North Kingstown Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2026
North Kingstown Planning Commission Meeting - January 20, 2026
The North Kingstown Planning Commission met on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, to conduct a unified public hearing on the Ananda Church of Self-Realization of Rhode Island's application for dimensional variances and combined preliminary/final development plan review for a handicapped-access landing/ramp and an exterior condenser at 714 Ten Rod Road. The commission also received an administrative actions report and approved the January 6, 2026 meeting minutes. No final decision was made on the Ananda application; the hearing was continued to February 3, 2026.
Public Hearing Overview
- The subject property is Assessors Plat 027, Lot 002, zoned Village Residential (VR) and located in the groundwater recharge overlay and scenic overlay districts.
- Planning staff stated that three original lots were merged into one in 2023. The church/yoga studio use has existed for more than 200 years and is a vested nonconforming use, so no special use permit is required for the use.
- The application was presented as a unified development review because dimensional relief was requested, and the applicant asked to combine preliminary and final development plan review.
- The proposed and already-constructed improvements are a wood landing and access ramp, about 176 square feet, and an exterior condenser, about 4 square feet, on the easterly side of the building. The applicant came to the town after learning the completed improvements created zoning issues.
Applicant Testimony
- Attorney Andrew Scholes, representing Ananda Church of Self-Realization, said the lot predates the zoning ordinance, is about 40 feet wide, and contains a 1,400-square-foot building constructed around 1880. He said the church use can be traced back to at least 1898.
- Scholes argued that the requested dimensional variances are due to the unique, pre-existing narrow lot, were not caused by the applicant, and are the least relief needed to provide handicap access and modern heating/cooling. He stated the congregation is small, about 60 families, with roughly half attending online.
- Minister Kelly Doyle testified that typical Sunday attendance is about 16 to 18 cars, many people walk or attend online, and the grassy overflow area behind the building has not been needed in the last eight years. She noted McKay's has offered parking, and existing parking on Lafayette Road and near the property has been sufficient.
Public Comments & Testimony
- David Glidden, owner of adjacent property at 706 Ten Rod Road, said the hearing notice omitted key information about a parking plan and that an emailed request for details went unanswered; he obtained the plans only by going to Town Hall.
- Glidden expressed concern that allowing overflow parking on the grass behind the church could bring cars close to his backyard, harm views and property value, create the need for lighting that could shine into bedrooms, and eventually require resurfacing. He asked the commission to reconsider or postpone approval until the parking situation was further evaluated, and noted McKay's offered parking as a possible alternative.
Discussion Items
- Town Engineer Ali Sparks said the town ordinance prohibits parking within 25 feet of an intersection. She observed recent Sunday parking where cars were close to the road, creating sight-line problems; she did not consider the three front spaces to be the issue.
- Sparks stated that the ramp would not create significant stormwater concerns and that the rear grass area could remain acceptable for occasional overflow parking. If the surface were heavily used, compacted, or changed to gravel, more than 600 square feet of gravel would require a freshwater wetlands permit and likely additional review.
- Staff recommended that, if the application is approved, the church coordinate with the Town Engineer on an excavation permit to properly establish parking accessed from Lafayette Road. Staff also noted the church removed an extra sign, and any future additional signs would require zoning relief.
- Commissioner Joseph Donohoe and other members expressed support for the requested dimensional variance, finding that the hardship stems from the lot's unique pre-existing characteristics and that the small ramp and condenser would not alter the surrounding area.
- In the site plan discussion, commissioners considered conditions around parking enforcement, the state right-of-way, and the need to return for further review if the grass parking area ever becomes compacted or requires paving, gravel, lighting, or other improvements. A proposed condition barring parking in the Ten Rod Road right-of-way was discussed but not included because the town cannot restrict parking on the state right-of-way beyond existing rules.
Key Outcomes
- The public hearing was closed after the abutter's testimony, and the commission voted unanimously to continue the Ananda Church unified development review and variances to February 3, 2026. Staff will prepare a draft decision based on the testimony, comments, and concerns for consideration at that meeting.
