Planning Board – Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, May 4, 2021 - 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 Executive Order 20-100, dated November 30, 2020,

as extended, this meeting was held via Zoom.

 

 

 

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, Secretary Christopher K. Lawlor, and Members Joseph M. Montesano, Andrew Delisio, and Kevin Lowther

 

Members absent:            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 also present at the meeting.

 

C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

1. None

 

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.

 

1. None

 

E. OLD BUSINESS

 

1. Aquifer Protection Overlay District (APOD) Review, discussion, and continuation to a future meeting by the Planning Board on proposed revisions to the Aquifer Protection Overlay District (APOD) Ordinance.

 

Ms. Oziolor reviewed that the Planning memorandum to the Board provided some answers to their previous questions about the APOD. She said staff created a map of the existing and proposed overlay districts with all the well heads listed. Ms. Oziolor introduced professionals from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) who were involved in mapping. Ernie Panciera, supervising environmental scientist, and John Zwarg, both with the office of water resources, were present. Ms. Letendre asked the RIDEM representatives if they could provide a letter of introduction to the APOD and maps explaining to the Town Council the intentions of the changes and why they are important.

Mr. Montesano thanked the staff for putting the panel together and answering the Board’s questions in the memo. He asked further questions on how boundaries are established and about the flow of groundwater to wellheads. Mr. Panciera provided an explanation. Lorraine Joubert, program director for Rhode Island Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO), said typically the wellhead protection area for public wells in most other communities gets highest level of protection because so many people depend on wells, but Westerly is dependent on groundwater. There was further discussion on the topic and the timeline for the APOD. Ms. Letendre said it needs further staff work and legal review before it will return to the Board in September.

 

2. Prospective Downtown Corridor Maps & Concepts - Discussion with the Planning Board the downtown corridor.

 

Ms. Letendre said this agenda item is an educational discussion. Gina Fuller, district manager of the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District, was present. Economic Development Commission (EDC) member Ralph Abruzzese and Chair James Torres were also present for the discussion. Ms. Letendre reviewed that she, Ms. Oziolor, and Ms. Fuller all spoke with stakeholders today on the topics of the downtown corridor, green infrastructure, and stormwater repairs. Mr. Abruzzese explained the Comprehensive Plan action items for which the EDC is responsible. He said the EDC chose five items to focus on with five to ten-year goals. It was discussed that EDC members also met with local stakeholders and asked three basic questions - how well is Westerly doing? what is a good three-to-five- year goal? and how do we get there? Mr. Torres said the EDC is preparing a presentation for a May meeting with hopes of getting it ready for the Planning Board in June. Ms. Letendre further explained the intentions of the EDC’s efforts.

Ms. Letendre shared some prepared maps depicting the prospective downtown corridor. She explained the first map depicts the corridor with existing Zoning and indicated where Zone changes might be made. There was discussion on the potential of Zone changes and the interest in continuing a scenic river way. Ms. Fuller said she is partnering with the Planning Office to help secure stormwater funding. She explained that her organization helps public and private landowners manage resources and her job is to coordinate technical and financial resources. She said she also served as a member of the citizen’s advisory committee for the Comprehensive Plan as a Westerly resident. There was further discussion on the potential expansion of a scenic Pawcatuck River walk or trail and how to work with the State to complete the vision. Ms. Letendre said this is not a new topic of discussion for the Town, but an action plan has never been created and that is an achievable goal for 2021.

Mr. Overton said the proposals sound great and asked if the Town Council needs to approve any Zone changes or if they will be built into the plan. Ms. Letendre responded any Ordinance changes must go to the Town Council.  Zone changes are not expected any time soon.  EDC and Planning Board need to meet, a consultant engaged, and the study completed before specific zoning district changes are discussed.

Ms. Letendre explained transit-oriented development that encourages biking and walking and could reduce the burden of on and off-street parking. She shared a map of the area surrounding the Westerly Train Station by Westerly resident Alex Berardo, and a study by Roger Williams University Students, which was coordinated through Grow Smart Rhode Island, which identified the assets and challenges of transit-oriented development in Westerly.

 

Ms. Letendre also shared the findings of a Westerly parking study conducted by former Principal Planner Benjamin Delaney. He counted parking spaces in Downtown Westerly on the same weekend in August two consecutive years. The study showed only 44.5 percent of all parking was utilized during the day and only 58.1 percent was used in the evening. Ms. Letendre said it could mean that the Town does not have enough patronage or there is surplus parking. Mr. Abruzzese said no stakeholder EDC spoke to mention a parking problem. Mr. Torres said a 2019 EDC business survey revealed that while a problem with Downtown parking may be perceived by some, there is no data to support that thought. Mr. Montesano suggested hiring a consultant to do a more comprehensive parking study.

Meeting attendees said they were available June 1 at 6:00 p.m. for a special meeting between the EDC and Planning Board to begin collaboration on an action plan.

 

3. Administrative Discussion - Discussion on the format of Planning Board meeting packet delivery, preferred procedures for accepting late application materials, and other administrative needs.

 

There was no discussion on this agenda topic.

 

F. NEW BUSINESS

 

1. Comprehensive Plan Revisions for Statewide Review Discussion of the comments received from Statewide Planning on the 2020-2040 Comprehensive Community Plan, the Town’s response, and final edits.

 

Ms. Letendre provided a copy of the Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning’s letter dated March 26, 2021, and the proposed Planning Office response which contained excerpts from Westerly’s Comprehensive Plan with specific edit suggestions. Atty. Levesque said most edits are for clarification or reorganization of information, so Planning Board endorsement while not necessary is beneficial. Ms. Letendre recalled speaking with Statewide Planning staff regarding changes related to part 1, chapter 3, which required the most reorganization and general clarifications. She reported a few new maps were added to the mapping section upon State request, demonstrating sea level rise affecting marshes.

Mr. Montesano made a motion that the Westerly Planning Board endorse the revisions made to the Westerly Comprehensive Plan dated May 20, 2021 in response to comments from the Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning. Mr. Constantine seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

In response to further questions, Ms. Letendre repeated that these corrections do not need to go to the Town Council. She clarified this information, a cover letter, and a response letter will be sent to the Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning along with a revised copy the 2020-2040 Westerly Comprehensive Plan.

 

2. Zoning Map Amendment Application Form and Checklist Review, discussion, and possible action and/or continuation to a future meeting by the Planning Board on the DRAFT Zoning Map Amendment Application Form and Requirements Checklist.

 

Ms. Oziolor explained that the Zoning Map Amendment Application form is for changing the Zoning map and any changes require approval. She said staff only added some additional requirements to the form based on other recently edited forms. She said the proposed form will match their new format, which will streamline the application process. She said it will also go to the Town Council for their review and approval. Ms. Letendre said the Comprehensive Permit will be on the next Planning Board agenda for discussion.

Mr. Montesano made a motion that the Planning Board approve revising the Zoning Map Amendment Application form and checklist. Mr. Lawlor seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

There was discussion on the timeline for a future online Planning application process. Ms. Letendre responded that as of last Friday, staff is still discussing integrating Zoning into the system.

 

G. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S REPORT

 

There was no report to discuss.

 

H. CONFIRMATION OF QUORUM FOR NEXT MEETING –

May 18, 2021- discussion on agenda content and possible changes of order.

 

1. Discussion of Special Meeting in June.

 

I. ADJOURNMENT –

Mr. Montesano made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:17 p.m. Mr. Constantine 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 June 15, 2021