North Kingstown Planning Commission Meeting - May 19, 2026
North Kingstown Planning Commission Meeting - May 19, 2026
The Planning Commission met on May 19, 2026, to consider three general business items: two waiver requests and a pre-application review for a conservation development. The meeting also included approval of minutes from May 5, 2026.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were heard, as the pre-application review was not a public hearing.
Discussion Items
3a. Waiver Request – North Kingstown School Department (Middle School at 250 Tower Hill Road)
- The School Department requested a waiver of the Major Land Development checklist requirement for a combined preliminary and final plan application. Staff reported that the applicant is still developing an irrigation strategy (wells vs. municipal connection) but considered the waiver acceptable to move forward. Commissioner McCue sought assurance that if municipal connection is needed, written approval from the town would be required. The commission unanimously approved the waiver.
3b. Waiver Request – Dina Realty, LLC (486 Dry Bridge Road)
- The applicant requested a waiver from the Development Plan Review checklist to not submit a landscape plan and to not have it prepared by a registered landscape architect (RLA). The applicant (Atlantic Tree and Landscaping) argued they could landscape the site themselves. Staff and commissioners expressed concern about ensuring landscape requirements are met without a stamped plan. Patricia Walker (applicant's engineer) explained they were willing to provide a planting plan but wanted a waiver for the RLA requirement. The commission voted not to grant the waiver for the landscape architect stamp, requiring a landscape plan prepared by a registered landscape architect.
3c. Pre-Application Review – MTM Corporation (2180 Tower Hill Road – 12-unit conservation development)
- Staff presented the pre-application for a major subdivision using conservation development. The site is 25.4 acres in the Rural Residential zone, with 12 condominium units and one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in an existing garage. The ADU does not count for density per state law. The development would use an existing driveway off Tower Hill Road, with a private road and cul-de-sac. The property lies in the CRMC Narrow River SAMP, requiring additional approvals. The yield plan showed 12 lots, but commissioners noted ledge outcrop was not excluded from the density calculation. Applicant engineer Eric Prevey explained the conceptual layout, focusing on preserving open space (minimum 60%) and using existing cleared areas. Commissioners expressed general support, with comments on bus stop location (preference for Gilbert Stewart Road), individual wells, driveway easements for neighboring properties, and unit bedroom counts. The planning department supports the pre-application. The applicant will refine plans for the master plan stage.
Key Outcomes
- Waiver 3a (NK Schools): Approved unanimously.
- Waiver 3b (Dina Realty): Motion to not grant the waiver for the landscape architect plan (i.e., require a stamped plan) passed unanimously. The applicant must submit a landscape plan prepared by a registered landscape architect.
- Pre-Application 3c (MTM Corporation): No formal vote; the commission provided feedback and expressed general support to advance to the master plan stage.
- Minutes of May 5, 2026: Approved with a correction (adding a motion to continue 915 Road testimony to June 2, made by Tracy, seconded by Meg).
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
North Kingstown. Pursuant to RIGL forty-two forty-six-six C. Notice of the meeting has been posted on the Secretary of State's website. On the agenda, general business item 3A is a rave waiver request, major land development checklist requirement for a combined preliminary and final plan unified development application of the North Kingstown School for construction of the middle school and associated improvements to be located at 250 Tower Hill Road. Good evening. They're reviewing the cost in the strategy on how they plan on irrigating the fields in the the remainder of the property. So we had the conversation at the last meeting about how we would prefer them to use wells. So it would be after your after your meeting, or this is really this is just for completeness. So they're working on putting the application together. I don't see that as an issue for moving completeness forward at this time. So we are comfortable with this waiver request from the applicant. And we've done this on other projects recently. We have, yes. A lot of in fact we do it in this case they're combining a master in preliminary, so they are including the engineering stage in it. But many, many cases we have done it for um master. In fact, we've talked about changing the checklist so that it's not at that stage too. So this is not something that we are uncomfortable with. Anyone have any questions or staff? There's a representative from the project if you have any other questions. I just want to make sure that um if they do have to connect, that they will be coming back with us with a written that's correct. If they want to connect to the municipal system, they have to do hydraulic modeling and get approval. We have to see in writing. Right. We have to see that the system can handle it. That's part of what that's for. Okay. Um so right now they're not at the city, they're they're putting it together, but to consider this complete so they can move forward with scheduling. Um it's RNA checklist. We can't we cannot make that decision. You have to make that decision. Yeah, I understand that. I just want to make sure that moving forward, they understand that um it it if it's required, it's gonna be required in writing, not just verbal. No, no, no, they'll have to apply no different than any other development. They'll have to go through the process and you'll get they'll have to go to the town council for approval. Okay, that's all I want to make sure of. Meg, you have any? No. I'm good. Good. I would entertain a motion to approve uh the waiver request from the North Kingstown School Department for the water modeling. I'll make that motion. I have a second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. All opposed, the ayes have it. Uh item three B is a waiver request for the development plan from the development plan review checklist requirement for a combined preliminary and final plan application of Dina Realty LLC for the construction of a building for the purpose of storage and office use and associated improvements to located at 486 Drybridge Road, Assessors Platz 79, lot 48, zone light industrial, and in the groundwater wellhead overlay district. This is similar to your the request you just did. This is again, this is just for the checklist for completeness. This is not saying uh well, I guess in the situation is a little bit different.
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