And welcome to committee and ordinance.

The time is 537.

February 11th.

Thank you all for being here today.

I'd like to um welcome councilwoman Jill Davidson who is visiting us today and is doing her uh committee uh visits.

Thank you.

Thank you for being here.

Uh Mr.

Azer from Department of Land Development, thank you for being here.

Aaron from our policy team, uh clerks, uh city solicitor, and to uh very unique and special committee members.

Thank you so much.

Um clerks, would you please call the role?

Chairman Espinal Present, Vice Chairwoman Peterson, present.

Councilwoman Harris, Councilman Vargas, President Council Royus, present in caffeine.

You have a quorum.

Thank you so much.

Uh Madam Clerk, first item on the agenda, please.

Item one.

Thank you so much.

And I have um exhibit one, which is the letter of testimony from CPC.

I'll entertain a motion to enter into the record exhibit one made by Councilman Peterson, second by Councilman Vargas.

All in favor, aye.

Opposed the ayes have it.

I also have exhibit two, which is a letter of support and testimony from an abody neighbor.

May I enter to a motion to enter into the record cement two.

Maybe Councillor Peterson.

Second by Councilman Barga, all in favor I.

Opposed the eyes have it.

And I also have a subway.

I want to take a motion to enter into the record subway.

Made by Councillor Peterson, second by Councilman Vargas, all in favor.

Aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

Thank you.

Okay.

So um my understanding is that this isn't pertaining to two oh five Union Avenue, but we uh add in uh one on nine Common Ford Street, and this is a change from uh C2s to C three.

Mr.

Aza, can you please uh summarize that for us, please?

Mr.

Chair, members of the committee.

Uh Bob Azar with the Department of Planning and Development.

This is a a uh an ordinance that was introduced by Councilman Vargas on behalf of the property owners at uh two oh five Union and one hundred nine Comerford.

This is two separate lots, but it functions as one uh piece of property.

It's got a um uh auto repair business there.

Um and this um had been um a different kind of commercial use.

I don't recall what it was previously, but the the uh the owners came in and converted it to auto repair um at some point, and it turns out that that the zoning did not allow for that use.

So this uh this ordinance would change the um zoning from C2 where vehicle repair is not permitted to C3 where it is permitted.

Um and so um the City Plan Commission was supportive of this zoning change.

They did have a couple of uh conditions um that essentially amounts to the property coming into conformance with zoning.

So even though um the use would be allowed by the C three regulations in order for them to get a um a zoning certificate that shows compliance with zoning.

Um there are some things they need to do on the site.

Uh for example, there's um a fair amount of tire storage that we we saw.

I don't I don't know the condition, but I I believe it's still there.

Uh and also um they should be doing some more landscaping of the site.

Uh but other than that, the city plan commission is in favor of uh approving this zoning change.

Thank you so much.

Any question from committee members?

Councilwoman Harris Thank you.

I I think I'm remembering this ordinance coming before us before.

Um my question was about parking.

Uh I thought in if I might remember serve me right, there was parking issues.

Umnected with this as well.

So um I don't believe this came before you there.

This is actually one of a number of auto-related uses that um that have uh applied for zoning changes.

Uh there was a there were a couple in Silver Lake, there was one on DeSoto Street.

Okay.

Um, so it's possible you're thinking about those.

Maybe I'm thinking about those.

Yeah.

This and yeah.

Yeah, this and and that was um there were a couple of these where we were concerned about the uh auto repair, like the vehicles were being were being stored on the street as opposed to on the lot.

Right.

Uh, I don't think that's an issue with that's not an issue.

I think they have ample space on their lot to to store any cars that are being serviced.

I appreciate that.

You have answered my question.

Thank you so much.

Welcome.

Thank you, Mr.

Azer.

Thank you.

Uh City Sergeant, can I get the uh anybody that's signed up to speak on this item?

Item one.

Thank you.

All right.

The uh first person on the agenda is Magali Brown.

Good evening.

Good evening, everyone.

Yeah, I am the owner.

My husband and I, we are the owners of Elmo Tires.

That's correct.

And our hope is just to continue growing our business health the community.

Okay.

We have been trying to comply with all the regulations and everything.

There was a couple of conditions uh that were added, uh which pertains to the tire to the landscaping.

Uh I'm sure they made you aware of that and you're willing to comply with that.

Yeah, right.

We took care of some of the problems.

There is still one that we can't control because they told me in order to get that certificate, we need to move through this process to the next one.

Yeah, all the other issues are pretty much taken care of.

Oh, very good.

Thank you.

Um any question from committee members.

And thank you for investing in Providence.

Thank you all for your time.

Good night.

Uh no one else has signed up to speak on this item.

Uh with that said, I'll entertain a motion to approve.

So move.

Excuse me.

I'll let a motion to close the public hearing on this item.

Made by Councilman Vargas, second by Council Woman Peterson.

All in favor, aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Uh the public hearing is now closed.

And with that, I'll entertain a motion to approve.

So move.

