Planning Board – Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, March 21, 2023 - 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 6:00 p.m.

B. ROLL CALL AND ATTENDANCE

 

Members present:           Chair Justin M. Hopkins, Vice Chair Richard W. Constantine, and Members Tabitha Harkin, Andrew Delisio, James Hall IV, Matthew O’Neil, David A. Giorno, and Alternate Member Karen Lentz Madison

 

Members absent:

 

Staff present:                   Assistant Solicitor for Planning & Zoning Atty. Scott Levesque, Town Planner Nancy Letendre, Information Technology Technician Lanny Fuller

 

Mr. Hopkins introduced and welcomed Mr. Giorno as the newest member of the Planning Board.

 

Town Council Liaison Kevin Lowther was in attendance in the audience.

 

Minute Taker Stephanie LaSota was absent from the meeting and transcribed these meeting minutes from recorded audio.

 

C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

1.      February 21, 2023 – Ms. Harkin made a motion to approve the February 21, 2023 Planning Board meeting minutes as submitted. Ms. Lentz Madison 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.

None.

E. OLD BUSINESS

 

1. 2021-LMIH-01: Multi-Family Development for Former St. Pius X Property – Comprehensive Permit - Master Plan (32 Elm Street | Assessor’s Map 6, Lot 91) Review, discussion, and possible action and/or continuation to a future meeting by the Planning Board on request for Master Plan Approval of a Major Land Development for proposed multifamily development at former St. Pius X property. Withdrawn by applicant.

 

Ms. Letendre said the Planning Office received a letter from the applicant requesting the application be withdrawn. Mr. O’Neil made a motion to accept the withdrawal of the application 2021-LMIH-01: Multi-Family Development for Former St. Pius X Property – Comprehensive Permit - Master Plan. Mr. Constantine seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

F. NEW BUSINESS

 

1.  2023-DPR-01: Weekapaug Golf Club Proposed Cold Storage Garage – Development Plan Review (265 Shore Road | Assessor’s Map 131, Lot 23A) Review, discussion, and possible action and/or continuation to a future meeting by the Planning Board on request for Preliminary Plan Approval of a Development Plan Review for proposed cold storage garage, a roof cover over an existing concrete pad, and an open aggregate storage area adjacent to the existing maintenance garage in the rear of 265 Shore Road, off the right-of-way known as Sharon Drive.

 

            Mr. Hopkins recused himself from the application. Mr. Constantine chaired the discussion. Ms. Letendre said there are some suggestions in the staff memo for Planning Board discussion. Present on behalf of the application was Attorney William Nardone, with offices at 42 Granite Street, Westerly and project engineer Sergio Cherenzia, principal and president of Cherenzia & Associates, LTD., 99 Mechanic Street, Pawcatuck, Connecticut. Atty. Nardone said the proposed open aggregate storage area will be 2,200 square feet. Also present for the hearing was Jack Tossone, the PGA general manager of the golf course, and Will Farnsworth, the superintendent of the golf course.

            Mr. Cherenzia displayed the site plan and reviewed the proposal. He said the proposed garage is not climate-controlled and will be a non-habitable space. He said the parking plan will not change but they identified the nine spaces in the area that are designated for existing employees. Ms. Harkin suggested a condition that the applicant create a maintenance plan for the stormwater feature. Mr. O’Neil asked if there will be trees removed from the area of the proposed aggregate storage and Mr. Cherenzia said there are no plans to clear any vegetation in that area. He elaborated on where they will need to remove trees. There was a brief review of a possible lighting plan for the project. 

            Christine Kruk, of 4 Sharon Drive, said she and her husband, John, dwell across from the proposed facility. She said vegetation has been removed over the last year and there is not as much buffer as there used to be and underbrush has been removed from along Route 1A. She said they now see headlights through her bedroom window because of the removal of vegetation. Ms. Kruk requested additional trees be planted along Sharon Drive. She asked when potential work would begin and how long construction would take place. Mr. Kruk requested that the aerial photo of the area for the proposed storage shed be put on display. He said they do not have an issue with the proposed storage building but asked if it could be rotated so that their view is of the rear corner and not the area where material will be dumped. Mr. Cherenzia said the aggregate building will be loaded from the southside. Mr. Kruk reiterated that they would like the applicant to plant some evergreen trees or plants to buffer the view.

            Fred Jaccarino, 6 Sharon Drive, asked for more information about the proposed roof over the concrete pad. Mr. Cherenzia displayed the architectural plans. He said he did not design the building but did his best to describe the building. He said it is twelve feet high and has a sloped roof on top made of asphalt shingles. Mr. Jaccarino had a concern that parking planned behind the existing building is a high-risk area for flooding. Mr. Cherenzia said he was not aware of that and they will further examine that area.

