Newport Zoning Board of Review - August 25, 2025 Meeting

The Newport Zoning Board of Review held its regular monthly meeting on August 25, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. The board addressed a light agenda including two abbreviated summary re-approvals and one full hearing petition. All five regular voting members (Chairman Wick Rudd, Vice Chair Nicole Chevry, Secretary Dave Riley, Russell Johnson, and Bark Rhymes) were present, along with alternates, establishing a quorum. No recusals were noted.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of the June 23, 2025 meeting were approved unanimously.
• Minutes of the July 28, 2025 meeting were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No oral public comments were made during the meeting. However, written objections were received for the Bay Coast Bank petition (two letters) and written support letters for the Linda Pereira petition (five letters). The board acknowledged these submissions.

Discussion Items

• Abbreviated Summary – Bay Coast Bank (ZBR-25-63): Petition for re-approval of dimensional variances to construct a new bank branch with drive-through at 137 Broadway. The previous approval had lapsed due to delays in construction. The board granted the petition with a condition that the project be started and substantially completed within 12 months of the decision. The vote was 5-0.
• Abbreviated Summary – Jessica Phillips (ZBR-25-66): Petition for re-approval of a special use permit and dimensional variance to construct an in-ground pool at 108 Catherine Street, increasing lot coverage from 16% to 18.2% (15% allowed). The board granted the petition with a 12-month completion condition. The vote was 5-0.
• Full Hearing – Linda Pereira (ZBR-25-60): Petition for a dimensional variance to add two bedrooms to a two-bedroom guest house at 3 Goodwin Street without providing the required two additional off-street parking spaces. The applicant testified that the property has two on-site parking spaces and that rentals are typically to families using only one or two vehicles. The board granted the variance with a condition that the dimensional variance sunsets upon sale of the property. The vote was 5-0.

Key Outcomes

• All three petitions were approved unanimously (5-0 each).
• Bay Coast Bank: Approval conditioned on starting and substantially completing the project within 12 months.
• Jessica Phillips: Approval conditioned on starting and substantially completing the project within 12 months.
• Linda Pereira: Dimensional variance granted subject to a sunset provision that the variance expires upon sale of the property; no requirement to lease additional parking spaces.
• Several other petitions were continued to the September 22, 2025 meeting by request of the applicants.
• The meeting adjourned after approximately 37 minutes.