North Kingstown Planning Commission Meeting - December 3, 2024
North Kingstown Planning Commission Meeting - December 3, 2024
The North Kingstown Planning Commission met on December 3, 2024, at 7:00 PM in Town Hall. The meeting covered four main agenda items: a cost estimate for the Post Road Apartments, a decision on the preliminary plan for The Edge Apartments, a waiver request for the North Kingstown Food Pantry, and public hearings for a digital menu board at Dunkin'. The Commission approved the cost estimate, approved the preliminary plan with one abstention, granted the waiver request unanimously, and held public hearings on the digital menu board, approving zoning relief contingent on development plan approval and continuing the final decision to December 17, 2024.
Consent Calendar
- No consent calendar was listed on the agenda. All items were considered under General Business.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 3d/3e – Digital Menu Board (Dunkin'): One member of the public, Rick, asked whether the sign would be set back. The applicant clarified the sign was moved further to the rear and center of the building, facing Home Depot. No other public comments were made.
Discussion Items
- 3a – Cost Estimate: Post Road Apartments: Staff presented a revised construction estimate of $3,322,651.71, reflecting minor changes in sewer pipe costs (6-inch and 8-inch PVC pipe). The applicant was not present but had agreed to the estimate. The Commission unanimously approved the estimate (6-0).
- 3b – Decision: Preliminary Plan – The Edge Apartments: The Commission reviewed a draft decision for a major land development comprehensive permit for two 28-unit apartment buildings on Devils Foot Road. The decision was amended with minor formatting and repetitive language edits. The Commission voted 5-0-1 (one abstention due to absence during the original presentation) to approve the decision as amended.
- 3c – Waiver Request: North Kingstown Food Pantry: The Food Pantry requested relief from several preliminary checklist requirements for a minor land development at 445 School Street (zoned Public). Staff recommended granting relief for items B, C2, D8, D9, E1, and E2 (including administrative and project review fees). The fee waiver had been approved by the town manager. The Commission unanimously granted the relief.
- 3d/3e – Public Hearing: Digital Menu Board (Dunkin'): The Commission held a combined public hearing for a zoning variance and unified development review (preliminary and final) for a 19.98 sq ft digital menu board at 1241 Ten Rod Road. The applicant, Joe Gavin, stated the board would replace an existing static menu board, be smaller, and incorporate ambient light dimming. The board displays customer orders and pricing, with menu content changing quarterly. The existing sign had deteriorated. The Commission discussed three dimensional variances: (1) lowest portion of sign above 7 ft (requested variance 5 ft 2 in), (2) image change frequency exceeding once per 12 hours, and (3) sign size exceeding 8 sq ft (variance of 11.98 sq ft). The Commission noted the sign's location in a drive-through, low speeds, and lack of visibility from Ten Rod Road. They made a positive motion on zoning relief, then amended it to include a condition that the relief is void if the development plan is not approved. The development plan review findings were discussed, and the Commission made a positive motion to recommend approval, but continued the final decision to December 17, 2024, to allow staff to prepare a written decision.
Key Outcomes
- Post Road Apartments Cost Estimate: Approved unanimously (6-0).
- The Edge Apartments Preliminary Plan: Approved as amended (5-0-1, with one abstention).
- North Kingstown Food Pantry Waiver: Granted unanimously (all items requested).
- Digital Menu Board (Dunkin'):
- Zoning relief approved (with condition that it is contingent on development plan approval).
- Development plan review given a positive recommendation, but final decision continued to December 17, 2024.
- The meeting adjourned after the above actions.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024 Planning Commission meeting. First item on the agenda, item 3A is a cost estimate for post-road apartments. We do have an minor change to the copy that was originally handed out. And because it was last minute, I don't believe everybody has it, but it's a minor change in some uh water pipe costs on page four, items line one and two. And I do have I'm sorry? I'm sorry, the sewer. I'm sorry, that the uh the so that'd be page five items one and two. I think we did change the water oh no, yeah, water water six inches zero. Sorry about that. I told you water before it was it's just a sewer light uh line items number one and two, um, the six-inch diameter PVC pipe and the eight-inch diameter PVC pipe. I believe those are those were the only two that I changed. So the the change results in the grand total being three million three hundred twenty-two thousand six hundred fifty-one dollars and seventy-one cents. And again, this is a uh the breakdown on the back as we discussed at the last meeting as a guide for us, and the bond is in uh the totality of the project. So we have the three three million three hundred twenty-two thousand six hundred fifty-one dollars seventy-one cents. I believe the applicant's attorney is here and they're agreeable with that amount. Oh, you, Peter. No, the applicant is not here for that one. Oh, okay. Oh, no, this isn't yours. He's here for the next one. Oh, okay. Next. Uh but I sorry, Peter. No, they were comfortable with the estimate, so they are not here. Oh, so they're not here at all. Okay. Uh so with that, would anyone like to make a motion to accept the estimate as uh of revised? I'll make that motion that we accept the uh estimate as revised. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? 6-0. Uh next item on the agenda is a decision uh preliminary plan application of Moran properties. I believe this would be you, Peter. Sorry about that. Uh of third 1130, Tenrod Road, D 206, North Kingstown for a major land development comprehensive permit project for lower moderate income housing entitled The Edge Apartments, formerly quantitative apartments for two 28 unit apartment buildings located at Devil's Foot Road, Assessors Plat 181, Lot 13 and 28, and assesses plat 147, lot 37 in a post-road zone in a zone to be determined. And we have a uh draft decision that was sent to us and resent again today after review with uh a small amount of of edits. Uh I didn't think that any of them were uh substantive, they were more format. Um some things that maybe were a little repetitive and some rewording. Uh does anyone have any additions uh to this? Uh there are no comments, or anybody would like to make a motion to approve the decision as amended. I'll make that motion to be approved. The decision is amended. Is there a motion and a second? Is there any discussion? All in favor? Aye.
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