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Planning Board Regular Meeting - Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, March 17th, 2026 - 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 6:01 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: Perry Kellogg, Maurice Devine, James Nicholas, and Alternate: VACANT

Absent: Member: Jeffrey Russo, Principal Planner: Aidan Adams

Town Staff: Planning Fellow: Diego Martin, Minute Taker: Chloe Chenot, Information Technology: Lanny Fuller, and Solicitor for Planning and Zoning: Scott Levesque

C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES –

1) February 17^th, 2026 - The board reviewed the minutes from the February 17^th meeting. Mr. Nicholas motioned to approve the minutes as submitted, and Mr. Gagnier seconded the proposed motion. The board was all in favor, and the minutes passed 6-0

D. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA – There were no changes

E. OLD BUSINESS – There was no discussion

F. NEW BUSINESS

1) 2024 – LMIH-06 – Comprehensive Permit – Final Plan Review – 116 High Street Residential Conversion (116 High Street | Assessor’s Map 57, Lot 63)

Mr. Gagnier recused himself from this item at 6:03 p.m.

Anthony Nenna, of On-Site Engineering Inc, 3 Crestview Drive, Westerly, RI 02891, was present to represent this application. Mr. Nenna introduced Joseph Luzzi, applicant, and property owner, also present to provide additional comment.

Mr. Nenna summarized the application, and reviewed the outstanding materials submitted, based on Preliminary Plan discussion of this item at the January 21^st, 2025, Planning Board meeting. Mr. Devine called a point of order, expressing that requested material regarding stormwater and site circulation, including Town Engineer approval, was not provided for the board’s review prior to the meeting. The board engaged in discussion, and the applicant provided feedback. Mr. Levesque clarified for the record that a stormwater maintenance plan was submitted with the application materials. Ms. Kellogg posed an inquiry regarding the parking and housing authority easements. Upon no further questions from board members, public comment of this item was opened at 6:27 p.m. Jean Gagnier, 6 Narragansett Avenue, Westerly, RI 02891, expressed concerns of parking, and suggested that all application material received by Town staff is shared with the Planning Board. No other members of the public were present to provide comments. The board was polled at 6:31 p.m. for further discussion, and did not have any additional questions or comments for the applicants.

Mr. Nicholas motioned to approve the Final Plan application with the following conditions as outlined in the Administrative Officer’s Memorandum, dated March 10^th, for meeting on March 17^th, 2026. Mr. Levesque marked the memorandum as Board’s Exhibit 1. Mr. Lombard seconded the motion. Mr. O’Neil, Ms. Kellogg, Mr. Lombard, and Mr. Nicholas were in favor. Mr. Devine abstained. Mr. Gagnier recused. The motion passed

2) 2026 – UMNLD-02 – Minor Land Development & Variance Request – Firestone Complete Auto Care – 52 & 54 Franklin Street (Assessor’s Map 88, Lots 31 & 32)

Mr. Gagnier returned to the meeting at 6:35 p.m.

Mr. Levesque reviewed procedures required under the Unified Minor Land Development Review of this application.

Attorney William Nardone was present to speak on this matter. Mr. Nardone provided a summary of the application and introduced members of the project present: Justin Bruce and John Wojtila of the Zaremba Group LLC, 14600 Detroit Avenue Suite 1500, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Joe Duhamel, DiPrete Engineering, 2 Stafford Court, Cranston Rhode Island 02920, and Herman Peralta, Traffic Engineer, PARE Corporation, Lincoln Rhode Island 02865.

Mr. Duhamel began the presentation of this application by reviewing the site plans and current site conditions, which included discussion of wetlands, landscaping, utilities, stormwater, parking, delivery truck circulation, and storage areas, among other aspects. Mr. Bruce provided insight into the daily operations of the facility, informing members of product loading areas and schedules, trash removal plans, and hours of operation. Mr. Peralta shared results of the traffic study conducted in the surrounding area, incorporating data provided from the Westerly Police Department.

Mr. O’Neil called a recess at 7:35 p.m. The meeting resumed at 7:41 p.m.

Mr. Wojtila continued discussion by further explaining the signage and posed potential modifications to address the board’s concern of site clutter. Questions posed in response to the presentation and topics of discussion included: snow storage and parking, mechanical work completed on-site, signage, customers per day, and the number of employees.

Upon no further questions or comment, Mr. Gagner motioned to open the public hearing of this item at 7:57 p.m., and Mr. Nicholas seconded the proposed motion. The board was all in favor, and the public hearing was opened at 7:57 p.m. Rose VanDover 20 Top Street, Westerly, RI 02891, inquired about traffic, tractor trailer access, entrances, tree placement, and signage. The applicants addressed the inquiries. No other members of the public were present to provide comment. Mr. Levesque provided legal counsel on Unified Plan Review procedures, as requested by Mr. O’Neil. Mr. Gagnier then motioned to close the public hearing of this item at 8:11 p.m. Mr. Nicholas seconded the proposed motion. The board was all in favor, and the public hearing was closed at 8:11 p.m.

Mr. Gagnier motioned to approve the 29.5’ front-yard, parking space, and wall signage zoning variances requested, as outlined by Mr. Levesque during his review of the Unified Plan Review procedures. Mr. Nicholas seconded the motion. Mr. Lombard added a condition of approval to remove “Firestone” and “Complete Auto Care,” from the parking lot facing sign. The board was all in favor, and the motion carried unanimously. The board then discussed the project application. Mr. O’Neil reviewed conditions of approval, which included: Department of Transportation curb cut approval, stormwater approval from the Department of Environmental Management, and signage modifications. Mr. Levesque summarized the Administrative Officer’s Memorandum, dated March 11^th, 2026, for meeting March 17^th, 2026, and the following conditions of approval, and stated the motion within could be adopted by saying “so moved”. Mr. Nicholas moved the motion, and Mr. Gagnier seconded the motion. The board was all in favor, and the motion passed unanimously

G. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S REPORT –

1) Future Agenda & Monthly Report Matrix

Mr. O’Neil acknowledged Mr. Gagnier’s request from the previous meeting to add housing data to the Monthly Report Matrix, and members discussed. Mr. Martin highlighted that next month was fair housing month, and suggested this data be integrated into that discussion. Members discussed their availability to meet with the affordable housing committee. Mr. O’Neil suggested the affordable housing committee join the Planning Board at their special meeting scheduled for Aprill 7^th. Mr. Gagnier inquired about the Semi-Annual Review and Community Development Block Grant Certification.

H. ASSISTANT SOLICITOR FOR PLANNING/ZONING’S REPORT – No discussion

Approved by board vote on 4/21/2026