Planning Board – Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, December 21, 2021 - 6:00 p.m.

Westerly Town Hall | Town Council Chambers 45 Broad Street, Westerly, RI 02891

(Governor Daniel J. McKee’s Executive Order 20-46 expired on July 23, 2021,

thereby requiring public bodies to meet in person.)

Please be advised this meeting was held in-person. All Planning Board members must be physically in attendance for purposes of a quorum. Members of the public were welcomed and encouraged to attend in-person. Zoom video conferencing was provided for the public’s convenience, per Town Manager Mark J. Rooney’s Executive Order 21- 001 dated July 8, 2021.

 

 

 

A. CALL TO ORDER –

Mr. Hopkins called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.

 

B. ROLL CALL AND ATTENDANCE

 

Members present:           Chair Justin M. Hopkins, IV, Vice Chair Richard W. Constantine, and Members Joseph M. Montesano and Kevin Lowther

 

Members absent:             Secretary Christopher K. Lawlor, Member Andrew Delisio, and Auxiliary Member Tabitha Harkin

 

Staff present:                   Assistant Solicitor for Planning & Zoning Atty. Scott Levesque, Town Planner Nancy Letendre, Principal Planner Alyse Oziolor, Information Technology Technician Lanny Fuller, and Minute Taker Stephanie J. LaSota

 

Town Council Liaison Phillip M. Overton was absent.

 

C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

1.      November 16, 2021 Special Meeting – Mr. Montesano made a motion to approve as submitted the November 16, 2021 Planning Board special meeting minutes. Mr. Constantine seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

2.      November 16, 2021 Regular Meeting - Mr. Montesano made a motion to approve as submitted the November 16, 2021 Planning Board regular meeting minutes. Mr. Constantine seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

D. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA –

Review, discussion, and possible action by the Planning Board on changes to the agenda, including known continuances and the order in which items will be heard.

           

There were no changes to the agenda.

 

 

E. OLD BUSINESS

 

1. Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Follow-Up Recommendation Follow-up recommendation to Town Council on creating an annual budget for renovations and maintenance to Town buildings, including Town Hall.

 

Mr. Hopkins referenced a one-page document drafted by staff because of the conversation from the November meeting. After some brief discussion, it was suggested that staff highlight Town Hall in the document.

Mr. Montesano made a motion that the Planning Board hereby approves the letter of recommendation addressed to the Town Manager as amended during the December 21, 2021 Planning Board Meeting. Mr. Constantine seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

F. NEW BUSINESS

 

1. 2021-MNS-01: Terranova Minor Subdivision – Preliminary Plan (5 Berry Drive | AP 19, Lot 44D & 3 Pine Terrace | Assessor’s Map 19, Lot 41-1) Review, discussion, and possible action and/or continuation to a future meeting by the Planning Board on request for Preliminary Plan Review of a Minor Subdivision proposing a 2-lot subdivision at 5 Berry Drive which includes one rear lot and the merger of 12,169 sf from 3 Pine Terrace.

 

Ms. Letendre provided a brief review of the project, stating that the driveway access will be across 5 Berry Drive and the property will take a portion of the property on Pine Terrance to provide its frontage. She said two issues were recently resolved: accessibility for fire responders to the rear lot and a utility easement with the driveway.

Present on behalf of the application was Attorney William Nardone, with offices at 42 Granite Street, and project engineer Tony Nenna, principal of On-Site Engineering, Westerly. Atty. Nardone further explained the project, stating that the rear lot is owned by the applicant’s sister who plans to live on it. He said the applicant made modifications to the plans based on the Westerly Fire Chief’s comments and they have a signed letter from the chief accepting and approving the revisions. Mr. Nenna said that the property is serviced by Town water and sewer and to minimize a sewer extension, they are providing a utility easement through Berry Drive. He described more details of the plan, including the revisions previously suggested by the fire chief. There was some brief discussion with Board members on the stormwater erosion control plans to be used during construction.

            Atty. Nardone said that the Suggested conditions of approval are acceptable to the applicant. There was no public comment.

