North Kingstown Planning Commission Meeting - September 6, 2022
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North Kingstown Planning Commission Meeting - September 6, 2022
The North Kingstown Planning Commission met on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, at 7:00 PM in the Municipal Offices Court Room. The meeting covered a continued comprehensive permit project, two pre-applications, and approval of minutes. Key actions included a positive consensus on the Caldwell duplex and conditional approval to combine stages for the Wickford Gourmet subdivision.
Discussion Items
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Item 3a: Caldwell/North K Properties Duplex (289 Essex Road) - Continued from April, May, June, and August 2022. The final outstanding issue, architectural design, was resolved with revised plans showing side entrances instead of front doors. Fire Marshal and Building Official had no concerns. The applicant presented the plan as identical layout with relocated doors. The commission discussed findings under the Low and Moderate Income Housing Act, noting the duplex is 100% affordable, meets most standards, and requires only relief for frontage (special use permit) and duplex use in a single-family zone. Conditions included stormwater maintenance, demolition of existing garage, property line adjustment, landscaping requirements (minimum 4-foot shrubs, no Rose of Sharon at driveway end), and no front entrance.
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Item 3b: Dube/Wickford Gourmet Two-Lot Subdivision (21 West Main Street) - Pre-application for a major subdivision requiring zoning relief. The existing property has mixed zoning (Wickford Village Center, Village Residential, and Historic District). Proposed lots A and B will match existing buildings and parking, with no new construction. Key issues: frontage deficiencies (both lots need variances), shared sewer and water lines (to be separated with meters and backflow preventers), parking allocation, dumpster relocation, and potential conservation easement over wetland buffer. The commission suggested combining master and preliminary stages to save time.
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Item 3c: West Shannock Associates Commercial Condominiums (280 Dry Bridge Road) - Pre-application for 12 commercial/industrial condominium units (approx. 100,000 sq ft) in Light Industrial zone and Groundwater Protection Overlay District. Seven phases, one existing curb cut, one proposed new curb cut. On-site wastewater (nitrogen-reducing OWTS) and public water. Discussion focused on parking ratios (to be refined with final uses), stormwater management (must meet current regulations, water quality volume, pre-treatment), soil constraints, and control of future uses to avoid groundwater contamination. The applicant noted a prior 2009 approval for a similar project that was never built. No vote taken; next step is master plan with potential site walk.
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Item 3d: Carriage Hill Farm Construction Cost Estimate - Continued; not discussed this meeting.
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Minutes of August 16, 2022 - Approved with amendments to include discussion about DPW traffic concerns and Shady Lea Road access.
Key Outcomes
- Caldwell Duplex (3a): The commission gave a 4-0 positive consensus to proceed with the side-entrance design, building on findings that the project meets affordable housing standards. Formal vote scheduled for October 4, 2022.
- Wickford Gourmet Subdivision (3b): The commission voted (4-0) to conditionally combine master and preliminary stages, subject to zoning board relief approval. Staff will notify applicant of preliminary requirements.
- West Shannock Condominiums (3c): No decision made; pre-application discussion only. Applicant directed to submit a formal master plan application.
- Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Junior Caldwell, also known as North K properties LLC for a major land development comprehensive permit project for low and moderate income housing for a duplex located IN Essex Road, our property located with Cessas Plat 158 lot 21 in a neighborhood residential zone. This is continued from April 5th, May 3rd, June 21st, and August 16th, all of 2022. Hey Jim, I just want to make one note. I feel like while this is really loud. Um if we want to let anyone in the audience know scared me that we're not discussing um the construction cost estimate tonight in case anyone is here for that, maybe just let them know. Okay. So uh item three D, which is a construction cost estimate for a caratel farms, is not being heard tonight. That's being continued. If anyone was here for that, you're welcome to stay. Um, doing that. Thank you. Maybe you should switch mics up to I know you want mine. Mine's extra loud. So it'll be no. I'll just hold it away from me. They had issues with the mic today, so I don't want to do anything that turns them back off. Yeah. I'll speak loudly. Um so I think the applicant knows the process. Staff will bring us through. Um, I believe we work through just about everything on this uh application other than the architectural and that was sent to the fire marshal. We did get his comments back. Yep, and we we also did send it to the building official just to be safe so we didn't have to revisit that again. Um and the only new correspondence would be the two emails from those staff members, and neither one of them had in any concerns with the um revised design um with the doors on the ends versus the front of the building. And then um that was the only new information since the last meeting. Okay. Does any member of the commission have any questions with staff as it relates to this last outstanding item? Okay, uh no questions. Does the applicant have anything that they want to bring forward as it relates to this? Well, we we we want to have this placed on the right. Yes. Okay. So we do have the uh last time we were presented with the drawing with the side entrance to what the conversation was. Sure. I I just want to I will, I will. Thank you. Just just re just talking just touch it. Okay. Oh, there we go. Perfect. Uh attorney James Cooper. I represent um Virginia and David Caldwell Sr. And um also North K properties LLC with regard to their application for a major land development comprehensive permit project for low and moderate income housing for a duplex to be located at 289 Essex Road in North Kingstown. Um we're presenting a revised architectural plan. Um, and you've all received it. And I'd like Mr. Caldwell, uh David, if you could please identify that plan for the record. I do. David A. Paul Glory.
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