Planning Board Regular Meeting - Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, November 18th, 2025, 6:00 p.m.

Westerly Town Hall | Town Council Chambers

45 Broad Street, Westerly, RI 02891

 

A.    CALL TO ORDER –

Mr. O’Neil called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

 

B.     ROLL CALL AND ATTENDANCE –

Mr. O’Neil recognized all board members and staff present

 

Present: Chairman: Matthew O’Neil, Vice Chairman: Jean Gagnier,

Secretary: Derek Lombard, Members: Maurice Devine, Perry Kellogg, and James Nicholas

 

Absent: Member: Christopher Lawlor

 

Town Staff: Administrative Officer/Town Planner: Nancy Letendre, Minute Taker: Chloe Chenot, Information Technology: Lanny Fuller, and Solicitor for Planning and Zoning: Scott Levesque

 

C.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES –

1)      September 2^nd, 2025 - The board reviewed the minutes from the September 2^nd meeting. Mr. Gagnier motioned to approve the minutes as submitted, and Mr. Nicholas seconded the proposed motion. Mr. Nicholas, Mr. O’Neil, Mr. Gagnier, and Ms. Kellogg were in favor. Mr. Devine and Mr. Lombard abstained. The minutes passed 4-2  

2)      October 7^th, 2025 - The board reviewed the minutes from the October 7^th meeting. Mr. Lombard motioned to approve the minutes, and Mr. Gagnier seconded the proposed motion. Mr. Lombard, Mr. Gagnier, Mr. O’Neil, and Mr. Devine were in favor. Mr. Nicholas and Ms. Kellogg abstained. The minutes passed 4-2

3)      October 21^st, 2025 - The board reviewed the minutes from the October 21st meeting. Mr. Gagnier motioned to approve the minutes as submitted, and Mr. Nicholas seconded. All board members were in favor, and the minutes passed 6-0

 

D.    CHANGES TO THE AGENDA –

There were no changes

 

E.     OLD BUSINESS –

 

1)      Capital Improvement Program (CIP) -

 

Town Manager Shawn Lacey was present to speak on this matter. Mr. Lacey provided a summary of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) process, before reviewing further the town Buildings Assessment and the Town Manager’s proposed Capital Improvement Program FY 2027 documents. Capital projects discussed included: recreation facility improvements, Police Department body camera upgrades, the vehicle replacement program, Scada alarm systems, GIS Mapping software, and the Transfer Station facility repair, in addition to other projects. Questions posed and additional topics of discussion included: funding types, Town enterprise funds, bonds, prioritized projects, site visits, and process deadlines. At the December 2^nd meeting, Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Gagnier, and Ms. Kellogg will share site visit and analysis results of the proposed capital projects

 

2)      2024-LMIH-07-Comprehensive Permit – Preliminary Plan – Fusaro Service Street Multi-Family Residential Development (8 Service Street | Assessor’s Map 37, Lot 12)

 

Attorney William Nardone was present to represent this matter. Mr. Nardone summarized the application and introduced additional members of the project in attendance: Peter Fusaro, applicant, Sara Brightener, of Cherenzia and Associates, 99 Mechanic Street, Pawcatuck CT 06379, and Rebecca Nolan, Landscape Architect, Pawcatuck CT 06379. Mr. Nardone provided an update on outstanding items, which included: the “Letter of Eligibility,” monitoring agent agreement, and sample affordability. Mr. Nardone highlighted that suggestions from the Architectural Review Board were incorporated, such as the addition of windows, modifications to the patio structure, and screening over utility storage. Ms. Brightener spoke on the project’s existing site conditions and plans. Stormwater, facilities, impervious surface, pavers, setbacks, and permitting was discussed, in addition to other topics. Rebecca Nolan, landscape architect, reviewed the existing landscaping of the property and detailed the landscape plan. Questions posed and additional topics discussed included: soil and erosion control plans, communication with neighbors, emergency vehicle access, construction phasing, and LMI unit integration. Mr. Levesque provided legal counsel to clarify the definition of an “adjustment” per new State legislation, and compliance with municipality zoning ordinance

Mr. Gagnier motioned to open the public hearing of this item at 7:36 p.m., and Mr. Nicholas seconded the proposed motion. The board was all in favor, and the motion carried. Rose VanDover 20 Top Street, Westerly, RI 02891, inquired about parking, dimensions per unit, and density with zoning uses. Upon no further comment, Mr. Gagnier motioned to continue the public hearing of this matter to the December 16^th meeting, and Mr. Devine seconded the proposed motion. The board was all in favor, and the motion carried 6-0

