Sep. 30, 2024 - Special Meeting - Site Visits

PLANNING* DEPA*RTMENT

TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN

350 East Main Road, Middletown, RI 02842

(401) 849-4027 | MiddletownRI.com

PLANNING BOARD MINUTES

Special Meeting – Site Visit

September 30, 2024

Board members present

Leon Amarant

Bill Nash

Mike Fenton

Art Weber

BJ Owen

Joe Pierik

Also present

Ron Wolanski, Town Planner

Member absent

Charlie Vaillancourt

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

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.

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