Public Meeting
Wednesday, January 4, 2023 -- 6 P.M.
Minutes
| DATE APPROVED: | 2/22/2023 |
MEMBERS PRESENT: ALSO PRESENT:
| X | Michael Lester, Chair | |
| X | Gerard Levesque | |
| X | Hugo Figueroa | |
| X | John Burkhardt | |
| X | John Marenzana | |
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| X | Jim Vandermillen, Planning Department |
| X | Katie Otrando, Legal Counsel |
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a. February 23, 2022 PLANNING BOARD HEARING
| Motion to Approve by: | Levesque | Members Voting in Favor: | Lester, Levesque, Figueroa, Burkhardt, Marenzana |
| Seconded by: | Figueroa | Members Voting Against: | None |
b. May 25, 2022 PLANNING BOARD HEARING
| Motion to Table by: | Burkhardt | Members Voting in Favor: | Lester, Levesque, Figueroa, Burkhardt, Marenzana |
| Seconded by: | Levesque | Members Voting Against: | None |
c. August 24, 2022 PLANNING BOARD HEARING
| Motion to Table by: | Burkhardt | Members Voting in Favor: | Lester, Levesque, Figueroa, Burkhardt, Marenzana |
| Seconded by: | Levesque | Members Voting Against: | None |
d. October 26, 2022 PLANNING BOARD HEARING
| Motion to Approve by: | Burkhardt | Members Voting in Favor: | Lester, Levesque, Figueroa, Burkhardt, Marenzana |
| Seconded by: | Marenzana | Members Voting Against: | None |
A. Application #PB-22-11: Request for PRELIMINARY PLAN REVIEW
ONE Neighborhood Builders, of 66 Chaffee Street, Providence, RI, applicant for 499-511 Broad St. (Plat 1, Lots 3 & 119) and 524 & 542 Broad St. (Plat 5, Lots 474 & 149), is seeking Preliminary Plan Approval for a proposed Major Land Development to create new dwelling units of rental housing in an adaptive reuse of the existing building on the property presently identified as Plat 1, Lots 3 & 119, and in a new multi-household dwelling to be constructed on the property presently identified as Plat 5, Lots 474 & 149.
· Mr. Lester read the description for PB-22-11 as it appeared in the agenda (text above)
APPEARANCES:
Kenneth McGunagle, Attorney for Applicant; Milton Baxter, Director of Real Estate for ONE Neighborhood Builders; Timothy Behan, Engineer, Commonwealth Engineers; Ashley Prester, Architect, DBVW Architects.
EXHIBITS:
Engineer’s Preliminary Plan Set, Architect’s Drawings
· Mr. McGunagle reminded the Board that they previously granted Master Plan Approval; stated that the City now owns all four (4) lots. He introduced members of the development team: Jennifer Hawkins, Executive Director; Milton Baxter, Director of Real Estate for ONE Neighborhood Builders; Timothy Behan, Project Engineer, Commonwealth Engineers; Ashley Prester, Project Architect, DBVW Architects, and stated that some of these experts will provide background tonight as the basis for approval; stated that additional work has been done since Master Plan Approval; explained that the properties would be 100% deed-restricted for 99 years to keep them affordable
· Tim Behan of Commonwealth Engineers was sworn in by Ms. Otrando and was recognized as an expert witness; he provided an overview of plan set and responded to questions from the Board; in response to questions from Mr. McGunagle, he stated that he is familiar with the City’s Compressive Plan is 100% confident that the plans comply
· Ashley Prester of DBVW Architects was sworn in by Ms. Otrando and was recognized as an expert witness; he described changes to the design of 524-542 Broad that increased the number of 3-bedroom units by converting 2-bedroom units, and explained that it was otherwise essentially the same plan that had been presented for Master Plan review; in response to questions from Mr. McGunagle about the City’s Compressive Plan, he stated that he believes the plans meet the need for additional affordable housing
| Motion to OPEN PUBLIC HEARING by: | Burkhardt |
| Seconded by: | Levesque |
| Members Voting in Favor: | All (Voice Vote) |
| Members Voting Against: | None |
COMMENTORS:
Nury Aguilar, 22 Pacific St.: Attended meeting because she received the notice; asked about the location of the property; did not comment in favor of or in opposition to the proposed development.
| Motion to CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING by: | Burkhardt |
| Seconded by: | Figueroa |
| Members Voting in Favor: | All (Voice Vote) |
| Members Voting in Against: | None |
· Mr. Vandermillen read the Staff Recommendation into the record.
