Cranston Planning Commission Meeting – April 7, 2026
Cranston Planning Commission Meeting – April 7, 2026
This meeting of the Cranston Planning Commission covered multiple agenda items including extension requests, zoning board recommendations, a unified development review, and a pre-application presentation. The Commission handled public comments, staff reports, and voted on several matters. The meeting began at 6:24 PM and adjourned around 10:15 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The minutes from a previous meeting were approved with an edit noting Commissioner Coop's attendance. Commissioner Lampier abstained.
- Knight's Corner Development Extension: The Commission granted a two-year extension (until May 2, 2027) for the master plan approval, as requested by the applicant. The motion passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Praised Tabernacle Youth Center: Several residents spoke in opposition, citing concerns over parking, stormwater management, and the variance requests. A petition of 41 names was presented. Ward One Council Member Bridget Graziano urged conditions for on-site stormwater management and a traffic study.
- Praised Tabernacle LED Sign: Multiple residents and Council Member Graziano opposed the LED sign, citing traffic safety, visual clutter, precedent concerns, and light pollution. Data on accidents at the intersection (2023: 5, 2024: 7, 2026: 11) was presented.
- Dalio Marcado/Roosevelt Associates (Fontaine Ave): One resident spoke against the subdivision, citing lack of parking and increased density.
- Lake Street Villa: A neighbor read a list of eight technical objections regarding building height, parking, stormwater design, and ADU compliance. Photos of flooding were submitted.
- Cipriano Plat: Residents of Henry Street and Warwick Avenue opposed the subdivision, citing inadequate parking for the existing three-family (actually three units), traffic safety, and narrow streets.
Discussion Items
- Praised Tabernacle Youth Center (Zoning Recommendation): Staff recommended a positive recommendation to the Zoning Board for relief from front setback (4.06 ft) and lot coverage (30.5% to 37.8%). The Commission discussed the legality of imposing conditions, stormwater management, and parking. The motion for a positive recommendation passed unanimously.
- Praised Tabernacle LED Sign (Zoning Recommendation): Staff recommended a negative recommendation, citing incompatibility with neighborhood character and traffic safety. The Commission voted to add specific language about pedestrian and vehicular safety. The negative recommendation passed unanimously.
- Dalio Marcado/Roosevelt Associates (Fontaine Ave): Staff recommended negative recommendation due to out-of-character density. The Commission voted unanimously for a negative recommendation.
- Richie Application (66 Clements Street): Staff recommended positive recommendation. The Commission voted 4-3 in favor (Chairman, Commissioner Mancini, Coop, and Carrero in favor; Commissioners Exter, Lampier, and Barberi opposed).
- Rose Marley Sign (529 Reservoir Ave): Staff recommended positive recommendation for two wall signs despite existing LED violations on the property. The Commission debated whether to consider the existing violation. Solicitor advised that the application should be judged on its merits. The motion for positive recommendation passed 5-2.
- Lake Street Villa (UDR): Staff recommended approval for a subdivision with ADU. The Commission discussed density, parking, and stormwater. The chair noted the application lacked relief for three-family parking. The motion to grant zoning relief failed 3-3. The application was denied.
- Narragansett Boulevard Condos (Pre-application): The applicant presented a 19-unit multifamily project on 2.16 acres. The Commission discussed site access, flood zone (VE zone), stormwater, parking, and affordability. No vote was taken; a site visit was suggested.
- Auburn Plateau (Norfolk Street): Staff recommended approval. The Commission voted to grant zoning relief and approve the subdivision (4-1, Commissioner Lampier dissenting).
- Cipriano Plat (118 Warwick Ave): Staff recommended approval. A resident revealed the existing building is a three-family, requiring six parking spaces. The applicant acknowledged three cars. The Commission voted unanimously to deny due to inadequate parking relief not requested.
- Vaughn Lane Continuation: The Commission voted to continue the matter to May 5, 2026, with a potential special meeting in May.
Key Outcomes
- Knight's Corner Extension: Approved (unanimous).
- Praised Tabernacle Youth Center: Positive recommendation to Zoning Board (unanimous).
- Praised Tabernacle LED Sign: Negative recommendation to Zoning Board (unanimous).
- Dalio Marcado/Roosevelt Associates: Negative recommendation to Zoning Board (unanimous).
- Richie Application (66 Clements St): Positive recommendation to Zoning Board (4-3).
- Rose Marley Sign: Positive recommendation to Zoning Board (5-2).
- Lake Street Villa: Denied (motion failed 3-3).
- Auburn Plateau (Norfolk St): Zoning relief and subdivision approved (4-1).
- Cipriano Plat (118 Warwick Ave): Denied (unanimous).
- Vaughn Lane: Continued to May 5, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Evening, everyone, we'll get this meeting going. First item. Call the meeting to order. First item on the agenda is approval of the minutes. Are there any addresses to any edits to those minutes? Commissioner Coop. Um who is the missing commissioner? It was me. Oh, uh, thanks for pointing that out. Do you want to be recorded? Were you in the A or the Nay? Well, the vote was four to threes, and I made the motion, so I assume that I was the A. Yes, that's right. I remember okay. There are any other edits. Okay. All right. So can I have a motion to adopt the minutes with the edit so made by Commissioner Coop to the minutes? Move by Commissioner Coop. Seconded by Commissioner Mancini. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying aye. All those opposed say nay. Ayes have it. Go ahead, Commissioner Lampier. Um, Mr. Chairman, I was not at that meeting, so I abstained from voting. So Commissioner Lampier will be listed as uh abstention on that vote. Next item on the agenda is night's corner development. Is the applicant here and wishes to be heard on this extension? Good evening. Um president, members of the planning commission, Robert Murray, 21 Garden City Drive in Cranston. I'm here tonight on behalf of the uh developer applicant uh 333 Main Street LLC. Um we're here for uh would would be the last statutory extension allowed for the master plan approval that was granted in 2023. We had an automatic two-year vesting. Uh last year you granted an extension, uh, one extension until May 2nd. Uh under Ion General Law 45239, we will be entitled to one additional year. Um, my the letter that the uh applicants submitted requested consideration for a two-year extension until um uh 2020 until May 2nd, 2027. The only reason for that is um obviously people are have interest in this project. Uming has not been great in terms of the economy, construction, tariffs, you name it. So we uh uh but we're working with a partner right now towards uh bringing this project alive. Um just in an abundance of caution, I'd ask consideration for a two-year extension of the master plan. Um there any questions for Mr. Murray on his extension request. Okay, does the staff have anything they'd like to state at this point? The conditions have not changed. I don't see any reason to not grant this extension. Okay, all right. Unless there's anything further, uh motion to grant the extension as requested would be in order at this time. Commissioner Lampier, Mr.
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