1.      3:00pm
Application for combined Preliminary and Final Development Plan Review by Jeff Lipshires on behalf of CCE Development, LLC for adaptive reuse of an existing commercial building to establish a 8-unit multi-family dwelling structure under the provisions of Middletown Zoning Ordinance Section 728. Property located at 499 East Main Road, Tax Assessors Plat 113, Lot 27.

a.    Mr. Nash opened the meeting and shared that purpose of the meeting is to view the property and to ask questions of the applicant for clarification purposes. There should be no deliberations.

b.    Representatives of J2 Construction, representing the applicant, were present to address questions and to show the interior of the building.

c.     Discussion focused on parking, site circulation, and the proposed design of the building interior. It was noted that alterations to the exterior of the building will include the addition of windows and stairways to accommodate the proposed residential use.

d.    Reestablishing the vehicular connection to Aquidneck Ave. will be considered, but cut-through traffic has been a safety concern.

2.      3:20pm
Request of the Town of Middletown for Master Plan approval of a Major Land Development Project to construct a building to serve as a combined middle/high school, including associated parking, landscaping, and other site work, and including requests for variances from the follow sections of the Middletown zoning ordinance: Section 605 to allow a building with a footprint of 91,750 sq.ft. where 35,000 sq.ft. is permitted, resulting in relief of 56,740 sq.ft.; Sections 27B02(6)(a) & 27B02(6)(b) to allow exterior lighting that does not comply with design requirements to limit projection of light on to neighboring properties and night sky light pollution, and to allow after-hours use of exterior lighting; and Section 1304 to allow provision 348 parking spaces where 995 spaces are required, resulting in relief of 647 spaces. And request for waivers from the following design standards of Section 521 of the Middletown Rules and Regulations Regarding the Subdivision and Development of Land: Section 521.1.B.2 regarding parking lot design; 521.1.D.1 & 2 regarding exterior lighting; 521.1.E.2 regarding screening of rooftop mechanical equipment; 521.2.C regarding exterior building materials; 521.2.D.1 & 3 regarding roof design; 521.3.C regarding screening along property lines; 521.3.D. 1 & 2 regarding landscaped buffers along property lines; 521.3.D.3 regarding landscaping between building and parking lots; 521.3.F.1 & 2 regarding deciduous tree requirements. Properties located in the public, traffic sensitive (PA) zoning district at 1113 & 1199 Aquidneck Ave., Tax Assessor’s Plat 113, Lots 199 & 198A.

a.    Mr. Nash opened the meeting and shared that purpose of the meeting is to view the property and to ask questions of the applicant for clarification purposes. Members of the design team and the school building committee were present, including Ed Cifune, Justin Bernard, and Marc Thayer

b.    Mr. Cifune described the site layout. Construction phasing was discussed. The existing building will be occupied during construction of the new building. The new building is expected to be occupied in Fall 2027.

c.     There were questions about site grading, the project budget, and zoning and waiver requests. It was noted that requests for variances for exterior lighting have been eliminated and some of the waiver requests from the design requirements might also be eliminated.

d.    During the site walk an exiting stone wall was identified, which will need to be relocated to accommodate the project.

Meeting adjourned by consensus at approximately 3:55pm

Respectfully submitted, 

Ron Wolanski

Town Planner