            The applicant said they are willing to plant some evergreen plants for more year-round vegetative screening. Mr. Delisio suggested that rhododendron may be the best species to plant under a canopy as evergreens may not thrive in that placement. Atty. Nardone said the earliest start date for construction would be October or November and they would need about two months to work on the project. Mr. Cherenzia said construction will adhere to all Town Ordinances.

            Ms. Letendre said based on the notes she has taken from the discussion, there is a request for a stormwater maintenance plan for a detention basin to be provided at the Final Plan phase, and with regard to landscaping there should be supplemental evergreens in the vegetation along the sight lines of Sharon Drive to obstruct the review of the aggregate area. Mr. Cherenzia asked that if condition three is to remain, he requested the language be changed to “bollards or other acceptable means of protection” and that it be subject to administrative approval.

            Mr. Hall made a motion that the Westerly Planning Board approve planning case 2023-DPR-01: Weekapaug Golf Club Proposed Cold Storage Garage – Development Plan Review (265 Shore Road | Assessor’s Map 131, Lot 23A) with the following conditions:

1. Final Plan approval may be administrative.
2. Ensure lighting is dark-sky compliant, 3000K, and includes only building-mounted fixtures that are shielded downward.
3. The following recommendations from the “Review of Existing Turf Care” report shall be made on the site, subject to administrative approval:

1. The proposed area to be used for chemical storage shall be appropriately outfitted with spill containment structures.
2. Adequate containment of potential chemical spills shall be addressed at the edges of the concrete pad and between the chemical storage area and the Covault System and the pad to reduce the risk of spills in transportation.
3. Bollards, or other methods, shall be used around the Convault System [fuel storage & dispensing] to protect against vehicle damage.

4. A stormwater maintenance plan for the site shall be provided at Final.
5. Evergreen vegetation, subject to administrative approval, shall be installed to supplement existing landscape along Sharon Drive to obstruct the view of the aggregate storage area.

Mr. Delisio seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

G. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S REPORT

 

1.       Development Project Status Report (updated 2/28/2023)

 

2.       Administrative Actions Reported

· Menna Administrative Subdivision Approval (6 & 10 Overlook Avenue | AP 173, Lot 39 & AP 180, Lot 12)

· Morrone Administrative Subdivision Approval (5J & 20 Havens Road | AP 6, Lot 11 & AP 1, Lot 3)

· Vacca Administrative Subdivision Approval (42 & 44 Ashaway Road | AP 37, Lots 95 & 96A)

· Witt Administrative Subdivision Approval (36 & 34B North Woody Hill Road | AP 33, Lots 142 & 142B)

· MacKay Administrative Subdivision Approval (98 Noyes Neck Rd & 61 Meadow Ave | AP 157, Lots 124 & 124A)

 

H. ASSISTANT SOLICTOR FOR PLANNING AND ZONING’S REPORT

 

1. Report on proposed legislation – Atty. Levesque provided a detailed report on more than 14 House Bills from the Rhode Island General Assembly and the proposed impact of Zoning, Planning and Housing approvals. All the proposals are the consequences of two State commissions created by the House to study affordable housing and land use. Two bill proposals will extend the two commissions through 2025 and if they get extended, towns can expect more changes. Ms. Letendre said she also reviewed the bills and made many suggestions for changes through the Planners Association of Rhode Island and their legislative committee, and the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns. She believes there is 25 to 30 percent positive content that she anticipates seeing getting approved. The House Committee on Housing and Local Government met on the bills last week and they were all continued for further study. There was continued discussion on the potential effects of the proposed legislative changes. Atty. Levesque said he would keep the Planning Board advised throughout the process.

Councilman Lowther welcomed an opinion from the Planning Board on these proposals and expressed a desire for the Town Council to draft an opinion letter about it. He said there will be a town hall talk on affordable housing on Monday with himself and Rhode Island State Senator Victoria Gu. The Planning Board asked Atty. Levesque to provide an executive summary of this report to the Town Council.

 

I. CONFIRMATION OF QUOROM FOR NEXT REGULAR MEETING Video

 

1.  April 18, 2023 Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 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):

·         Downtown Stormwater Project

·         Low-Impact Development (LID) Self-Assessment Review & Regulation Changes

·         Salt Pond Overlay District Overview

 

J. ADJOURNMENT –

Mr. O’Neil made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:16 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 April 18, 2023