Zoning Board – Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, August 10, 2022 - 6:00 p.m.

Westerly Town Hall | Town Council Chambers

45 Broad Street, Westerly, RI 02891

 

A. CALL TO ORDER –

Mr. Pawelkiewicz called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. He read into the record from the Zoning Board’s Rules of Procedure for hearing applications.

 

B. ROLL CALL AND REVIEW OF STAFF ATTENDANCE

 

Members Present:     Chair Walter Pawelkiewicz, Vice Chair Larry Cioppa, and Members Jeffrey Russo, Dawn Robinson, and Larry Burns

 

Members Absent:      None.

 

Staff Present:             Zoning Official Martin E. Loiselle, Jr., Assistant Solicitor for Planning & Zoning Scott Levesque, Minute Taker Stephanie LaSota, Information Technology Technician Lanny Fuller

 

C. APPROVAL AND REVISION OF MINUTES

 

1. July 13, 2022 – Mr. Russo made a motion to approve as submitted the July 13, 2022 Zoning Board minutes. Ms. Robinson seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

2. July 27, 2022 – Mr. Cioppa made a motion to approve as submitted the July 27, 2022 Zoning Board minutes. Mr. Russo seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

D. CHANGES TO AGENDA

Review, discussion, and possible action by the Planning Board on changes to the agenda - on the order in which items will be heard or known continuances.

 

Mr. Loiselle said they received a phone call from Peter Sacco, the builder for the Gilmar Realty, LLC, 63 Salt Pond Way application, who said he was ill and could not attend the meeting tonight. Melanie Collins, Sacco’s office manager, was present at the meeting and requested a continuance. Mr. Loiseele shared that he requested a by-right plan showing the addition within the setback lines and was still waiting to receive that information.  

Mr. Russo made a motion to continue the Gilmar Realty, LLC. application to the October 12, 2022 Zoning Board meeting. Ms. Robinson seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.  

 

 

E. APPROVAL OF DECISIONS –

Consider, discuss, and act on application decisions referred to staff for writing.

 

There was no discussion.

 

F. PUBLIC HEARINGS CONTINUED BUSINESS – Consider, discuss, and act on application(s).

 

1.    Gilmar Realty, LLC, 63 Salt Pond Way, AP ‘131’ Lot ‘19’ Addition to an existing structure, (§260-33) Dimensional Variance Continued from 06/8/2022

CONTINUED to October 12, 2022

 

2.    Mason, 167 Watch Hill Road, AP ‘162’ Lot ‘30A’ Addition to an existing structure. (§260-33) Dimensional Variances. Continued from 07/27/2022

 

The representative for the applicant, Attorney Thomas Capalbo, III, was present and requested a continuance to the September Zoning meeting. He said the applicant is investigating alternative methods of building the project that require less relief. Atty. Capalbo said the Watch Hill Conservancy has objected to their new modified plans, which will be submitted to the Board tomorrow. He said experts will present at the September meeting. Atty. Capalbo shared that he conversed with opposing counsel today and hopes to have more conversation in the near future.

Mr. Cioppa made a motion to continue the Mason application to the September 14 Zoning Board meeting. Mr. Russo seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

G. PUBLIC HEARINGS NEW BUSINESS – Consider, discuss, and act on application(s).

 

1.    Ram Point Realty, LLC, 79 Watch Hill Road, AP ‘137’ Lot ’24 Change of use from Nursing facility to library / museum (§260-34) Special Use Permit.

Attorney William Nardone said the applicant requests a continuance as they have not had a chance to receive an advisory opinion form the Planning Board, which is required for the Special Use Permit application.

Mr. Cioppa made a motion to continue the Ram Point Realty, LLC. application to the September  14 Zoning Board meeting. Ms. Robinson seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

H. STAFF COMMENTS

Mr. Loiselle reviewed the status of the Alrig USA Acquisitions, LLC and said they would be at the September 14 meeting for a Special Use Permit application. He said the Trombino, 14 Abruzzese Lane application is withdrawing their application.

 

I. Applications Declared Complete, Waivers Granted and Scheduled for Public Hearing at the Zoning Board Meeting. Informational no action to be taken.

 

1.    Alrig USA Acquisitions, LLC, 156 Granite Street, AP’77’ Lot ‘395’ Construction of a Starbucks coffee shop w/ drive up facility (§260-33) Dimensional Variance, (§260-34) Special Use Permit

2.    Trombino, 14 Abruzzese Lane, AP ‘37’ Lot ‘88’ Second floor addition to an existing structure. (§260-33) Dimensional Variance

 

J. ADJOURNMENT –

Ms. Robinson made a motion to adjourn the Zoning Board meeting at 6:13 p.m. Mr. Burns seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.  

 

Next Regular Meeting: September 14th, 2022, 6:00 P.M. at Westerly Town Hall.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Stephanie J. LaSota

Minute Taker

 

 

Approved by vote of the Board on October 12, 2022