Planning Board – Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, June 15, - 6:00 p.m.

Council Chambers, Westerly Town Hall

45 Broad Street, Westerly, RI 02891

 

Pursuant to Governor Gina M. Raimondo Executive Order 20-46, dated June 12, 2020, as extended, and Governor Daniel J. McKee’s Executive Order 20-46, dated May 7, 2021, as extended, this meeting was held via Zoom conference.

 

A. CALL TO ORDER –

Mr. Hopkins called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.

 

B. ROLL CALL AND ATTENDANCE

 

Members present:           Chair Justin M. Hopkins, IV, Secretary Christopher K. Lawlor, and Members Andrew Delisio, Kevin Lowther, and Tabitha Harkin

 

Members absent:            Vice Chair Richard W. Constantine and Member Joseph M. Montesano

 

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 from this meeting.

 

C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

1. May 4, 2021 Special Meeting – Mr. Lawlor made a motion to approve the May 4, 2021 Planning Board meeting minutes as presented. Mr. Delisio seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

2. May 18, 2021 Regular Meeting – Mr. Lawlor made a motion to approve the May 18, 2021 Planning Board meeting minutes as presented. Mr. Delisio 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.

 

Mr. Lawlor made a motion to move agenda item F 1, discussion on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects ahead of item E 1, Economic Strategy and Initiatives for Downtown and Route 1 Commercial Corridors. Mr. Delisio seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

 

F. NEW BUSINESS

 

1. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Projects PY2020 Review, discussion, and approval by the Planning Board on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) proposed project activities for Program Year 2020.

 

Ms. Oziolor said the first public hearing for the CDBG PY2020 projects was last Thursday, and no one attended. She said the project proposal was presented to Westerly Town Council last night and they ordered the second public hearing to be advertised for their July 19 meeting. At that time Planning staff will present the full applications for the projects they plan on submitting.

Ms. Oziolor explained that the Federal government allocates funds to each State for development and the Rhode Island Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) has about $5 million to distribute to different municipalities. program. The three national objectives of the program include benefitting people of low and moderate income (LMI), eliminating slums and blight, and addressing urgent community needs that threaten health or well-being. She said the grant program does not require a local match and Westerly has existing ongoing projects through the program. Ms. Oziolor said the north end and Granite hill sidewalk accessibility project is being prepared for a construction bid to make them ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant. She said the Highland Avenue reconstruction is also out to bid, the Westerly Senior Center has undergone several improvements through the CDBG program, and a local nonprofit benefited from the funds by renovating a group home used by adults with developmental and physical disabilities. She said the Town is investigating two additional facility projects and three more partnership projects with nonprofits. She said the current Bowling Lane reconstruction is interesting because there has been no previous grant application for that area. However, a survey indicated that the area is eligible for CDBG funds as more than 51 percent of residents are LMI.

Ms. Oziolor asked the Planning Board to share their comments and opinions on the proposed projects, determine the consistency of the projects with the Comprehensive Plan and local Ordinances, and to provide an advisory opinion to the Town Council on those findings.

Mr. Delisio asked if the CDBG projects are prioritized. Ms. Oziolor said the application does require the projects to be prioritized in order of importance so the listed order in the memo to the Planning Board has been prioritized by DDS. She explained that the Bowling Lane project should be deemed eligible and is a high priority because of the poor condition of the roadway. She said it was started in 2020 but was more complex than anticipated because of existing drainage infrastructure issues and will cost over $2 million. Ms. Oziolor the project is “shovel ready” and just needs funding. She explained that Planning staff highlighted the relevant goals, policies, and actions of the Comprehensive Plan that support the chosen projects.

There was discussion that the CDBG projects that include resurfacing streets or replacing sidewalks are not part of a pending or already approved bonds. Ms. Oziolor said these projects were within census block groups eligible for CDBG funding. She said in addition to the five streets listed, some of the sidewalks on Wilcox Avenue could also use improvement. There was further discussion on how CDBG funding eligibility is determined. Ms. Oziolor mentioned that private homeowners could apply for funds under a separate CDBG residential rehab program. She said DDS is requesting the full amount for the projects and CDBG could fund nothing, all, or part of their request. She said they have indicated that it has been an underutilized program in the past, so it does not hurt to ask for the full amount. Ms. Letendre added that for this round of funds there are many communities that no longer have resources to do the grant applications so competition for funds may be limited.

