Minutes

Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 6 P.M.

 

 

 

DATE APPROVED:

7/26/2023

 

I.                     CALL TO ORDER: Board Chair Michael Lester called the meeting to order at 6:09 PM

 

II.                   ROLL CALL (X for PRESENT, ABS for ABSENT)

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:                                                                           ALSO PRESENT:

X	Michael Lester, Chair
ABS	Gerard Levesque
X	Hugo Figueroa
X	John Burkhardt
X	John Marenzana
X	Erika Vallejo, 1st Alternate

X	Jim Vandermillen, Planning Department
X	Tyler Miller, Legal Counsel
X	Jean Martinez, PED

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                    

 

III.                 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: ☒     

Board Chair Michael Lester led participants in the Pledge of Allegiance

 

IV.                 APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

a.       June 01, 2023 Meeting

Motion to Approve by:	Burkhardt	Members Voting in Favor:	All (voice vote)
Seconded by:	Marenzana	Members Voting Against:	None

 

 

V.                   NEW BUSINESS

a.       Presentation, Consideration and Possible Action regarding:

 

                                                i.      Application #PB-23-01: Request for PRELIMINARY PLAN REVIEW

 

The City of Central Falls, 580 Broad St., Central Falls, RI, owner and applicant for 10 Higginson Ave, 756 Lonsdale Ave, and 770 Lonsdale Ave (Plat 9, Lots 50, 203, and 26, respectively), is seeking Preliminary Plan Approval for a proposed Major Land Development to construct a new high school and athletic facilities.

 

The Board Chair read the description of the application as it appeared in the agenda (text above).

 

APPEARANCES (for the Applicant): Samuel Bradner, Principal, The Peregrine Group (Owner’s Project Manager); Jonathan Quell, Associate/Project Architect, Ai3 Architect; Steven D’Ambrosia, Landscape Architect, Traverse Landscape Architects; Andy Street, Civil Engineer/Sr. Project Manager, VERTEX.

 

 

 

 

EXHIBITS:                                               Hard Copy of Presentation (Introduction, Project Background Site Plan, Proposed Building, Site Circulation, Parking, Utility Plan, Drainage Plan, Hardscape Plan, Planting Plan, Site Details

 

Mr. Bradner recapped the status of the project and the approval process to date. He reported that progress has been made on funding between the Department of Education, School Building Authority, RIBEC, etc. Mr. Bradner mentioned that the project is still on track to commence construction at the end of this year through the very beginning of 2024. Mr. Quell described the adjustments that have been made to the site plan since Master Plan approval in February 2023.  Moving the softball field to Macomber Stadium allowed throwing and jumping events (track & field) to be included at this site.  Changes were also made to the vehicle circulation behind the school to accommodate fire trucks and buses in a single loop (the separate loop for cars was removed); the new circulation plan has been reviewed and approved by the Fire Department.  The number of parking spaces has nearly doubled.  Mr. D’Ambrosia described the landscaping and site design. He stated that the new High School will have much more green space than the current high school, and the site will include shade trees, including near the throwing events and basketball court, as well as shrubs and other plantings.  The school will be screened from the street by trees, and the open space in the circulation loop will also serve as an outdoor classroom and will include rain gardens to help manage stormwater.  In response to a question about irrigation, Mr. D’Amrosia explained that the native plant species selected for the site will not require watering after they are established.  Mr. Street referred to the traffic impact report and the stormwater management plan.  Mr. Bradner, Mr. D’Ambrosia, and Mr. Street responded to questions from Board members. Topics included parking (on site and surrounding neighborhood), handling of hazardous materials, student pick up and drop off, number of buses that will transport students, location of RIPTA bus stop, stormwater and flooding, and project costs and budget.

 

 

 

COMMENTORS (Public Hearing):     Richard Gates, 2 Crow Point Rd.: Concerned about the significant issues with flooding at the site and asked if there will be a Notice of Intent to Discharge Stormwater. Mr. Street responded, stating that the project will apply for DEM permits, the intent is to reduce the flow of stormwater off of the site, and the project team will continue to work with DEM.  Mr. Gates asked the Board (and project team) to consider the big picture, and the possibility that in a litigious society someone could sue the City.  He added that he is not trying to dissuade the Board.

 

 

 

Mr. Vandermillen read the staff report into the record.

               

SUBJECT OF VOTE: Approve or deny the Applicant’s request for Preliminary Plan Approval for a proposed Major Land Development to construct a new high school and athletic facilities at 10 Higginson Ave, 756 Lonsdale Ave., and 770 Lonsdale Ave.,

                               

 

                ACTION:                                APPROVED, 5-0

 

SUBJECT OF VOTE: Approve or deny that the Planning Board delegate Final Plan Approval of the proposed new Central Falls High School to Planning Department staff, with the conditions that (1.) any significant changes to the development as currently proposed will be submitted to the Board before Final Plan Approval, and (2.) final approval will not be granted without further review by the City’s building inspector and public safety departments, and until permits required from the Pawtucket Water Supply Board and State agencies have been obtained.

                               

 

                ACTION:                                APPROVED, 5-0

 

                                              ii.      Application #PB-23-02: Request for PRELIMINARY PLAN REVIEW

413 Roosevelt Mill, LLC, 56 Pine Street, 3^rd Floor, Providence, RI, owner and applicant for 413 Roosevelt Avenue (Plat 1 Lot 12) is seeking Preliminary Plan Approval for a proposed Major Land Development to develop a warehousing, storage facility, and a parking lot that will serve the facility and the residential building presently under development on the adjacent parcel at 467-469 Roosevelt Ave (Plat 1 Lot 14). The Planning Board may also consider Final Plan Approval during this meeting if requirements have been met by the applicant to the satisfaction of the Board

 

Mr. Vandermillen informed the Board that a formal request was submitted by the Applicant 413 Roosevelt Mill, LLC to the Board Chair and the Planning Director asking the Board to continue Case PB-23-02 to the next regular Planning Board meeting scheduled for 6PM July 26, 2023 due to a scheduling conflict.

 

EXHIBITS:               None

                               

 

Mr. Burkhardt moved to continue case PB-23-02 to July 26, 2023, at 6:00 pm in City Hall

 

 

ACTION:                                APPROVED, 5-0

 

VI.                 ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

 

·         Mr. Vandermillen reported that new State legislation pertaining to land use was approved recently and will take effect in January 2024.  This will effect how Planning and Zoning Board review and hearings are conducted. More information will be provided to the Board. 

·         Mr. Vandermillen reminded the Board that materials for the next Board meeting were distributed at the June 1 meeting.

·         Mr. Burkhardt asked if there is a status report on projects.  Mr. Vandermillen stated that can be included in future meetings.

 

VII.                MEETING OF THE PLANNING BOARD OF REVIEW ADJOURNED AT 7:30 PM:

Motion to Approve by:	Burkhardt	Members Voting in Favor:	All (Voice Vote)
Seconded by:	Figueroa	Members Voting Against:	None

 

 

[Minutes prepared by Jean Martinez, Principal Planner, and Jim Vandermillen, Director, Department of Planning and Economic Development; current revision date 07/25/2023]