Planning Board – Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, November 2, 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 were 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. Constantine called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.

 

B. ROLL CALL AND ATTENDANCE

 

Members present:           Vice Chair Richard W. Constantine, Secretary Christopher K. Lawlor, and Members Joseph M. Montesano, Andrew Delisio, and Auxiliary Member Tabitha Harkin

 

Members absent:             Chair Justin M. Hopkins and Member Kevin Lowther

 

Staff present:                   Assistant Solicitor for Planning & Zoning Atty. Scott Levesque attended via Zoom, 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

            There were no minutes to approve.

 

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

 

There was no old business to discuss.

 

 

F. NEW BUSINESS

 

1. 2021-ZMapAM-01: Trombino Family Farm – Zoning Map Amendment (119 Moorhouse Road | Assessor’s Map 82, Lot 20) Review, discussion, and possible action by the Planning Board on request for Zoning Map Amendment to rezone a family farm from Open Space/Recreation (OS/R) to Rural Residential – Sixty (RR-60).

 

            Ms. Letendre reviewed that the request arrived via the 2020-2040 Westerly Comprehensive Plan process. She said that the request to rezone the area is included in the plan and this is the execution of that initiation to change the zoning designation to be consistent with the Future Land Use Map (FLUM).

Attorney Thomas Ligouri, 85 Beach Street, Westerly was present to explain the plans for the property. He stated the Planning Board should advise the Town Council in this matter as it relates to the goals and action items of the Comprehensive Plan. He said this specific property is addressed in the plan as desiring a change from Open Space Recreation (OS-R) to Rural Residential 60,000 (RR-60) and so the OS-R Zone designation is inconsistent with the FLUM. He referenced areas of the Comprehensive Plan that detailed the suggested changes, such as language included that the property owner intends to petition the Town of Westerly for a Zone change within a year of Comprehensive Plan adoption. Atty. Ligouri provided further justification for the request via a description of the property and a letter of support from a former neighbor of the property.

In a poll of the Board members, all were in support of the application. Atty. Ligouri clarified for the Board that the property has 109 acres and will be a farm with a residence. Ms. Letendre further explained the rationale for the change. She said the land is intended to remain in conservation as it is now, but right now the property owners are not allowed to live on it.

Mr. Montesano made a motion that the Westerly Planning Board hereby recommends approval of the proposed zoning map amendment to rezone 119 Moorhouse Road from OS/R to RR-60, in accordance with Application 2021-ZMapAM-01 – Zoning Map Amendment – Trombino Property (119 Moorhouse Road | Assessor’s Map 82, Lot 20), along with the application and supporting materials including the Site Plans titled “Plan to Support Zoning Amendment, Compiled Base Plan, 119 Moorhouse Road, Map 82, Lot 20, Westerly, Rhode Island,” Sheets EX-1 through EX-3, dated August 30, 2021, prepared by Cherenzia & Associates, Ltd” including the Findings of Fact as listed in the Planning staff memorandum to the Planning Board dated October 25, 2021 for the November 2, 2021 meeting. Mr. Lawlor seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

Ms. Letendre asked that Mr. Constantine sign the recommendation tonight so that staff may submit it to the Town Council for the Monday night public hearing.

 

2. Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Review and discussion by the Planning Board on the Capital Improvement Program.

 

            Ms. Letendre explained that each November the Board hears from the Director of Finance in respect to the CIP, a four-year budget which is part of the annual budget. A special meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. November 16 before the regular Planning Board meeting to discuss this. Ms. Letendre said staff will prepare a specific recommendation on how the items are consistent with the 2020-2040 Westerly Comprehensive Plan at a special meeting in December. She gave a process overview of the CIP to the Planning Board, along with a brief history of topics discussed. Ms. Letendre reminded the Board that their role is to find consistency between the CIP and the Comprehensive Plan and not to assess costs of items and allocation of funds.

 

3. 2022 Annual & Special Meetings Calendars Review, discussion, and possible action by the Planning Board on adopting a 2022 annual meetings calendar and special meetings calendar.

 

The Board and staff discussed the preliminary meeting dates on the calendars. Staff made a note to change the January 4, 2022 special meeting to January 11, 2022 per Board request.

Mr. Lawlor made a motion that the Planning Board approve the 2022 special meeting calendar as amended at the November 2, 2021 meeting and file it with the Westerly Town Clerk and Rhode Island Secretary of State. Mr. Delisio seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions

Mr. Lawlor made a motion that the Planning Board approve the 2022 regular meeting calendar as presented for filing with the Westerly Town Clerk and Rhode Island Secretary of the State. Mr. Delisio seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

4. Planning Board Request for American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act Funding Discussion and vote on recommendation to Town Council.

 

Ms. Letendre explained that the listed resolutions are due to Town Council tomorrow and Ms. Oziolor spent time writing them today. She said the three requests are extracted from existing projects they have. The stormwater management project requests $250,000 for local grant matches for installation of green infrastructure stormwater improvements for Main Street properties. Ms. Letendre said this project will be designed, engineered, and constructed hopefully by the summer of 2023 and is a good use of ARP funds because it brings economic development and streetscaping to Downtown Westerly. The second request for $250,000 is for the Route 1 Commercial Corridor Plan for the implementation of infrastructure improvements recommended by the Plan. Ms. Letendre said they hope to use the funds as grant matches and engage the Planning Board and the public in the process. She explained that the third request remains from a North End revitalization plan from 2003 and is for $650,000 for a River Front Center at 116 Canal Street. She said the project started with a Department of Environmental Management (DEM) grant but the Town had failed to match the grant and the project was never built. She said the cost at the time was about $400,000 and today’s value it is estimated to be closer to $650,000. Ms. Letendre stated that they hope it could get completed within a two-year period and the project could reinvigorate Canal Street.

Ms. Letendre said the three requests total about $1.2 million and Westerly will receive $7,900,000 in ARP funds. There was some discussion of other possible submissions for funding. Mr. Delisio said the area at 116 Canal Street is not great for river access. Ms. Letendre responded that is not meant for accessing the river but for enjoying the view and for recreation.. Mr. Montesano said he thinks it is an opportunity to revitalize a stretch of land and that is the purpose of these funds. Ms. Harkin called it an investment and not just an expenditure. Ms. Letendre said the Planning Board will be updated in December on the Town Council’s discussion of the requests.

Mr. Montesano made a motion that the Planning Board positively endorses the three resolutions for funding requests written by the Planning staff. Mr. Lawlor seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

G. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S REPORT

 

            There was no report given.

 

H. CONFIRMATION OF QUORUM FOR NEXT REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING

 

1. November 16, 2021 Special & Regular Meeting - Members of the Planning Board are asked to notify the Administrative Officer if they will not be present at the next regular and special meeting on November 16, 2021.

 

1. A Special Meeting (at 5:30pm) allowing for the presentation of the Capital Improvement Program department requests by the Finance Director and Town Manager.

 

2. Regular meeting of the Planning Board at 6:00pm.

 

2. December 7, 2021 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 on December 7, 2021.

 

Topics anticipated to be discussed include:

 

1. Capital Improvement Program

 

 

I. ADJOURNMENT –

Mr. Delisio made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:49 p.m. Mr. Montesano 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 December 7, 2021