CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE
RHODE ISLAND
JOURNAL OF SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
November 26, 2013
Council Chambers, City Hall, 145 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914
7:00 P.M. Open Session
Mayor Briden calls the meeting to order at 7:03pm
Advertised East Providence Post – November 7, 14 and 21, 2013
Request for a rezoning by Community & Teachers Federal Credit Union, for property located at Lot: Map 207, Block 21, Parcel 1, 1169 South Broadway from an existing zoning of Residential - 6 to a requested zoning of Commercial -2 with conditions as outlined in the 11/21/13 Planning Board Memorandum to City Council.
Petitioner: Community & Teachers Federal Credit Union
Zoning Map Amendment - Change to Commercial 2 District: From Residential 6 District Subject to the following conditions:
1. That the use on the subject property be restricted to a bank; and
2. That in the event the property is not developed into, or used as a bank use, the property would revert to its status as Residential – 6 property on the City’s Official Zoning Map.
Comprehensive Plan Land Use Amendment – Change to Retail from Medium Density Residential subject to the following conditions:
1. That the use on the subject property be restricted to a bank; and
2. That in the event the property is not developed into, or used as a bank use, the property will revert to its status as a “Medium Density Residential” property on the Comprehensive Plan’s East Providence Central East Providence Generalized Land Use Map.
Joshua Slepkow is the attorney for the East Providence Teachers Federal Credit Union.
Ken Saunders President of the Credit Union provided testimony along with Joshua Rowen and Norman Oral engineers from Commonwealth Engineering. This is an amendment to the comprehensive plan and an amendment to the zoning map and is restricted to bank use only.
Kelly Nixon Morris, Esq. is present to give testimony for the Credit Union. She notes this is a land use study which went to the Planning Board and they found the development of the bank is consistent with the area. There were several objectives regarding the rezone of the property for development, there is an increase to the tax base relative to the area, it encourages small retail and service businesses to meet the needs of the city. The Planning Board agreed with her report and has ruled it is consistent with the comprehensive plan.
The Planning Department required a fiscal analysis of the proposal and this was included with Ms. Morris’ proposal. They found it a low impact for public services ie: it was a school district and this is a onetime renovation with permitting and utility connections adding an additional $7,000 in tax revenue during the construction portion and an annual tax revenue $21,000 per year with a value of $850,000
There was a November 20th Planning Board approval following a Planning Department recommendation. It received unanimous recommendation to the City Council.
Ken Saunders, 21 Milton Lane, Little Compton, was called to the podium. He is the current President and CEO. He has been this for 15 years and for 30 years they have been located at 362 Taunton Avenue. They have an East Providence history and were founded on May 26, 1961 by 8 teachers and were originally located under the old Central Jr. High School. After that they moved to Brightridge Avenue and then to 1075 South Broadway and then to 362 Taunton Avenue. They are growing again and this has forced them to purchase a new building close to where they were 25 years ago on South Broadway. They currently have 12 part-time and full-time employees and will be expanding adding 1-2 more employees. They have 2,800 credit union members of which 73% reside in the City a large percentage of which are teachers, fire and police. They are the only financial institution in East Providence that can say this is our home. Even checking statements are processed here. He described the building of 6 offices, an ATM and a drive up window. The hours will be Monday – Friday 9:00AM-4:30PM and Saturday 9:00AM-12:00PM. They drive up will be the same. They anticipate 90-100 days of construction. They are federally insured and federally charged and help people where a lot of other banks do not.
Joshua Rosen, from 400 Smith Street, Providence from RI Common Wealth Engineers and Consultants Inc. is the head of the site development department and project engineer. He has been an engineer for 11 years and in this position for 6.5 years. He speaks about the site plan analysis and traffic circulation, traffic impact, drainage study, utility connection, design landscaping and lighting schematics for the property and lot. The frontage is on South Broadway directly across from Church Street. There is one entrance and exit. There will be no entrances or exits onto the side street. The circulation for traffic and storm water analysis proposed an underground retention infiltration system. In this scenario they looked at the impact to neighbors, light pollution and ascetics. They proposed for the safety of customers and security four post style lights and designed the luminaries specifically to face downward. They meet international dark sky compliance and are shielded to keep on the property. It is a nice street with trees around it to shield the property. They are supplementing with lower level shrubs and arborvitaes in the back.
Assistant Mayor Rose stated that he would like to thank them for taking the time and care and concern regarding the design and affect to the neighbors.
Norman Oral, 400 Smith Street, Providence from the same office, Commonwealth Inc. is the project manager for transportation. He has been with the department for 8 years and he performed the traffic analysis. They first went out putting tubes out to count traffic and then hand counted during peak hours of the day both AM and PM and looked at pedestrians and the bank use and proposed use. They conducted an analysis of usage and a capacity analysis. They found there is no need for a signal. There is really no impact for additional cars or in the projected 20 years for additional cars. There is an existing pedestrian crossing signal to the north and a cross walk which they assume is from the former school.
Councilman Cunha asked if the entrance will have two cars both coming and going.
