Jun. 2, 2025 - Planning Special Meeting Site Visits

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350 East Main Road, Middletown, RI 02842 (401) 849-4027 | MiddletownRI.com |

PLANNING BOARD MINUTES

Special Meeting – Site Visit

June 2, 2025

Board members present

Paul Croce, Chair

Charlie Vaillancourt

Mike Fenton

BJ Owen

Steve Huttler

Also present

Anita Guo, Principal Planner

Members absent

Leon Amarant

Joe Pierik

The Board conducted a site visit to the properties that are the subject of the applications listed below. The purpose of the meeting is for Planning Board members to view the subject properties.

1.     3:00pm, 59 Aquidneck Ave. - Application of 59 Aquidneck, LLC for combined preliminary and final Plan approval for a minor land development project for adaptive reuse of an existing commercial building to establish a 6-unit multi-family dwelling structure under the provisions of Middletown Zoning Ordinance Section 728, including requests for waivers from certain provisions of the commercial development design requirements of Section 521.3 of the Middletown Rules and Regulations Regarding the Subdivision and Development of Land regarding landscaping. Property located at 59 Aquidneck Ave., Tax Assessors Plat 115SE, Lot 169

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

b.     Present were the property owner, his attorney Dave Martland, and engineer Lyn Small. Mr. Martland went over the proposed layout, landscaping, pervious paver areas, and building materials.

c.      Mr. Huttler arrived.

d.     The Board asked questions about number of parking spots, signage, and location of mechanical equipment which Mr. Martland and others addressed.

2.     3:20pm, 525 Broadway, Newport - Application of 525 Broadway, LLC for Master Plan approval of a Major Land Development Project for a conventional multi-family dwelling project seeking approval from the Middletown Planning Board for 7 dwelling units. The application includes requests for variance from Middletown Zoning Ordinance to allow a conventional multi-family dwelling project, where it is currently not permitted in R-10 zoning district. The applicant further seeks variances from the Middletown Zoning Ordinance as follows: from the front setback requirements; from the lot coverage requirements; from the prohibition on more than one dwelling unit or principal building on a lot; from the distance between principal buildings; from the minimum developable land area per dwelling unit requirements; from the parking requirements; from the square footage of living space for one-bedroom units standards; from the height requirements; and from the open space ratio requirements.   Property identified as Tax Assessor’s Plat 108SW, Lot 151 (nearest intersection is West Main Road and Miantonomi Ave., within 1/10th of a mile).

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

b.     Present were the property owner Conor Melville, his attorney Matt Leys, and architect. Mr. Leys went over the proposal to build 44 total units on the site, that crosses town borders, with 7 units in Middletown. The units will be for long-term workforce housing with 43 of them one-bedroom units. Mr. Leys also went over the requested zoning variances including the multi-family dwelling use, front setback, parking, and height.

c.      The Board asked questions about building design, landscaping, and parking which Mr. Leys and others addressed.

Meeting adjourned by consensus at approximately 3:45pm

Respectfully submitted,

Anita Guo

Principal Planner