· Milton Baxter, Director of Real Estate for ONE Neighborhood Builders, was sworn in to respond to additional questions form the Board
· Mr. Lester asked if anything needed to be done regarding finding #2 in the Staff Recommendation (Compliance with Zoning Ordinance), regarding entrance and exit for parking; Mr. Vandermillen explained that, as per the ordinance, the Board can modify the requirement of Section 801.4 (A.) Entrance and Exit.
SUBJECT of VOTE: Waive requirement for Zoning Ordinance Section 801.4 (A.) Entrance and Exit.
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| Motion to APPROVE by: | Burkhardt |
| Seconded by: | Marenzana |
| Members Voting in Favor: | Roll Call Vote: Levesque, Figueroa, Burkhardt, Marenzana, Levesque |
| Members Voting Against: | None |
| Recusals: | None |
ACTION: APPROVED, 5-0
SUBJECT of VOTE: Waive requirements for RIDEM and RIDOT permit until Final Plan Approval.
| Conditions, if any: | None |
| Motion to APPROVE by: | Burkhardt |
| Seconded by: | Levesque |
| Members Voting in Favor: | Roll Call Vote: Marenzana, Figueroa, Burkhardt, Levesque, Lester |
| Members Voting Against: | None |
| Recuse: | None |
ACTION: APPROVED, 5-0
SUBJECT of VOTE: Waive requirement for Traffic Impact Study.
| Conditions, if any: | None |
| Motion to APPROVE by: | Burkhardt |
| Seconded by: | Marenzana |
| Members Voting in Favor: | Roll Call Vote: Marenzana, Figueroa, Burkhardt, Levesque, Lester |
| Members Voting Against: | None |
| Recuse: | None |
ACTION: APPROVED, 5-0
SUBJECT of VOTE: Waive requirement of analysis of the potential effect on the surrounding neighborhood.
| Conditions, if any: | None |
| Motion to APPROVE by: | Burkhardt |
| Seconded by: | Levesque |
| Members Voting in Favor: | Roll Call Vote: Marenzana, Figueroa, Burkhardt, Levesque, Lester |
| Members Voting Against: | None |
| Recuse: | None |
ACTION: APPROVED, 5-0
SUBJECT of VOTE: Preliminary Plan Approval for 499-511 Broad St. and 524-542 Broad St.
| Conditions, if any: | None |
| Motion to APPROVE by: | Levesque |
| Seconded by: | Figueroa |
| Members Voting in Favor: | Roll Call Vote: Marenzana, Figueroa, Burkhardt, Levesque, Lester |
| Members Voting Against: | None |
| Recuse: | None |
ACTION: APPROVED, 5-0
B. 2023 Schedule of Regular Meetings of the Planning Board - Approval Required
SUBJECT of VOTE: Approval/Rejection/Modification of Proposed 2023 Meeting Schedule
| Conditions, if any: | None |
| Motion to APPROVE by: | Levesque |
| Seconded by: | Burkhardt |
| Members Voting in Favor: | Roll Call Vote: Figueroa, Burkhardt, Marenzana, Levesque, Lester |
| Members Voting Against: | None |
| Recuse: | None |
ACTION: APPROVED, 5-0
C. Election of Officers
SUBJECT of VOTE: Election of Michael Lester as Chair
| | |
| Motion to APPROVE by: | Levesque |
| Seconded by: | Figueroa |
| Members Voting in Favor: | Figueroa, Burkhardt, Marenzana, Levesque |
| Members Voting Against: | None |
| Abstain: | Lester |
ACTION: APPROVED, 4-0
SUBJECT of VOTE: Election of John Burkhardt as Vice-Chair
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| Motion to APPROVE by: | Levesque |
| Seconded by: | Lester |
| Members Voting in Favor: | Figueroa, Marenzana, Levesque, Lester |
| Members Voting Against: | None |
| Abstain: | Burkhardt |
ACTION: APPROVED, 4-0
SUBJECT of VOTE: Election of John Marenzana as Secretary
| | |
| Motion to APPROVE by: | Levesque |
| Seconded by: | Figueroa |
| Members Voting in Favor: | Figueroa, Burkhardt, Levesque, Lester |
| Members Voting Against: | None |
| Abstain: | Marenzana |
ACTION: APPROVED, 4-0
II. MEETING OF THE PLANNING BOARD OF REVIEW ADJOURNED AT 7:37 P.M.:
| Motion to Adjourn by: | Levesque | Members Voting in Favor: | Burkhardt, Figueroa, Lester, Levesque, Marenzana |
| Seconded by: | Burkhardt | Members Voting Against: | None |
Jim Vandermillen, Assistant Director, Planning Department ~ (401) 616-2425 ~ jvandermillen@centralfallsri.us