.

8.         Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 6:55pm.