North Kingstown Planning Commission Meeting – January 6, 2026
North Kingstown Planning Commission Meeting – January 6, 2026
The North Kingstown Planning Commission met on January 6, 2026, at 6:30 PM at Town Hall. The meeting addressed two main agenda items: a waiver request for a mini-storage facility development plan checklist requirement and a decision on a unified development review for a hybrid cannabis retail store. The commission also approved the minutes from the previous meeting and adjourned.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of December 16, 2025: Approved unanimously. Commissioner Roach recused himself from the later cannabis item but participated in the minutes vote.
Discussion Items
- 3A – Waiver Request for DPR Checklist Requirement (915 Ten Rod Road): The applicant, 915 TRR, LLC c/o Richard Storti, requested a waiver of the requirement to obtain a Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) Permit Application Package (PAP) prior to completeness approval for a proposed development of three 16,000-square-foot mini-storage facilities on a site in the General Business (GB) zone and groundwater recharge overlay district. Planning staff noted that under new state laws, such prior approval is no longer needed for completeness, and they supported the waiver. The waiver does not eliminate the need for a PAP but allows the project to proceed before the planning board while the PAP is processed, given state agency delays. The commission voted unanimously to approve the waiver.
- 3B – Decision on Unified Development Review for Hybrid Cannabis Retail Store (6670 Post Road): The commission considered a draft decision for Alternative Options, LLC/Bonsai Buds/Jason Calderon to operate a hybrid cannabis retail store in the Post Road (PR) zone. The draft decision included findings and conditions. Commissioner McCue raised concerns about potential impacts and had requested information from the Warwick Police Department regarding their experience with similar cannabis stores. She stated she ultimately contacted Warwick herself and learned there were no issues with loitering or public safety. A heated exchange occurred between Commissioner McCue and applicant’s attorney Michael Resnick over the handling of that inquiry. Chief Urban of the North Kingstown Police Department had previously indicated no objection to the application. Commissioner Donohoe noted his own prosecutorial experience and opined that cannabis-related incidents are not a significant public safety concern. The commission then voted on two separate motions.
Key Outcomes
- Special Use Permit (Zoning Relief) for Cannabis Store: Motion made and seconded to grant the special use permit. The motion passed with 4 in favor and 1 opposed (Commissioner McCue voting no).
- Preliminary and Final Development Plan Approval with Conditions: The commission approved the combined preliminary and final development plan subject to five conditions:
- The applicant must submit a response from RIDOT regarding the submitted letter of applicability prior to obtaining any change-of-tenancy or building permits; if RIDOT requires a PAP, it must be addressed.
- The applicant shall work with the fire department to establish safe and adequate access consistent with the lockbox key card access system.
- Lighting fixtures must comply with Section 14.3 of the Subdivision and Land Development Regulations (Post Road District Standards and Guidelines); the proposed fixtures shall be reviewed and approved administratively by the planning department before permits are issued.
- A parking plan in conjunction with other businesses on the site must be submitted to the planning department to ensure consistent availability, including designated parking spots and identification of a loading space, prior to permits.
- The applicant shall meet with the police department to review the security plan.
The motion passed with 4 in favor, 1 opposed (Commissioner McCue voted no). Commissioner Roach had recused himself from this item. The meeting adjourned shortly thereafter.
Meeting Transcript
The meeting has been noticed by the Secretary of State pursuant to RIGL 42466C. Nicole, unless something else, we'll go straight to General Business 3A. Sure. 3A is a waiver request for the development plan review checklist requirement for a combined preliminary and final plan. Care of Richard Stority for the construction of three 16,000 square foot mini storage facilities and associated improvements located at 915 Tenrod Road, Assessor's Plat 113 lot 20 in a general business zone and a groundwater recharge overlay district. Good evening. This request is not to not obtain a DOT PAP, but to eliminate the need to gain the PAP prior to a completeness approval. So this is interesting because in the past we've had these requests and we would have told you that we're not in favor of them as staff, but with the new laws in place for all other approval processes, you do not need this level of approval before going in front of the board or getting completeness. So of that, we do feel that there um we support this request for um for the waiver. Again, this is not waiving the need for the PAP for the project. It's really for them to get in front of you while they're working on that process. And we do know that many of the state agencies, now that they are doing their online permitting systems, they've hit a little bit of a lag and they are behind on their approval processes. So it's taking a little while for some of these. Um this will help move forward on our side. And if there are any issues with the PAP, obviously we'd ensure that they came back to you or that was addressed as part of their approval process. Anyone have any questions for Nicole or for the applicant? Engineer. I would I'm good. Would you entertain we need you need a motion and approval to waive? We do. Yep. I would entertain a motion to waive the requirement of a PAP permit. I'll make that motion. Again, you're not waiving the requirement of the PAP permit. You're waiving the requirement of it as part of the checklist. As part of the original checklist, right? Right. I'll make that motion. Second. I have a second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Thank you. Thank you. Uh I would like to, unless I have an objection, move the minutes up to next since Pat is going to be recusing himself from the final. Um has everybody had a chance to read the minutes? Any changes, concerns. Uh entertain a motion to approve the minutes of December 16th, 2025. I'll make that motion to approve the December 16th, 2025 minutes. Second. All in favor? Aye. All opposed. And that you are going to you did recuse and you'll recuse yourself from the decision of item 3b. Two weeks. Yep. Enter and I. Uh it's the decision, the unified development review for the combined preliminary and final development plan review and special use permit request. Application of alternative options, LLC, Bonsai BUDS, Jason Calderon, 30 Sylvan Drive, East Greenwich, Rhode Island, 02818, to operate a hybrid cannabis retail store located at 6670 Post Road, Assessors Plat 157 Lot 110, Zone Post Road.
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