- The commission approved the January 6, 2026 meeting minutes by unanimous voice vote.
- Under administrative actions, staff reported that an abutter has appealed the commission's prior cannabis decision; the appeal materials will be emailed to commissioners. No other administrative actions were reported.
Meeting Transcript
Bill 42466C. Notice on the meeting has been posted on the Secretary of State's website. General Business 3A. Public hearing of the unified development review for the dimensional variance application of Ananda Church of Self Realization of Rhode Island to construct a landing with an access ramp. And install a condenser located at 714 Tenrod Road. Assessors Plat 27 Lot 2, Zone Village Residential, excuse me. In the groundwater recharge overlay and scenic overlay districts. And it does after the zoning, but we will hear at the same time a unified development review for the combined preliminary and final plan development plan review application. I'm sorry, assessor's plat 27 lot two, zone village residential and in the groundwater recharge overlay and scenic overlay districts. Thank you. So as I mentioned in my staff report, the subject law is all one property, but previously was three separate lots. As the owner acquired the three lots, they merged them into one, and that was finalized in 2023. The existing building is utilized as a church with an associated yoga studio and a special use permit is required now to establish a religious institution in the village residential zone. However, the use has actually been there for over 200 years. So it is a vested use and a special use permit wouldn't be required for this application. The applicant has since made alterations to the site and the site is within the groundwater recharge overlay and scenic overlay district, and due to those alterations, that's what triggers this level of review. So as for um the process, the applicant has requested unified development since dimensional relief is requested and has also requested the combining of the development plan review preliminary and final stages. So consider that tonight, and if you are comfortable with that, that will be a condition of the zoning application. As for the alterations that have been made, the applicant has had a wood landing and access ramp constructed to allow easier access for people into the building as the only existing entrance right now is only accessible with stairs. The submitted narrative also requests a special use permit for the enlargement of the structure having a non-conforming use. But after internal discussion, it was deemed that this special use permit was not necessary because the improvements that were proposed and already completed for this application don't expand the non-conforming use. So the applicant did provide that and was able to show a planned to plan to establish new parking area to the rear of the building in the existing septic system, which would be accessed off Lafayette Road. And in doing that, following this application, I do recommend that a condition of approval be the applicant working with Ali Sparks, the town engineer, to properly establish that parking area through an excavation permit. The applicant was also previously exceeding the number of signs allowed on site, but that was remedied by removing an existing sign. So this is just something to note that if any additional signs are proposed in the future, there would be zoning relief required. And then I just want to make sure I didn't miss anything here. And then also in it going back to the parking again, I just want to make sure that I state in discussion with the applicant and their attorney. We know that there has been some parking off the property in the grassy area in the right of way of Tenrod Road. It's been previously utilized. As I mentioned, parking wasn't reviewed since this church has been here for many years. So if parking were to be continued there, Rhode Island DOT approval would be required to continue that. Thank you. Was it there was something in there about no parking's allowed within I think 250 feet of an intersection? Is that on the on 10rod road? There is a requirement in the ordinance for that. I believe it was Allie that brought that up. If she wants to touch base on that. It was closed. Only in order to whole site. Sorry, Ali Sparks, Deputy Director of Public Works and Town Engineer. In my memo, I did put there is a 25 the town ordinance has a no parking within 25 feet of any intersection. We have restricted parking in certain areas of Lafayette. So but not in the vicinity of the church, but with the parking issue that I saw the other day, it was within 25 feet of the intersection, which is the issue. Just out of out of curiosity, how is there a marking, or are we just is that just something as town residents were supposed to know not to park within 25 feet? Um in locations where there are issues, we put up signs, no parking here at a corner, um, but it's usually like only if people are parking there frequently. Usually there's at intersections usually just stop signs, so people aren't parking. People don't typically park within intersections. Um this is also a little peculiar with uh it's being a state right-of-way as well. So it's a little harder to I guess not necessarily harder to enforce, but Albi, that's parking on the on-street parking in the right-of-way, not the three parking places that showed in front of the building. Correct.
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