 

3)      Public Hearing: Comprehensive Plan Amendments incorporating land use policy for future redevelopment of Route One Corridor

 

Ms. Letendre led continued discussion of the Route One Corridor Design Plan Standards. Members reviewed the proposed change to the Granite Street overlay, which involved the removal of two parcels: one including Westerly High School, and the other directly at the top of sub-corridor one. Members of the public were present to provide comment. Town Council President Chris Duhamel inquired about pedestrian access, street landscaping, and zoning uses. Town Councilor Dylan LaPietra, 51 Clark Street, Westerly, RI 02891, asked about incentivizing development. Paul Azzinaro, Chairman of the Architectural Review Board, 62 Elm Street, Westerly, RI 02891, expressed concern for his future clients when developing properties, and potential zoning use restrictions they may face, as a result of proposed changes discussed. Upon no further comment on this matter, Mr. Gagnier moved a motion to approve the change to the Granite Street overlay, and Mr. Nicholas seconded the proposed motion. The board was all in favor, and the motion carried unanimously

Table 4.5.1 List of Zone Change Parcels, the revised 2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendments, and Zoning Code text amendments, modified based on discussion from the November 4^th public hearing, were reviewed. Modifications to the Zoning Code Text Amendments included: changes to the Bed and Breakfast overlay, the addition of the Route One Corridor overlay, and the removal of reference to the Haversham Inn, among other changes. Mr. Lombard motioned to approve the revised Zoning Code text amendments and submit to the Town Council for review. Mr. Nicholas seconded the proposed motion. The board was all in favor, and the motion carried unanimously

 

A recess was called at 8:38 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 8:43 p.m.

 

The board then reviewed the changes to the Comprehensive Plan amendments. Revisions included verbiage changes of affordable housing options, transportation aspects of development, stormwater, Rhode Island Department of Transportation coordination, definitions of Zoning Districts, underutilized properties in the corridor, and the table of Zone Changes for Certain Parcels. Mr. Devine motioned to change “…multi-modal transportation” on page 3 of the document to it’s original verbiage, and Mr. Gagnier seconded. The board was all in favor, and the motion carried unanimously. Ms. Letendre then presented the adjusted Goals, Policies, and Actions table, which included changes to the corridor overlay district. Board members discussed and provided feedback to the Town Planner. Mr. Gagnier motioned to remove “…and encourage additional residential development” from page 7, and Mr. Nicholas seconded. The board was all in favor, and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Gagnier then motioned to approve the draft Table 45 - Comprehensive Plan adjusted Goals, Policies, and Actions table, as amended, and Mr. Nicholas seconded. The board was all in favor, and the motion carried unanimously 6-0.

Mr. Levesque provided legal counsel for the board’s consideration of how to address the necessary motions listed in the Administrative Officer’s Memorandum. Mr. Levesque informed the board that they could adopt all three motions by reference, collectively marked as Board’s Exhibit 1. Mr. Nicholas moved a motion to adopt the three draft motions as written in the Administrative Officer’s Memorandum, dated November 12^th, for the meeting on November 18^th, 2025. Ms. Kellogg seconded the motion. The board was all in favor, and the motion passed unanimously

 

F.     NEW BUSINESS –

There was no discussion

 

G.    ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S REPORT –

 

1)      Future Agenda & Monthly Report Matrix – The board reviewed the revised document and discussed ongoing and upcoming projects

 

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

 

Mr. Levesque addressed questions asked by Mr. Gagnier, regarding the relationship of the Administrative Officer and the Planning Board, as well as Town Manager interaction. The definition of the Administrative Officer, designation, local regulations, duties, and applicable State Law, was examined

 

I.       FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS & BOARD QUESTIONS –

Mr. Gagnier suggested a future agenda item to create an addendum to the Zoning Use Tables, based on overlay changes, and the board discussed

 

J.      CONFIRMATION OF QUORUM FOR NEXT MEETINGS

 

1. December 2nd, 2025, Regular Meeting at 6:00 p.m. – All members will be present

 

K.    ADJOURNMENT –

Mr. Nicholas motioned to adjourn the meeting at 9:55 p.m. The board was all in favor, and the meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.

 

Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting- December 2nd, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

 

Submitted by Chloe Chenot on 12/8/2025

Approved by vote of the board on 12/16/2025