Planning Board – Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 - 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 6:04 p.m.

 

B.  ROLL CALL AND ATTENDANCE

 

Members Present:     Chairman: Justin Hopkins, Vice Chairman: Richard W. Constantine, Secretary: Andrew Delisio, Members: Matthew O’Neil, Christopher Lawlor, John Armstrong, and Jean Gagnier

 

Town Staff:               Principal Planner Aidan Adams; Minute Taker Stephanie LaSota; Assistant Solicitor(s) for Planning & Zoning: Scott D. Levesque, Esq. of Kelly Souza Parmenter, PC;

 

C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

1.   July 16, 2024 (amended) – Mr. Armstrong made a motion to approve as submitted the July 16, 2024 meeting minutes. Mr. Lawlor seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

2.   August 20, 2024 – Mr. Armstrong requested a change to the minutes. Stating the letter to the Town Council “will be approved by the Board and forwarded to the Town Council with a cc to the Town Manager and Planner” and not sent through the Town Planner. Mr. Armstrong made a motion to approve the August 20, 2024 meeting minutes as amended. Mr. Hopkins seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.  Mr. Hopkins noted that he was absent from the August 20 Planning Board meeting, but he had reviewed the minutes, application documents, and the recorded video from the meeting.

 

D. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA –

Mr. Adams reviewed some details of the agenda. Mr. Constantine made a motion to move item F.1 before item E.1. Mr. Armstrong seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote.

 

F. NEW BUSINESS

 

1.   2022-MJLD-01 – Master Plan Approval – Venice Hotel – Request for Extension

Atty. Levesque noted Attorney Noonan’s request for a continuance to October 15. Mr. Gagnier made a motion to continue discussion until the October 15 Planning Board meeting. Mr. Armstrong seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote.

 

E. OLD BUSINESS

 

1.      2024-LMIH-02 – Preliminary Plan – Comprehensive Permit – Sandpiper Landing Development (4, 12, 18 Chamber Way & 92-98, 100 Post Road | Assessor’s Maps 109 & 110, Lots 21-23, 34, 35)

Atty. Levesque said the applicant requested an application extension to October 15 with agreement to extend the decision deadline to November 19. Mr. O’Neil made a motion to continue the public hearing until the October 15 Planning Board meeting with a decision deadline extension to November 19. Mr. Constantine seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote.

 

2.      2024-LMIH-03 – Preliminary Plan – Comprehensive Permit – Habitat for Humanity off Robin Hollow Lane – (Assessor’s Map 114-96, Lots 2-11 & 15) The public hearing continued with an explanation from Attorney William Nardone on open items from the last meeting. Dan Warner, director of construction for Habitat for Humanity, and Molly Titus, the project engineer, addressed the traffic issues, infrastructure, wastewater treatment and storm water management plans, and the topic of alternatives to access ways. Ms. Titus reviewed that the local fire officials approved the turnaround radius designed on the plan. Mr. Warner explained that the active construction timeline is 18 months utilizing modular home development in three construction phases. Mr. Penny explained that Habitat is part of the homeowner’s association, and the HOA will be responsible for pumping all septic systems. Mr. Hopkins read in the record the Town Engineer’s report regarding the project. There was further discussion.

Diane Sanna, of 12 Robin Way, Cheryle Santoro, of 14 Robin Way, Maureen Boyle, of 37 Robin Way, shared further concerns including traffic and impact on the neighborhood.

Jonathan Daly Labelle, 22 Tom Street, and Diane Goldsmith, 73 Shore Road, explained why they support Habitat for Humanity, noting the organization is a strong advocate for affordable housing, safe road changes and good stewards.

Charles Holland, of 13 Robin Way, suggested alternative methods of entry versus accessing by Robin Way. He also suggested the Board consider postponing the application.

Ms. Titus said they did look at access from Route 1, but it is not a viable alternative, citing insufficient frontage, wetland and wetland buffer. Atty. Nardone responded, noting the public’s involvement in the public hearing, prior to submission Habitat had neighborhood meetings, and the density requested is well below what the state law allows. Attorney Nardone submitted four letters of support for the application.

There was some further discussion on traffic and affordable housing. Atty. Levesque provided clarity on the comprehensive permit process. Mr. Lawlor entered into the record a letter, received by the Board members at home, from the occupants of 1 Osprey Lane expressing concerns about the safety of the project. The letter was marked as Remonstrance 1.

