Zoning Board Regular Meeting- Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, January 8th, 2025

Westerly Town Hall | Town Council Chambers

45 Broad Street, Westerly, RI 02891

 

Members Present: Chair Larry Cioppa, Vice Chair Dawn Robinson, Members: Larry Burns, Jeffrey Russo, Alan Martone, Lori Moore (Alternate), and Leonard Saponare (2nd Alternate)   Members Absent: None   Staff Present: Solicitor for Planning and Zoning Scott Levesque, Administrative Zoning Official Martin Loiselle, Minute Taker Chloe Chenot, and Information Technology Lanny Fuller

 

A.    CALL TO ORDER:

Chair Larry Cioppa called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.

 

B.     ROLL CALL AND ATTENDANCE:

1.      Mr. Cioppa introduced the board, and read the Zoning Rules of Procedure into record

 

C.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 9th, 2024

1.      Ms. Moore voting in place of Mr. Russo, as he was not present at the October 9^th meeting

2.      Vice Chair Robinson moved a motion to pass the minutes from the October 9th meeting, to which Mr. Martone seconded. The board was all in favor, and the minutes passed unanimously

 

D.    CONTINUED BUSINESS:

Consider, discuss, and act upon schedule changes for applications

1. No discussion

 

E.     NEW BUSINESS:

Applications declared complete; waivers granted and scheduled for public hearing. Information only, no action to be taken.

 

1.      James Orr, 139 Woody Hill Road, AP ‘33’ Lot ‘42A’, is seeking a 16’ side yard variance request to construct a second floor to existing single family residence. (§260-33) Dimensional Variance. Public hearing scheduled for January 8, 2025

                       

                        Administrative Officer Loiselle provided a summary of the application, and

stated that the Zoning Department supports the application. The board then engaged in

discussion with the applicant, James Orr, who was present to speak on this item. Mr. Orr provided an overview of the dimensional relief necessary to add a partial second floor addition to the left side of the property.

Mr. Cioppa opened discussion to the public, to which there was no comment. Chair Cioppa then polled the board. Ms. Robinson spoke in favor of the setback variance, stating that the addition would make the property more habitable. Mr. Burns, Mr. Russo, Mr. Saponare, Mr. Cioppa, Mr. Martone, and Ms. Moore, were all in favor of granting the necessary relief.

Ms. Robinson motioned to close the public hearing at 6:14p.m. Mr. Martone seconded the proposed motion. The board was all in favor, and the public hearing was closed unanimously.

Upon no further comment from the public or board members, Mr. Martone provided a summary of the application. The board granted administrative authority to the Zoning Official to approve further nonmaterial modifications to the approved plans.

Mr. Martone motioned to approve a 16-foot left side yard variance to construct a 2nd floor, and 1 car attached garage to the existing 2-bedroom single family home at 139 Woody Hill Road, pursuant to §260-33 “Variances”, and §260 attachment-10 “Schedule of Dimensional Regulations” of the Town of Westerly Zoning Ordinance. There were no additional conditions to approve. Ms. Robinson seconded the motion. The board was all in favor, and the motion passed unanimously.

 

2.      Sandy Cheeks, LLC, 47 Atlantic Avenue, AP ‘175’ Lot ‘10’, is seeking a 12.7’ front yard setback request and an 8.3’ side yard setback request to construct a new single-family dwelling. (§260-33) Dimensional Variance. Public Hearing scheduled for January 8, 2025

 

                        Administrative Officer Loiselle provided a summary of the application, and

stated that the Zoning Department supports the application. Mr. Cioppa introduced

Attorney Tommy Liguori, who was present to speak on behalf of the applicants. Theresa Mulford, project engineer and member of Sergio Cherenzia and Associates, was also present to speak on this application. James Spring of Studio F Design, Canal Street, Westerly, RI 02891, and designer of the project, was also present to provide comment on this item. Mr. Cioppa swore in Mr. Spring and Ms. Mulford as experts before they provided testimony and answered Mr. Liguori’s questions.

            Ms. Mulford opened the discussion by providing an overview of the site plan. Ms. Mulford explained that by moving the septic system to the rear of the property, they adhere to the coastal buffers and waterline requirements per CRMC. The front setback is necessary to keep the structure outside of the 50-foot coastal buffer, and the proposed relief would allow them to reconstruct at a reasonable size. Mr. Liguori wanted to ensure that the CRMC preliminary determination be entered as an exhibit. Mr. Loiselle stated that it was part of the application. Mr. Liguori added to discussion that the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management approved the on-site wastewater treatment system on the most current site plan.  

            Mr. Spring provided testimony and explained the building’s design. Changes to the property included: maintaining max height limitations for the ceilings and utilizing a simple design structure to help it withstand the environment.

            Mr. Cioppa opened discussion to the public, to which no members of the public were present to provide comment. Upon no further questions from the board members or public, Mr. Cioppa polled the board. Each member stated they were in favor of the application.

            Mr. Martone motioned to close the public hearing at 6:35 p.m., and Mr. Russo seconded the motion. All members were in favor, and the public hearing was closed.

            Mr. Russo provided a summary of the application and moved a motion to approve the: 12.7’ front yard setback variance and an 8.3’ right side yard setback variance to demolish the existing 2 bedroom single family home to construct a new flood zone compliant single family home at 47 Atlantic Avenue, pursuant to §260-33 “Variances”, and §260 attachment- 10 “Schedule of Dimensional Regulations” of the Town of Westerly Zoning Ordinance. There were no additional conditions attached. Ms. Robinson seconded the motion. The board was all in favor, and the motion passed unanimously.

 

F.     APPLICATIONS DECLARED COMPLETE

1.      South County Survey, ℅ Margaret Lawlor Lamb, 67 Wagner Road, AP ‘135’, Lot ‘55’, is seeking a 14.8’ front yard variance for the construction of a 468 square foot garage attached to the existing single-family dwelling on the southeasterly corner. Public Hearing is scheduled for February 12th, 2025

 

No discussion

 

G.    STAFF COMMENTS

1.      Annual Zoning Board Meeting Calendar 2025

           

Mr. Russo moved a motion to pass the Zoning Board meeting calendar for 2025. Mr. Martone seconded the motion. The board was all in favor, and the motion passed unanimously.

 

H.    ADJOURNMENT-

 

Ms. Robinson moved a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 p.m., to which Mr. Martone seconded. The board was all in favor, and the meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

 

 

Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting- February 12, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

 

 

 

SUBMITTED BY CHLOE CHENOT ON 1/28/2025