Mr. Hopkins shared his appreciation for the consideration of area human service agencies in funding requests, particularly for The WARM Center, as the Board had met with the executive director in the past and learned about its work in Westerly. Ms. Oziolor said she would provide a link to Board members so they may view the census block group maps on the OHCD Web site. Mr. Lawlor read into the record from a memo to the Planning Board from Ms. Oziolor dated June 10,  2021,  making  a  motion  that  the  Westerly  Planning  Board  hereby  finds  that  the  Bowling  Lane Reconstruction, Downtown Roadway and Sidewalk Reconstruction, Fairfield Drive Roof and Window Replacement, Westerly Education Center (WEC) Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerk Training Program, and WARM (Westerly Area Rest Meals) Senior Interim Housing activities are compliant with the local development policy set forth in the Comprehensive Plan and local development ordinances and regulations of the Town of Westerly, as presented in the Office of Planning memorandum dated June 10, 2021 with the subject line ‘Community Development Block Grant Program Year 2020 Application.’ This finding shall  be  included  in  the  official  record  of  the  Town  Council’s  public  hearing  on  the  CDBG  PY20 Application and serve to advise the Town Council on the activities’ compliance with the Comprehensive Plan and local development ordinances and regulations. Ms. Harkin seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions. Ms. Oziolor left the meeting at 6:29 p.m.

 

 

E. OLD BUSINESS

 

1. Economic Strategy and Initiatives for Downtown and Route 1 Commercial Corridors - Follow- up discussion on the Economic Development Commission’s presentation and discussion on the Downtown and Route 1 Corridor vision and economic strategy.

 

Ms. Letendre shared a presentation titled “Comprehensive Plan 2020 Economic Strategy/Initiatives” as a follow up plan of engagement to a previous presentation by the Economic Development Commission (EDC) at a June 1 meeting. She gave highlights of what was discussed at the June 1 special meeting and shared findings from that discussion. During the presentation Ms. Letendre suggested that unified review is a possibility for screening applications in the future that may help streamline the process. However, it would remove the Zoning Board from the process. She will brief the Board on this optional process. Reference was made to the EDC’s desire to create an economic development liaison within the Department of Development Services (DDS.) Ms. Letendre said she and Zoning Official Nathan Reichert perform this role daily as they respond to inquiries from the public and developers. The EDC will investigate the benefit of having someone on staff dedicated to economic development.

There was some general discussion between Ms. Letendre and the Board on the topics presented; the liaison position, attracting developers and residents to Westerly, and the Town Planner’s recent meeting with Carla White, the executive director of the Greater North End Community Development, Inc., to discuss improvements to Pierce Street and the North End. Ms. Letendre said the EDC is eagerly awaiting the Planning Board’s engagement in the process they presented. The EDC has requested two Board members to work with EDC Vice Chairman Doug Brockway and EDC member Ralph Abruzzese on stakeholder engagement with various businesses. EDC Chairman James Torres will invite Ms. Harkin to the EDC as he wants her advice. Mr. Lowther agreed to meet with Ms. Letendre and Ms. White to discuss Westerly’s North End.

Ms. Letendre reminded the Planning Board of the goal to establish a scope of work for a request for proposal (RFP) and to make a presentation to Town Council in early fall to authorize an RFP for consultant services to wrap this up into a corridor study and action plan.

Mr. Lawlor said he agreed with many comments shared and will submit more ideas and suggestions to the Town Planner. Mr. Delisio commented that the plans identify a lot of issues but lack suggestions, but they need to start somewhere. Ms. Letendre noted that there are a lot of competing interests, but there were no Planning applications for June or for July, so it is a good time to plan these items. She said at the July meeting she would also provide highlights of the results of meeting with Ms. White and possible future plans for the north end. Mr. Hopkins said he could assist Mr. Lowther with his work in the North End with Ms. Letendre and Ms. White.  Ms. Letendre also asked Mr. Hopkins to continue to coordinate with Mr. Torres. Mr. Lawlor said he could assist Mr. Brockway and Mr. Abruzzese. Ms. Letendre mentioned Mr. Montesano may also be interfacing with that group as he has commercial real estate experience. Mr. Lowther voiced that he was also interested in the topic of housing in Westerly.

 

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 May 9, 2021 to June 9, 2021:

 

• Development Project Status Report (updated 6/8/2021) – There was no report given.

 

H. CONFIRMATION OF QUORUM FOR NEXT REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING

 

1. July 20, 2021 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 likely to be discussed:

 

• Downtown Corridor Land-use Provisions

 

Mr. Lowther shared some information from a planning course he attended. He said they discussed the best way to organize and structure meetings, ethics, and the local resources and authorities that the Planning Office must work with. Mr. Lowther came away from the course with a new appreciation for the Planning staff. Atty. Levesque reminded the Board to ask him any ethics related questions they may have prior to a meeting.

 

I. ADJOURNMENT –

Mr. Lawlor made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:22 p.m. Mr. Lowther seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Stephanie J. LaSota

Minute Taker

 

Approved by vote of the Board on July 20, 2021