North Kingstown Planning Commission Meeting – December 13, 2022
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North Kingstown Planning Commission Meeting – December 13, 2022
The North Kingstown Planning Commission met on December 13, 2022, to elect officers, consider a waiver for a spinning studio, approve off-site affordable housing units for a subdivision, and review a farm winery proposal. All items were approved unanimously.
Election of Officers
- Chair: Jim Grundy was nominated and elected unanimously.
- Vice Chair: A motion was made and seconded; the secretary cast a single vote in favor (no other nominations).
- Secretary: Tracy was nominated and elected unanimously.
Discussion Items
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3B – Development Plan Review Waiver Request (SOCO Cycle / Spinning Studio): The applicant sought to convert a former GNC retail space into a spinning studio at Hunt River Commons (20 Frenchtown Road). Staff recommended the waiver because no exterior work or site changes were proposed. The commission discussed the need for a septic suitability determination from DEM. A motion to grant the waiver was made, amended to include septic suitability as a condition, and passed unanimously.
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3C – Minor Modification to Master Plan (Sanctuary Estates): The applicant requested approval to move two affordable housing units off-site to 620 Drybridge Road (a duplex) as part of a 16-lot subdivision. Staff noted that off-site units require a 1.5x multiplier (three units total); the applicant will address the third unit later. The commission found that the off-site location would serve future residents well, given the lack of affordable units in southern North Kingstown, proximity to a bus stop, and the absence of tenant displacement. A motion for positive consensus was made, seconded, and passed unanimously.
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3D & 3E – Development Plan Review & Special Use Permit Recommendation (Gooseneck Vineyard Farm Winery): The applicant proposed a 5,400 sq ft farm winery on three lots (17.78 acres) at 1340/1376 Tower Hill Road. Key issues included traffic safety, septic capacity, fertilizing impacts on groundwater, and scenic corridor compatibility. The applicant agreed to relocate the driveway north to address police concerns, limit food trucks to one at a time, and restrict indoor restroom use to employees until a new septic system is installed. Staff presented nine conditions. The commission approved the development plan with conditions and recommended the special use permit to the Zoning Board, both unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- David Johnston (20 Shady Lee, adjacent to winery site): Expressed general support for the winery use, noting the iconic property. He raised concerns about potential lighting spillover and requested a clear lighting plan. He acknowledged the proposed buffer plantings and appreciated the applicant's willingness to accommodate.
Key Outcomes
- 3B: Waiver granted with condition of septic suitability (vote: 6-0).
- 3C: Off-site affordable units approved, with requirement for a third unit to be identified later (vote: 6-0).
- 3D & 3E: Development plan approved with nine conditions; positive recommendation to the Zoning Board of Review for the special use permit (both votes: 6-0).
- Next Steps: Staff will prepare written findings for the 3C and 3D/3E approvals. The Zoning Board hearing for the winery special use permit is scheduled for the following week (December 14, 2022).
Meeting Transcript
Okay, we're gonna call the we're gonna call the Tuesday, December 6th, 2022 meeting to order. Um first item on our agenda since we finally have a full compliment of all of our members here. Um is an election. Is there uh we will have to elect a uh a chair, a vice chair, and uh secretary. Uh does anyone like to make a motion on that? I'll make a motion. I'll make a motion that we uh left Jim Chair Jim Grundy for chair. I second that. Okay, uh motion and a second. Can you just make sure your microphones are on mic? Can you hear them okay from where you are? Hello? Make sure they're green. You have to press the button. I did, it's green. Mine's green, but okay. Are there any other nominations? Uh hearing none uh with the secretary, Tracy, you want to cast one ballot? Sure. Okay. Thank you. Uh is there a motion for vice chair? I'll make a motion to nominate. I'll second. Okay, is the motion a second? Any uh discussion or other nominations? Hearing none, uh secretary again. I'll cast my vote. And is there a motion for secretary? Motion to nominate Tracy for Secretary. Is there a second? Second, motion and a second. Uh any other nominations? Hearing none, I will cast one vote for Tracy to be secretary. Thank you. Thank you. Uh next item 3B. Development plan review waiver request, the request to waive the development plan review approval requirements for SOCO cycle to locate a health and fitness facility in the Hunts River Commons complex at 20 French Town Road, North Kingstown. Assessors Plat 177, lot 21 zoned post road. Is the applicant here? Hi. Hi, how are you? How are you? Um doing well. Um you may not have to do a lot tonight. Um our process is staff will walk us through it if we have any questions for staff. Um and then depending on where we're at, if we do have any questions, we might ask you to come up, but may not be necessary. So this is this is one of the um use issues that we see and get questions about when we talk about our zoning ordinance where we require in our groundwater that any change of use alteration requires the development plan approval with the planning commission. Um we have situations like this, and quite quickly, most times when this comes up, the person who's looking to lease a piece of property is awfully surprised that this is an added bonus to their their application process and their ability to open open their store or restaurant or whatever it is. Um this is a situation where in the Hunt River Commons Plaza, which is where Savenshoff is in Marshall's on the north end of town, um an applicant is looking to renovate a GNC space that was a retail operation before into a spinning studio.
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