Zoning Board – Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 - 6:00 p.m.

Westerly Town Hall | Town Council Chambers

45 Broad Street, Westerly, RI 02891

 

 

A. CALL TO ORDER – Mr. Cioppa called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. He read into the record the process for hearing applications from the Zoning Board’s Rules of Procedure.

B. ROLL CALL AND REVIEW OF STAFF ATTENDANCE

Members Present:     Vice Chair Larry Cioppa, and Members Jeffrey Russo, Dawn Robinson, and Larry Burns, Alan R. Martone and First Alternate Member Lori Moore

 

Members Absent:      None.

 

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

 

C.   APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1.      April 10, 2024 – Ms. Robinson made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Martone seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

2.      May 8, 2024 - Mr. Martone made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Ms. Robinson seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

D. CHANGES TO AGENDA: Consider, discuss, and act upon schedule changes for applications.

There was no discussion.

E. APPROVAL OF DECISIONS: Consider, discuss, and act upon application decisions referred to staff for writing.

There was no discussion.

F.  PUBLIC HEARINGS- Continued Business, consider, discuss, and act upon application(s).

There was no discussion.

G. PUBLIC HEARINGS- Appeal to the Zoning Board of Review, consider, discuss, and act upon appeals.

There was no discussion.

H.   PUBLIC HEARINGS- New Business, consider, discuss, and act upon .

1.      Ronald Elwood Williams Jr., 443 Atlantic Ave, AP ‘167’ Lot ‘5’, is seeking a 5’ side yard variance (west) and 5.5’ side yard variance (east) for the construction of a 20’x21’ addition to second level of residence at rear of house with a wrap-around porch, and a first level 25’ x 25’ deck above a garage. (§260-33) Dimensional Variance.

            Mr. Loiselle described the request to the Board for the 0.37-acre property with no existing wetlands in an HDR-10 Zone. He said the surrounding neighborhood consists of similar structures and the home is 2,700 square feet of living area originally built in 1989. Mr. Loiselle said the Zoning Office supports the application.

Attorney Jack McGreen, of 21 Garden City Drive, Cranston was present to represent the application.

Keith Briggs, the director Davitt Design Build, 4 Frank Avenue, Westerly, was present to speak about the project and was sworn in for public testimony. Atty. McGreen submitted a letter from the applicants, Ronald and Candy Williams, into the record and it was marked Applicant’s Exhibit A. The applicants were unable to attend the meeting in person due to a previously planned trip. Mr. Loiselle read the letter into the record.

Mr. Briggs said the dwelling is partially in the Coastal Resource Management Council (CRMC) no build area. The house will remain a three-bedroom home, but to rebuild the first and second floor, the application is required, as more than 50 percent of the home is being renovated. There is an already permitted septic design approved by Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM.)

Atty. McGreen said the hardship on the property is due to the unique characteristics of the lot. He further explained the rational for the standards of approval. In a poll of the Board, all members were supportive of the application.

Mr. Russo made a motion to close the public hearing at 6:19 p.m. Mr. Martone seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

Mr. Martone read into the record the details of the application for 443 Atlantic Ave, AP ‘167’ Lot ‘5’ seeking a western 5-foot side yard variance and an eastern 5.5-foot side yard variance for the construction of a 20’ x 21’ addition to the second level of the residence at the rear of the house with a wrap-around porch, and a first level 25’ x 25’ deck above a garage, including the information presented at the public hearing on September 11, 2024, and made a motion to approve the application request with no conditions. Ms. Robinson seconded the motion. There was no public comment. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

Mr. Cioppa reminded the Board that they will no longer receive paper packets in advance of meetings, but if anyone requires a copy of anything they can request one.

I.  STAFF COMMENTS

1. Consideration of Zoning Board member for the position of Chairperson due to non-reappointment of former Chair Walter Pawelkiewicz

Atty. Estabrooks facilitated the nominations. Mr. Russo nominated Mr. Cioppa as the chair of the Zoning Board and Ms. Robinson seconded his nomination. There were no other nominees. Mr. Russo made a motion that the Zoning Board elect Mr. Cioppa as chair. Ms. Robinson seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions. 

Mr. Russo nominated Ms. Robinson as vice chair of the Zoning Board and Mr. Martone seconded his nomination. There were no other nominees. Mr. Russo made a motion that the Zoning Board elect Ms. Robinson as vice chair. Mr. Martone seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions. 

Mr. Loiselle announced there is a new alternate member to fill the last vacancy on the Board. He reminded the Board of a Zoom training scheduled for September 25.

 

J. APPLICATIONS DECLARED COMPLETE - Waivers granted and scheduled for public hearing.  Informational only, no action to be taken.

1.      Sky 3D Group, LLC, 4 Oaklawn Terrace, AP ‘58’ Lot ‘43’, is seeking a 7.3’ rear yard setback request as a result of an administrative subdivision. (§260-33) Dimensional Variance

2.      Kenneth Thomas, 21R Nichols Lane, AP ‘18’ Lot ‘104A’, is seeking a 23.5’ front yard and 24’ rear yard variance request for the construction of a new single-family dwelling consisting of three bedrooms, one full bath, one half bath and a new driveway per Town standards. (§260-33) Dimensional Variance.

K.    ADJOURNMENT – Ms. Robinson made a motion to adjourn the Zoning Board meeting at 6:31 p.m. Mr. Burns seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting is October 9, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Stephanie J. LaSota

Minute Taker