            Mr. Constantine made a motion to approve with conditions Planning Case 2021-MNS-01: Terranova Minor Subdivision – Preliminary Plan (5 Berry Drive | AP 19, Lot 44D & 3 Pine Terrace | Assessor’s Map 19, Lot 41-1) with listed conclusions and conditions, along with a newly submitted updated driveway plan stamped by the fire chief. Mr. Montesano seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

G. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S REPORT

 

1. Administrative Actions Report on the following administrative decisions, extensions and/or other actions of the Administrative Officer taken from October 12, 2021 to November 10, 2021:

 

· Final Plan Approval – Minor Subdivision - 103 Oak Street | AP 48, Lot 104

 

· Administrative Subdivision Approval – Almeida - 85 & 87 Pierce Street | AP 46, Lots 57 & 58

 

· Final Plan Approval – Centrica Solar Facility – 67 Tom Harvey Road | AP 119, Lot 5A

 

            There was no additional discussion on the report.

 

2. Comprehensive Plan Implementation Program Updates Review, discussion, and possible action on the projects and activities in implementation of the 2020-2040 Town of Westerly Comprehensive Community Plan.

 

· Aquifer Protection Overlay District (APOD) (adopted 11/22/2021) – Ms. Letendre said that the APOD map was already in the GIS system and proving useful.

 

· River Corridor Overlay District (RFP bids due 12/17/2021) – Ms. Letendre said that bids have come in for this project and they will discuss them with Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers tomorrow.

 

· Downtown Redevelopment and Stormwater Management Project – Ms. Letendre reviewed that the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District (SRICD), the Town’s grant writer, Lisa Pellegrini, and Planning Office staff are working together to submit grant applications and much of it has to do with the stormwater management project.

 

· Route One Corridor Study and Regulations – Planning staff said they are expecting more information tomorrow that will inform a special meeting on January 11 between the Economic Development Commission (EDC) and the Planning Board with Weston & Sampson attending.

 

On other matters, Mr. Hopkins added that there was an RFP for management for the Town’s dock on Margin Street and based on the Town Council meeting of December 6 the request was made for the Planning Board and the EDC to review it for conformance with the Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Letendre said they had an ad hoc subcommittee meeting about it. Mr. Constantine said part of the project will be interviewing potential stakeholders and that will take a good part of January. Ms. Letendre will add this project to the next agenda under Program Updates.

 

3. Development Project Status Report (updated 12/13/2021) – Receipt of this report is noted for the record. There was no discussion on this agenda item.

 

H. ASSISTANT SOLICITER FOR PLANNING AND ZONING’S REPORT

 

There was no report given.

 

I. CONFIRMATION OF QUORUM FOR NEXT REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING

 

1. January 11, 2022 Special Meeting Members of the Planning Board are asked to notify the Administrative Officer if they will not be present at the next special meeting. The following topics are anticipated to be discussed:

 

· Route 1 Corridor Discussion – Proposed joint meeting with EDC at 5pm

 

2. January 18, 2022 Regular Meeting Members of the Planning Board are asked to notify the Administrative Officer if they will not be present at the next regular meeting. The following topics are anticipated to be discussed:

 

· Preliminary Plan – DPR - McDonald’s Renovation – 135 Granite Street

 

· Master Plan – Minor Subdivision - 58 Boombridge Road

 

· Pre-Application – MJLD - 92-100 Granite Street Redevelopment

 

· Pre-Application – Comprehensive Permit - St Pius X Multifamily – 32 Elm Street

 

Ms. Oziolor stated that the Pre-Application – DPR – 9 Larkin Road – Parking lot facility and Pre-Application – MJLD - 92-100 Granite Street Redevelopment will not be on the January agenda as they were not yet completed. Mr. Montesano and Mr. Constantine said they potentially have conflicts on January 18 and may be absent. Mr. Lowther also said he has an issue with the date. There was some discussion on meeting logistics. Ms. Oziolor will poll Board members regarding attendance on January 18^th to determine the availability of a quorum.

 

J. ADJOURNMENT –

Mr. Constantine made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:35 p.m. Mr. Lowther seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Stephanie J. LaSota

Minute Taker