Mr. Oral stated yes it is wide enough with no issues.
Councilwoman Capobianco asked if they counted the cars/traffic at the current bank location.
Mr. Oral responded that the number of customers a day and assumed trips at the new location are minimal and will not add traffic.
Mayor Briden stated this is a public hearing and asked if anyone was present to speak for or against.
Candy Seel, 1340 South Broadway spoke against the plan. She stated that she has known Ken for over 30 years and considers him a friend. She adds that she knows what an asset the Credit Union has been and that they have helped so many people in need and are a charitable organization and she respects the hard work they have put going into this. She realizes this will most likely go through but she doesn’t think it’s a good use of the property. It is a residential medium density property. If you look at the land map it was on South Broadway and Google mapped it. Ms. Seel showed the Google map view and how it is surrounded by residential. She added that she went around the neighborhood and reminded people but most of the people weren't home yet adding there are many commercial areas available and empty lots too.
Steve Furtado, 17 Mason Street came forward to speak in favor stating that with all due respect to Ms. Seel feels this is an ideal location for the Credit Union and something the family would agree with. It is quiet and it’s a community use which is now freeing up property on Taunton Avenue and so now the whole property is open for a better use. He feels they will be a great neighbor.
Attorney Joshua Slepkow spoke to address the opposition to the land use report and noted in the Planning Department memorandum to the City Council it is noted they only need to consider extending the retail one block further south on South Broadway. It is not just a little isolated parcel but a natural progression from the others.
Mayor Briden asked Director Jeanne Boyle to come forward regarding the Planning Department recommendation.
Director Boyle stated they worked very closely with the applicant and they have been cooperative and responsive and committed to being good neighbors and that it is a long standing community business. In addition to the rezoning request and comprehensive plan this development was also subject to a development review process through Planning, Public Works and Fire. Members of the committee were very specific and rigorous via the zoning ordinances and it was also reviewed by the police, zoning officer and engineering department. Drainage, traffic safety, neighborhood impacts and public safety were all studied. They require zero variances and zero waivers. The change to the zoning map and the comprehensive plan is a change to a section of the map that designates this as medium density residential. The City looks at small scale retail and neighborhood retail which are comparative to the area and enhances the City. All sides took very seriously the consideration of whether it was appropriate and a compatible use of the property. They looked at the proposals over the years and those would have been a much greater change than this which is a low intensity neighborhood type business. Notices were sent to abutters and the only comments at the public hearing at Planning Board level was in support of the proposed project.
Mayor Briden asked if there were any abutters for commercial in a 200 foot radius.
Director Boyle stated the closest is 300 feet away and they are, East Bay Ice, Morning Star Bakery and Pacheco’s Market.
Mayor Briden asked if as part of the analysis, if it was determined that it was zoned residential and if it was determined contiguous and not spot zoning.
Director Boyle stated it was basically looked at as a continuation not spotting because of the location of the C2 zone and current planning. The thinking is to have these types of low intensity businesses in these residential areas for example the person who said they can walk there.
Assistant Mayor Rose thanked Director Boyle and Jim Moran for taking the time and effort with this property. He thanked the Credit Union for continuing to support the community and for the state of the art building. It’s great for all of the people in the community.
A. AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 19 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND 1998, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "ZONING."
SECTION I. Section 19-95 entitled "Districts Designated" of Article III entitled "District Regulations" is hereby amended as follows:
Parcel 1 on Assessor’s Map 207, Block 21 presently located in a Residential 6 District is hereby changed to be included in a Commercial 2 District subject to the following conditions:
1. That the use on the subject property be restricted to a bank; and
2. That in the event the property is not developed into, or used as a bank use, the property would revert to its status as a Residential-6 property on the City’s Official Zoning Map.
The Zoning Map of the City of East Providence shall be amended accordingly.
SECTION II. This ordinance shall take effect upon passage and all ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
Requested by: Planning Department
A motion to approve the Ordinance is made by Councilwoman Rossi, seconded by Assistant Mayor Rose and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
B. AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE 2010 - 2015 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
SECTION I. Map 3 of the City of East Providence 2010 - 2015 Comprehensive Plan Update entitled and "Central East Providence Generalized Land Use," is hereby amended to identify the property designated as Assessor's Map 207, Block 21, Lot 1, as Retail use subject to the following conditions:
1. That the use on the subject property be restricted to a bank; and
2. That in the event the property is not developed into, or used as a bank use, the property will revert to its status as a “Medium Density Residential” property on the Comprehensive Plan’s East Providence Central East Providence Generalized Land Use Map.
The Central East Providence Generalized Land Use Map (Map 3) of the City of East Providence, 2010-2015 Comprehensive Plan Update, shall be amended accordingly.
SECTION II. This ordinance shall take effect upon passage and all ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
Requested by: Planning Department
A motion to approve the Ordinance is made by Councilwoman Rossi, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
A motion to Adjourn at 7:46PM is made by Councilwoman Rossi, seconded by Councilman Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.