Planning Board – Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, April 18, 2022 - 6:00 p.m.

Westerly Town Hall | Town Council Chambers

45 Broad Street, Westerly, RI 02891

 

A. CALL TO ORDER –

Mr. Hopkins called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m.

 

B. ROLL CALL AND ATTENDANCE

 

Members present:           Chair Justin M. Hopkins, and Members James Hall IV, Matthew O’Neil, and Auxiliary Member Karen Lentz Madison

 

Members absent:             Vice Chair Richard W. Constantine, and Members Tabitha Harkin and Andrew Delisio

 

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

 

C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

1. March 21, 2023 – Ms. Lentz Madison made a motion to approve the March 21, 2023 Planning Board meeting minutes as presented. Mr. O’Neil 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, such as 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. Westerly’s Resilient Riverfront Renewal (Downtown Stormwater Project) Update Southern Rhode Island Conservation District (SRICD) and Fuss & O’Neill will present an update on the downtown stormwater project on Main Street. Click here to view the Resilient Riverfront Renewal project website.

 

            Ms. Letendre said tonight they will focus on long term projects. A focal project will be 107 Main Street Ritter property adjacent to RIDEM boat launch. A redevelopment of the parcel will occur to reduce impervious surface of the lot and have more use for the public on the property. On Thursday staff will meet with Renee Stoops of SRICD and the property owner, Mr. Ritter, to complete an application packet for the property to come to the Planning Board. Full & O’Neill project manager and landscape architect Beth Kirmmse was present with Katherine McCombs, civil engineer. Ms. Kirmmse talked through a PowerPoint presentation on the downtown stormwater management project on Main Street. An application is planned for May for the Planning Board for the Ritter parcel, and other properties will be prepared for July meetings. They hope that the Ritter property will be under construction this summer and other properties may begin to see construction by spring 2024. Participating properties are open to installing green infrastructure to attenuate stormwater and much of the cost is covered or matched by Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and other funding sources. Property owners are willing to contribute toward the projects, as well. To receive funding, owners must sign a maintenance easement with RIDOT.

Ms. McCombs described streetscape design as a future phase that includes street trees, sidewalks, bioretention planters, and investigating simultaneously burying powerlines at the time of implementation. She reviewed the benefits and purposes of green infrastructure and RIDOT’s consent decree. Ms. Letendre noted bioretention areas also help mitigate traffic flow by slowing vehicles as well as managing stormwater. Ms. Kirmmse said adding the street trees and bioretention planters may also decrease the heat created by the large, paved areas of Main Street, which provides pedestrian and social benefits. Pollutant removal efficiencies are set in the RIDOT stormwater management table and are based on sizes of green infrastructure features and the amount of water infiltrating, Ms. McCombs explained. The determined data is what helped create this plan.

Mr. Hall requested some clear equations to exemplify how the project will help manage water quality and to what extent. The consultants said they will add them to the application presentation at the time of the Ritter hearing to the Planning Board. There was extensive discussion on the types of green infrastructure features that exist. Ms. Kirmmse described the planned 107 Main Street project that will be presented at the May meeting. Ms. Letendre said there is a licensing process for food trucks in Westerly, but they are allowed in the Downtown area. Discussion ensued on the aesthetics of the plans and involving the Architectural Review Board (ARB) in the process. Southern Rhode Island Conservation District (SRICD) is interested in obtaining the responsibility of managing the maintenance, but they are not sure how this will be implemented yet. Southern New England Program (SNEP) has trainings available for green infrastructure maintenance and the Town can provide that to Department of Public Works (DPW) staff. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds provide $250,000 toward matching the grants. So far over $1 million in grants have been awarded. RIDOT is responsible initially for green infrastructure maintenance and then they will negotiate the maintenance contract. Property owners were more open to future maintenance by SRICD than RIDOT. Ms. Letendre requested the consultants provide the shared presentation for future publication on the Town’s Web site. There was discussion on the potential design methods to be used to deter pedestrian traffic across bioretention swales or basins and prevent accidents.

 

2. Low-Impact Development (LID) Regulations Update The Planning Board will discuss the results of the LID Self-Assessment Tool and priorities for regulation changes to improve stormwater management and best practices in site design and construction.

