North Kingstown Planning Commission Meeting – March 18, 2025
North Kingstown Planning Commission Meeting – March 18, 2025
The North Kingstown Planning Commission met on March 18, 2025, at Town Hall to consider three main agenda items: a 78-unit major subdivision (WDIC Plat) continued from February 18, a unified development review for a McDonald's restaurant with drive-thru, and a cost estimate reduction for Sanctuary Estates. The commission also approved minutes from the March 4 meeting.
WDIC Subdivision – Preliminary Plan (Item 3A)
The commission reviewed and approved the amended preliminary plan for a 78-unit major subdivision by WDIC, LLC, located off Ipswich Boulevard and Seawynds Drive (Assessor's Plat 109, Lot 2) in the Post Road zone and Groundwater Recharge District. Discussion centered on editorial corrections to the decision document and a key issue regarding the expiration of zoning board relief. The applicant's attorney (John Cooper) expressed concern that the one-year building permit requirement for variances could expire before the multi-phase project is completed, and requested language to vest the relief with the land. After extensive debate, the commission agreed to add a new condition (to be drafted as Condition 23 by the Town Solicitor and Chair) stating the commission's support for all permits and variances to remain effective through project completion. Other changes included: deleting a condition about a retaining basin (finding 13) as it met ordinance, clarifying that the HOA is responsible for the boulder wall (replacing shared lot owner responsibility), and minor language adjustments on pages 3, 5, 7, and 12. The amended decision was approved 6-0.
McDonald's Drive-Thru – Unified Development Review (Item 3B)
The commission considered the combined preliminary and final plan application for a fast-food restaurant (McDonald's) with drive-thru window at 6975 Post Road (Assessor's Plat 147, Lot 005). Two separate votes were required: one for the requested zoning relief and one for the development plan review. Both motions passed unanimously, 6–0 each, with minimal discussion (a single editorial comment on page 3 and a note about not presuming a motion on page 5).
Sanctuary Estates Cost Estimate Reduction (Item 3C)
The commission approved a reduction of $2,387.55 to the cost estimate for the Sanctuary Estates project (Carrs Lane), based on a recommendation from the Town Engineer dated March 11, 2025. This leaves $76,530.45 remaining as the bond held. The vote was 6-0.
Other Business
- Permeable Asphalt Standards: A commissioner requested that the Town Engineer review permeable asphalt products and bring back recommendations for possible modifications to the town's roadway design standards. The engineer agreed to provide clarity and recommendations.
- Minutes Approval: The minutes from the March 4, 2025, meeting were approved 5–0–1 (one abstention by Commissioner Tracey McCue, who was absent for that meeting).
Key Outcomes
- WDIC Subdivision (Item 3A): Amended preliminary plan approved 6-0, with new Condition 23 to be drafted supporting continuation of zoning relief through project completion.
- McDonald's Drive-Thru (Item 3B): Zoning relief and development plan review both approved 6-0.
- Sanctuary Estates Cost Estimate Reduction (Item 3C): Reduction approved 6-0.
- March 4, 2025 Minutes: Approved 5-0-1.
Meeting Transcript
On the agenda item 3A is a decision preliminary plan application of W D I C L Care of Robert DeBlois 420 Scrabble Town Road Suite G, North Kingstown for a 78 unit major subdivision entitled W D I C plat, located off Ipswich Boulevard and Seawinds Drive, Assessors Plat 109, Lot 2, and the Post Road Zone and Groundwater Recharge District. This was continued from February 18th, 2025. I see the applicant and the engineer here. Eric actually handed me a couple of some are they're very editorial in nature, but I I do want to go over them with you because we have we should correct correct them. And then um there's a few other ones um that I want to share with you guys too. And the copy you have in front of you is the red line version reflecting a edit that Pat, a couple of edits that Pat had sent me. Okay. So how about if we recall them page by page? Sure. Becky and um then as you have stuff, we'll let you go first. And okay. So on the first page should be very little subject. Yeah, it's just the only thing um of note is it is an applicable document. It was submitted, but the night trade the applicant wasn't certain since we're withdrawing the nitrate loading um report. We're not considering that because of the sewers, whether or not we should list it as an applicable document or not. It's number three. Okay. I mean the documentary. Because it does have it was submitted, but it had you know the town engineer had concerns about the way the calculations were done, so we had decided since we weren't considering it that we were gonna withdraw. So again, it's up. I don't know, James, how you feel about that, whether because it was submitted we should keep it in there. It we will keep it in the record if the sewers are connected. That's fine too. It's not gonna make an issue. All right. Uh page two. Yeah, again, just editorial um in the applicable plans. It had we have to correct the sheet numbers under number one to nineteen sheets. Um, and I think the date, a revision date in the landscape plans. So we just to be 1219 2024. Okay, and which which number was that? Number two, under applicable plans. Yep. So there's and then the same on the next page, just to um change it to the right number of sheets and the revision date. Okay, so you're on page three. Yep, sorry. Okay. Anything on page, nothing on page two. That's it for those for me. Yep. Page three. And number three record plan again, changing the a revision date to 1217 24 in six sheets. And then you can see the two changes in the track changes mode from Pat. Okay. Uh page four. Um I think this one ended up being okay. I think the applicant had a question about 11A, whether or not that was 11A would be on page five. Yes, four. I have different page numbers. Four of twelve.
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