Planning Board – Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, October 3, 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, Secretary Andrew Delisio, Member Matthew O’Neil, and Auxiliary Member Karen Lentz Madison

 

Members absent:             Members Tabitha Harkin, James Hall IV, and David A. Giorno

 

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

 

C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

None.

 

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

 

1. 2022-2023 Annual Report Review, discussion, and possible action and/or continuation to a future meeting by the Planning Board on an annual report prepared for the Town Manager and Town Council.

 

The Planning Board discussed the proposed revisions to the Annual Report.

Mr. O’Neil made a motion to approve the 2022-2023 Planning Board Annual Report, as revised during the meeting, and authorize Town staff to submit to the Town Manager and Town Council. Ms. Lentz-Madison seconded the amended motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

F. NEW BUSINESS

 

1. Low-Impact Development (LID) Regulations Update. Horsley-Witten Group representative presented proposed ordinance revisions in response to the results of the LID Municipal Self-Assessment conducted by URI-NEMO to improve stormwater management and best practices for water quality protection in site design and construction.  The Planning Board discussed the proposed revisions for further consideration at a later date.

 

             Ms. Ellie Baker, AICP, Senior Environmental Planner from Horsley-Witten Group, gave a presentation to the Planning Board on proposed Town Code revisions to address deficiencies identified using the LID (Low Impact Development) Municipal Self-Assessment Tool.  The presentation is the conclusion of Southern New England Program (SNEP) Technical Assistance granted in 2021 that began with a stormwater workshop and initiated the Downtown Stormwater project (Resilient Riverfront Renewal).  

The Planning Board engaged in general discussion on the proposed revisions to the Town Code. Mr. Delisio indicated that Standard 18, which specified tree planting requirements, revisions were too extensive and should be more general in nature.  There was discussion around Standard 33. shared, flexible parking and excess parking reductions.  Mr. O’Neil questioned whether a parking analysis could include transit options in the immediate area.  Ms. Baker indicated that transit options can be included in the parking analysis. There was discussion that Standard 32 should specify parking ratios differentiated between uses within a range of minimum and maximum requirements.  The Board was in general agreement that the Town should facilitate the use of LID principles during site redevelopment including parking lots. Ms. Letendre indicated she will welcome all Board members comments and background information and will consider that prior to the Board’s next discussion.

The Board thanked Ellie Baker for her presentation.

 

2. Inclusionary Zoning and Comprehensive Permit Ordinance Revisions. The Planning Board reviewed proposed revisions to the Inclusionary Zoning and Comprehensive Permit Ordinances required by new State legislation.

             

            Ms. Letendre gave a presentation to the Planning Board regarding affordable housing in Westerly and discussed proposed amendments to the Inclusionary Zoning and Comprehensive Permit Ordinances.  The Board expressed interest in keeping the offsite construction option for LMI units under the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance.  It was discussed that the Ad Hoc Affordable Housing Committee would interface directly with Ms. Letendre and the consultant on the Housing Needs Assessment.  Committee co-chairs Ted Rice and Nick Scola were present and participated in the discussion.  There was a general understanding that while certain zoning changes are necessary before the end of this year, other changes or additions to the inclusionary zoning and comprehensive permit ordinances will benefit from the Technical Assistance offered by RI Housing. Chairman Hopkins emphasized the continue need for context sensitive design which should be applied to stormwater infrastructure and landscaping.

 

3. Route One Corridor Comprehensive Plan Amendments. The Planning Board reviewed proposed revisions to the Comprehensive Plan resulting from the Route One Corridor Study.

 

            Ms. Letendre gave a presentation to the Planning Board of the first draft of Comprehensive Plan changes incorporating the Route One Corridor Study, and a status report on the EDC’s contemporary efforts to revise Chapter 5. Economic Vitality, improve the Commercial Buildout Analysis and provide a strategic development strategy for Route One.

 

G. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S REPORT

 

1.       Affordable Housing Update – Ms. Letendre indicated that the Town was awarded the technical assistance grant from RI Housing and would soon be engaging with Camoin Associates on creation of a Housing Needs Assessment.

 

4.       Administrative Actions – There was nothing to discuss.

 

H. ASSISTANT SOLICTOR FOR PLANNING AND ZONING’S REPORT –

There was no report.

 

I. CONFIRMATION OF QUOROM FOR NEXT MEETINGS

No new or unknown absences reported.

1. October 17, 2023 Regular Meeting at 6:00 pm

2. November 7, 2023 Special Meeting at 6:00pm

3. November 14, 2023 Regular Meeting at 6:00pm

4. December 5, 2023 Special Meeting at 6:00pm

5. December 19, 2023 Regular Meeting at 6:00pm

 

J. ADJOURNMENT –

Ms. Lentz-Madison made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m. Mr. Delisio seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Nancy Letendre, Esq, AICP

Town Planner

 

 

 

Approved by vote of the Board on TBA