 

Ms. Letendre said staff reformatted the LID checklist from the November meeting into different categories and action items. There was a review of the content in a memo to the Planning Board on this subject. Three items in the memo that need guidance from the Planning Board were discussed. Conversation ensued on the third item and the distinction of State and Town-owned roads in Westerly. The Planning Board had a consensus to support the work of staff in this area and encouraged them to continue, beginning with revising the application checklist requirements to address LID.

 

3. River Corridor Overlay District Update The Planning Office will provide an update on the Wood-Pawcatuck Wild & Scenic Stewardship Council’s guidance on a Pawcatuck River Corridor Overlay District, including the completed Existing Conditions Report.

 

Ms. Letendre referenced the staff memo to the Planning Board dated March 29, 2023 for tonight’s meeting. Ms. Oziolor described the conceptual boundary of a potential river corridor overlay district using maps attached to the staff memo. The Wood-Pawcatuck Wild & Scenic Stewardship Council is working with a consultant on a guide for municipalities to help create an overlay district or other protective regulations for the river.  There was discussion on the process of establishing the district and the level of participation from relevant local and Federal entities. 

 

4. Fair Housing Month – April 2023 Discussion and possible action by the Planning Board on designating April 2023 as Fair Housing Month and directing the Planning Office to publicize the same.  Discussion regarding actions taken to affirmatively further fair housing.

 

Since 2020 the Planning Board has affirmed Fair Housing Month in April. Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) require the Town to keep this subject highlighted. Staff provided a resolution for Planning Board endorsement. At the May 16 meeting the Board will hear a presentation from a University of Rhode Island graduate student on Westerly demographics and housing, based on the 2020 Census Data. This data will help reinforce additional housing strategies. An Affordable Housing Subcommittee created by Town Council is meeting in early May. The Town Council requested a member of the Planning Board volunteer for the committee. Mr. O’Neil confirmed he will volunteer for the Route One Corridor Committee (ROCC) and Ms. Lentz Madison will help with the Affordable Housing committee.

Mr. O’Neil made a motion that the Planning Board adopt the fair housing month resolution as presented by staff. Ms. Lentz Madison seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

G. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S REPORT

 

1. Development Project Status Report (updated 3/28/2023) – Ms. Letendre noted that the Trendsetter application is on hold.

 

2. Town of Westerly 2023 Hazard Mitigation & Flood Management Plan (HM&FMP) Approved by FEMA March 21, 2023 – Staff reviewed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently approved the plan and Ms. Oziolor thanked advisory committee members (staff and members of the public) and the project consultant for their contributions on this plan.

 

3. Administrative Actions

 

· Harvey Perry Subdivision Approval (52-58 & 73 Haversham Rd & Haversham ROW | AP 134, Lots 7 & 8 & ROW) There was no additional discussion on this item.

 

H. ASSISTANT SOLICTOR FOR PLANNING AND ZONING’S REPORT

 

1. Report on proposed legislation – Atty. Levesque reviewed that there was a memo sent to the Town Council’s Planning Board liaison, Kevin Lowther, the Planning Board, and Planning Office staff dated March 22, 2023 and titled House Bills Affecting Land Use Issues. The memo included an executive summary on numerous house bills on land use and affordable housing. Atty. Levesque reported that most bills were held in committee for further study. He said the Senate is active in sponsoring some new legislation such as a proposal that 2 percent of real estate transfer tax be held and used toward affordable housing efforts in the State. He provided a summary of proposed legislation regarding accessory dwelling units (ADU.) He added that another proposal in the Senate is giving additional education funds to communities that have reached their 10 percent low- and moderate-income housing goals.

 

I. CONFIRMATION OF QUOROM FOR NEXT REGULAR MEETING

 

1. May 2, 2023 Special Meeting at 6:00 pm 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:

 

· Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Applications – There was some discussion on scheduling discussion on this matter.

 

· Planning and Zoning Board mandatory training POSTPONED to Tuesday October 3rd 5:30pm. Members of the Planning Board are asked to confirm their attendance for the revised date.

 

2. May 16, 2023 Regular Meeting at 6:00 pm 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 (pending completeness review):

 

· Development Plan Review - 107 Main Street- Retrofit with Green Infrastructure

 

· Pre-Application Review – 19 High Street Comprehensive Permit

 

· Update of Westerly Profile | 2020 US Census Data

 

Mr. Hopkins reviewed that ROCC is arranging to meet with Town Council soon.

 

J. ADJOURNMENT –

Mr. O’Neil made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:22 p.m. Mr. Hall 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 May 16, 2023