I.            Call to Order

Board Chair Kevin Marchand called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m.

II.            Roll Call

Kevin Marchand (Chair) – present; Ann Peckham – present; Daniel Klotz – present;
Andres Flores – present; Gary Berdugo (1^st Alternate) – present; Kevin Kazarian – was admitted into the Zoom meeting during the discussion of the 1^st case (ZB-21-04)

Staff:         Jim Vandermillen, Assistant Director, Planning and Economic Development

                  Diana Figueroa, Principal Planner

Nick Hemond, Legal Counsel (Darrow Everett)
Tyler Miller, Associate (Darrow Everett)

III.            Pledge of Allegiance

IV.            Approval of Minutes

Mr. Marchand entertained a motion to approve the minutes of the February 17^th Zoning Board meeting. Mr. Berdugo moved to approve the minutes of the February 17, 2021 meeting; Ms. Peckham seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

V.            New Business

Mr. Marchand entertained a motion to take item V.c. out of order. Mr. Flores moved to take item V.c. out of order before item V.a.; Mr. Berdugo seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

a.      Case #ZB-21-04 – Consideration for a Dimensional Variance

DNC Pawtucket Holdings, LLC, of 56 Pine St., 3rd Floor, Providence, RI, owner and applicant of 467-469 Roosevelt Ave. (Plat 1, Lot 14) and applicant of 413 Roosevelt Ave. (Plat 1, Lot 12) is seeking relief from Article VIII, Section 801.8 – Off-street parking space requirements, to provide fewer than two parking spaces per residential unit for the proposed conversion of the building at 467-469 Roosevelt to a 106-unit residential rental complex.

Mr. John Mancini, attorney for DNC Pawtucket Holdings (applicant), presented the applicant’s case and responded to questions from members of the Board and from Mr. Hemond.

Mr. Marchand entertained a motion to open the public hearing.  Mr. Berdugo moved to open the public hearing; Ms. Peckham seconded.  The motion passed by a voice vote.

Mr. Jim Bentsen (300 Front Street, Unit 316, Pawtucket, RI) asked how many of the parking spaces would be for visitors and how much parking would be reserved for the future mixed-use development. Mr. Mancini addressed the questions.

Mr. Marchand entertained a motion to close the public hearing.  Mr. Flores moved to close the public hearing; Ms. Peckham seconded.  The motion passed by a voice vote.

Mr. Hemond stated that the application would be entered into the record as Exhibit 1, the architect’s plans would be entered as Exhibit 2, and Mr. Mancini’s written narrative a Exhibit 3.

Mr. Marchand asked Mr. Vandermillen to read the staff report.  Mr. Vandermillen asked Mr. Hemond whether the entire document should be read aloud.  Mr. Hemond advised each Board Member to go on the record stating whether they had read the report and wished to waive the need for staff to read the report aloud.

Mr. Marchand, Ms. Peckham, Mr. Flores, Mr. Klotz, and Mr. Berdugo each stated individually that they had read the report and waived the need for staff to read the report aloud.

The Staff Report will be entered into the record as Exhibit 4.

Mr. Marchand entertained a motion to approve or deny the applicant’s request based on the testimony presented and the findings of fact.

Mr. Hemond summarized the testimony and stated the findings of fact; he then advised the Board that they can decide whether to accept his summary as the findings of fact. 

Case ZB-21-04, Dimensional Variance: Mr. Flores moved to accept the applicant’s request for a dimensional variance based on the findings of fact and the testimony presented by Mr. Mancini; Ms. Peckham seconded. 

Roll Call Vote: Kevin Marchand – Yes, Daniel Klotz – Yes, Ann Peckham – Yes, Andres Flores – Yes, Gary Berdugo – Yes  (Kevin Kazarian did not vote on this case, as he was not admitted into the Zoom meeting prior to the applicant’s presentation.)  The applicant’s request was approved.

a.      Case #ZB-21-02 – Consideration for a Dimensional Variance

Mr. Santo Benzant, of 61 Pacific St., Central Falls, owner and applicant of 162 Washington St. (Plat 4, Lot 136, Zone R-2, Two-Household District) is seeking a Dimensional Variance from Article V, Section 501.1 Accessory uses in R zones, to allow a shed to be located less than 5 feet from the rear and side lot lines.

b.      Case #ZB-21-03 – Consideration for a Use Variance and Dimensional Variance

Mr. Santo Benzant, of 61 Pacific St., Central Falls, owner and applicant of 162 Washington St. (Plat 4, Lot 136, Zone R-2, Two-Household District) is seeking a Use Variance from Article III, Section 304, Table 1 – Use Regulations to allow a third residential unit, and a Dimensional Variance from Article IV, Section 401, Minimum lot area per dwelling unit.

Mr. Marchand entertained a motion to consolidate the hearings for these two cases and vote separately on each case.  Mr. Kazarian moved to consolidate the hearings for these two cases; Mr. Flores seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Vandermillen read the descriptions of the two cases as they appeared in the agenda (text appears above) into the record.

Mr. Hemond swore in the applicant, Santo Benzant of 61 Pacific Street, Central Falls, and Sobeida Benzant of 78 Clay Street, Central Falls (to interpret what her husband states).

Mr. and Mrs. Benzant responded to questions from members of the Board and from Mr. Hemond regarding both applications in sequence. Mr. Hemond and Mr. Vandermillen provided clarification as needed.

Mr. Flores moved to open public comment; Ms. Peckham seconded.  The motion passed unanimously.

Public Hearing: Antonio Almeida of 161 Washington (abutter) spoke in opposition to both applications

Ms. Peckham moved to close public comment; Mr. Kazarian seconded.  The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Vandermillen read the staff report and recommendation for Case ZB-21-02 into the record.

Mr. Hemond summarized the facts and testimony.

Case ZB-21-02:  Andres Flores moved to deny the request for a dimensional variance due to a self-inflicted hardship, as the applicant knew from past experience that changes to a property need to come before the Board; Ann Peckham seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Kevin Marchand – Yes, Kevin Kazarian – Yes, Daniel Klotz – Yes, Ann Peckham – Yes, Andres Flores – Yes.  The applicant’s request was denied.

Mr. Hemond summarized the facts, testimony, and staff recommendation pertaining to Case ZB-21-03, requests for a Use Variance and a Dimensional Variance.

Case ZB-21-03, Use Variance: Mr. Kazarian moved to approve the applicant’s request for a use variance; Mr. Flores seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Kevin Marchand – Yes, Kevin Kazarian – Yes, Daniel Klotz – Yes, Ann Peckham – Yes, Andres Flores – Yes.  The applicant’s request was approved.

Case ZB-21-03, Dimensional Variance: Mr. Kazarian moved to approve the applicant’s request for a use variance; Mr. Flores seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Kevin Marchand – Yes, Kevin Kazarian – Yes, Daniel Klotz – Yes, Ann Peckham – Yes, Andres Flores – Yes.  The applicant’s request was approved.

VI.            Adjournment

Mr. Marchand entertained a motion to adjourn.  Mr. Flores moved to adjourn; Mr. Kazarian seconded. The motion was approved by a roll call vote.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 pm.