North Kingstown Planning Commission Meeting - September 16, 2025
North Kingstown Planning Commission Meeting - September 16, 2025
The North Kingstown Planning Commission met on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 7:00 PM to discuss several agenda items including a development plan review waiver for the Rhode Island Computer Museum, a cost estimate reduction for Pinewood Village, an update on the Harbor View wall modification, and a proposed change to the meeting start time. The commission also continued a zoning text amendment request from A&B Holdings, LLC.
Consent Calendar
- There were no consent calendar items. All items on the agenda were discussed and voted on individually.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments or testimony were recorded during this meeting.
Discussion Items
- 3A – Development Plan Review Waiver Request (Rhode Island Computer Museum): The applicant requested a waiver from development plan review to establish a museum at 1051 Ten Rod Road in the Wickford Junction District, located in a groundwater recharge area. Staff noted that there would be no construction or site improvements except for a necessary handicap ramp, and water use would be minimal. The commission unanimously approved the waiver. (Motion by member, seconded, all in favor.)
- 3B – Cost Estimate Reduction (Pinewood Village): The developer, Tony Fiore, requested a reduction in the cost estimate for the project to allow the first certificates of occupancy. The bond amount would be reduced consistent with completed work, and staff agreed to administratively split the approved number into two phases due to DEM restrictions on septic systems. The commission approved the reduction and the administrative phasing. (Motion by member, seconded, all in favor.)
- 3C – Potential Modification to Harbor View Final Approved Plan: This item concerned a wall constructed without approvals. Staff had requested additional information. Tony Fiore reported that obtaining information from the engineer is in progress, with hopes to provide materials in October for staff review. The commission moved the discussion to the November 4, 2025 meeting. (Motion by member, seconded, all in favor.)
- 3D – Zoning Text Amendment (A&B Holdings, LLC): The applicant requested a continuance for the proposed amendment to the Neighborhood Business District zoning ordinance. The commission voted to continue the item, with no specific return date set, and it will be placed back on the agenda at the applicant’s request. (Motion by member, seconded, all in favor.)
- 3E – Discussion/Vote on Moving Meeting Start Time: The commission debated changing the regular meeting start time from 7:00 PM to an earlier time. A motion to start at 6:00 PM failed due to lack of a second. A subsequent motion to start at 6:30 PM was made and seconded. After discussion, the motion passed with a vote of 5 in favor and 1 opposed (Commissioner Kerr dissented). The new start time of 6:30 PM will be implemented for future meetings.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Development Plan Review Waiver for Rhode Island Computer Museum (unanimous).
- Approved: Cost Estimate Reduction for Pinewood Village with administrative phasing (unanimous).
- Moved: Harbor View discussion to November 4, 2025 meeting (unanimous).
- Continued: Zoning Text Amendment application by A&B Holdings, LLC (unanimous).
- Approved: Change meeting start time to 6:30 PM (5-1 vote, with Commissioner Kerr dissenting).
- Approved: Minutes of September 2, 2025 with amendments (unanimous).
- Adjourned: Meeting adjourned after approval of minutes.
Meeting Transcript
Been posted with the Secretary of State's website. Unless there's an objection, I'd like to move item 3D to the top. Nicole, we have a request to postpone. Yes. Sorry. Finding three days. So I think that at this point in time, we'll hold it in abeyance. And well, do you think I need to continue to certain date because it they're asking to continue it? Probably not. It's the amendment. It's not a hearing. They're past the time frames already. And it's by their request. So we will just put it back on the agenda when they are ready to put it back on the agenda. So you need no action, no vote? No. I would vote to con I vote to allow the continuance to happen. Okay. So I'd entertain the motion. I'll make a motion that we continue um item 3D, the A and B holdings. Second. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? The ayes have it. Uh we can go back to the top of the list now. 3A, a development plan review waiver request to request a waive development plan review for the Rhode Island Computer Museum to establish a museum use at 10510 Road, North Kingstown, Rhode Island, 02852 in the Wickford Junction Plaza Zone Wickford Junction District located in the groundwater recharge area. You've seen these before in our ordinance. Any um basically anything for anybody in the groundwater is required to go through development review, but there is a section that's section six eight point zero, which allows for the applicant to request a waiver from that process. Um that waiver is for situations where there's no construction or site improvements happening at the site, and that is what we believe to be happening with this particular applicant. So when they propose they put in for their building permit, we suggested that they go this route instead of an actual full application process. Um it is our understanding that there will be minimal water use. In fact, they provided you a letter which is in your pocket too. Mineral water use, um, no change. The only change I think at the point is uh handicap ramp on the outside, which is something that I wouldn't bring for you to review either because it's sort of a necessary item in a lot of places. Um the applicant is here, I believe if you have any questions for them. Anybody? Well, it's just for whoever is what's I thought it was in here, but what's the current use? I think it's vacant, but Becky and I were just talking that it may have been a medical uh walk-in clinic or something prior. Oh, it's there were there were other uses in the building. Is that correct? Thank you. Anyone else? I would entertain a motion to approve their request for a development plan review waiver. I'll make that motion. I'll second. All in favor? Aye. All opposed? The ayes have it.
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