Mr. Hopkins stated that his concern is not about adding traffic, but improving the existing conditions, which is the Town’s responsibility to resolve. Discussion ensued about the Town’s responsibility and possible work to the area. There was general agreement among the members. Att. Nardone said any of the issues on their property will be addressed. There was discussion about recommendations and conditions of approval.

Mr. Lawlor made a motion to close the public hearing at 7:36 p.m. Mr. Constantine seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote.

Mr. Hopkins led the Board to review the list of conditions and the staff’s draft motion.

Atty. Levesque clarified the inclusion of conditions of approval: a financial pro forma, final plan will be reviewed by the Board, the applicant will provide the OWTS maintenance plan at final plan, and that the applicant will work with the Town Engineer to do work necessary at the intersection to address traffic concerns in the area.

Mr. O’Neil made a motion that the Planning Board approve the application, referencing the draft motion in the September 9, 2024, Planning Office memo, marked Board’s Exhibit 1, and including the amended conditions as discussed at the meeting. Mr. Lawlor seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote.

Mr. O’Neil made a motion that the Planning Office prepare a letter to the Town Council to address the traffic issues raised by the Town Engineer. Mr. Gagnier seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote.

 

F. NEW BUSINESS

 

2.   2024-LMIH-05 – Pre-Application Review – Comprehensive Permit – 181 Main Street Residential Conversion (181 Main Street | Assessor’s Map 76, Lot 35) Mr. Adams introduced the application. Present on behalf of the application was project engineer Tony Nenna and project architect Paul Azzinaro, along with the applicant Tony Degiacomo. The Planning Board engaged the applicant in a discussion of the proposed project including the number of units, and parking concerns.

The Chair asked for public comment. Nicholas Castagna, of 18 Mayflower Avenue, Pawcatuck, owner of Ray’s Haircutting, and executor of the trust his family owns 190 Main Street spoke. Mr. Castagna said he was hopeful he and the applicant could work together on parking needs.

 

The Planning Board took a recess at 8:43 p.m. and reconvened at 8:51 p.m.

 

3.      2024-DPR-08 – Preliminary Plan Review – Development Plan Review – KGRE, LLC – Midas Site Improvements (80 Franklin Street | Assessor’s Map 88, Lot 37) The Planning Board began review of the application. Tony Nenna and Ed Hinojosa, the manager of Midas, reviewed details of the project to expand and reconfigure the parking area with drainage improvements. There was a brief discussion about the presentation. Atty. Levesque further explained some details about the conditions of approval from the Planning staff memo dated September 11, 2024, noted a modification to the memo, and marked it as Board’s Exhibit 1. Mr. O’Neil made a motion to approve the project with the conditions as stated and modified in Board’s Exhibit 1. Mr. Armstrong seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

4.      2024-DPR-04 – Preliminary Plan Review – Development Plan Review – Bake Fresh of RI, Inc. Building Addition (79B Tom Harvey Road | Assessor’s Map 119, Lot 5C) The Planning Board began review of the application. The project manager Sam Hemenway, of Garofalo & Associates, Inc., was present on behalf of the application and described the project. The project proposes a 4,950 square foot addition to the existing building, reorientation of the paved parking area. There was some general discussion about the project. Atty. Levesque asked the Board to address the dark sky lighting in the plan, under item number 3 exterior lighting.

Mr. Lawlor read in the record from the Planning office memo dated September 10, 2024, and made a motion to approve the application with the listed finding of facts and three conditions as noted and modified during the meeting. Mr. O’Neil seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote.

 

G. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S REPORT

1.   Development Projects Status Report was received.

2.   The November 5th meeting was rescheduled to November 12th due to election day.

3.   Other Items reported on:

a.   Wednesday, September 25 state required training at 5:30 p.m.

b.   Town’s switch to all digital review and packets beginning in October.

 

H. ASSISTANT SOLICITOR FOR PLANNING AND ZONING’S REPORT

There was no report.

 

I.   FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS & BOARD QUESTIONS

Mr. Armstrong requested the draft letter to Town Council on the Jacobs Report be on the next agenda for the Board to review and approve.

 

J.   CONFIRMATION OF QUORUM FOR NEXT MEETING

October 15, 2024, Regular Meeting at 6:00pm – No discussion.

 

K.  ADJOURNMENT –

Mr. Armstrong made a motion to adjourn the Planning Board meeting at 9:32 p.m. Mr. Constantine seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote.

 

 

Approved by vote of the Board on October 15, 2024