Second.

Made by Councilman Bartergut as amended.

Uh motion has been made by Councilman Bargain to approve as amended and second by Councilwoman Peterson.

All in favor, aye.

Aye.

Opposed the ayes have it.

Item number one is approved.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, item number two, please.

Item two.

An ordinance in amendment of chapter 27 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Providence entitled the CD of Providence only ordinance.

Thank you.

So this pertains to the science standards, which goes back to our comprehensive plan and all the work that we did for a couple of years.

That was one of the things that we uh came up with in order to make our city keep it consistent with the design that we have and so that we can have a better looking uh city.

Uh I'd like to highlight the work that the design standard committee did, uh, especially by councilwoman Ryan.

Uh and with that said, Bob, can you please uh summarize this?

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um yes, as you said in your introduction, this is uh something that was identified in the comprehensive plan as uh being important that that as we grow as a city as we add new buildings as we add new housing, that we also pay attention to uh the design of buildings.

So um the comprehensive plan specifically said that we should establish a committee um to uh evaluate our current design standards and to uh propose uh new standards where necessary.

Uh importantly, in a manner that doesn't add uh time uh or expense to the development process.

Um and uh as you said, uh councilwoman Ryan, uh former councilwoman Anthony were both champions of this.

Um the committee that we established had 14 members, it had it had um architects, it had small builders, large builders, had a representative of the Providence Preservation Society, it had two um neighborhood advocates.

Uh we also um had uh the attendance of council staff throughout this process.

Um we met um can't I can't remember how many times it was six or seven times over the summer into the fall.

Um and it was for for six months.

For six months, that's right.

Yeah, and it was and we had great uh you know we we didn't lose anybody on this committee.

Uh we staffed it with our professional staff uh um from planning and also uh inspection and standards.

Uh it was a really good process, and I think we we uh came up with some very sort of uh pragmatic um uh easy to follow standards that will um do a better job of ensuring that new development is consistent with our existing um historic uh and and beautiful built environment.

Um so I I would say that that this was this was something uh where um there was really a consensus on on what needed to be done.

I feel very good about this process.

Um and um to sort of tie this up, the city plan commission did review this back in uh October, and um they were uh very much in favor of this, and so their uh recommendation is that you approve this zoning amendment.

Thank you, Bob.

And I also want to thank you for being here last week in my absence and uh bringing all your knowledge uh pertaining to this items to the committee.

So we're very grateful to you.

Thank you so much.

Yeah, uh any case.

I I just excuse me, uh Chairman.

I just want to acknowledge also um we had we had a little um uh showing by by all of the staff that participated in in this ordinance.

So I just want to acknowledge um that that uh that they were there, they participated in this whole project process, and um I was glad to to be able to uh showcase their talents as well.

Great work, thank you.

Any question for Mr.

Azer from committee members?

Hearing none, thank you so much, Bob.

Thank you.

Thank you.

City Sergeant, can you please uh give me the list for item number two?

Thank you.

Uh the first person is Claire Cartney.

Good evening.

Good evening, thank you.

Um my name's Clara Hardy.

Um, I'm actually uh new resident to Providence.

I lived in North Providence for 20 years, and now I'm in Justin's district in North End of Providence and love living in Providence again.

Um I'm here to support this these building um design standards that have been proposed.

Um the reason I support these standards is because I'm a home-based social worker who provides counseling, advocacy, and support to our most marginalized community members in here in Providence and around um the uh metro area.

Um I have spent time um spent many times um in houses that are substandard conditions that are not only poorly built um but are often unsafe.

As we all know, we are in a housing crisis, but that doesn't mean we should cut corners and build poorly designed and substandard housing just to meet demand.

Yes, we need more housing, especially for our low-income community members, but this housing shouldn't be built to put more money in developers' pockets for them to use cheap materials and cut corners at the expense of largely our largely most marginalized community members who are the most in need of safe and quality housing.

Thank you.

Thank you, Claire.

Any questions?

Any questions for Claire?

Council More.

Not a question, uh, but a more of a praise.

I know she just said she just moved it back into Providence and into the and into the North End, and literally I don't know, the first week she's she's living in ward four, she's already engaged in neighborhood meetings.

I don't know how to replicate you.

Uh but thank you for just being engaged in an in a vowel and involved in so the north end is gonna benefit from you.

So this is the first time I've been to City Hall uh chambers before.

I'm usually up at the state house, but the first time here, so thank you.

I have a question for you.

Yeah.

Why did you choose Councilman Roy's ward?

It was all because of him.

I just moved in because of him.

Well, I I couldn't move very far because I lived in North Providence, so I just moved right over the border.

I'm like right on the border of North Providence.

So it was it was a geographical decision rather than rather than a legislative one and well, I like to say that I moved because of my dog.

My dog needed a house and a yard, so that's the ward 14 has beautiful spaces just in case you ever decide you don't like board four anymore to thank you.

I represent what uh why you know's park, just so you know.

Yes.

Thank you, thank you.

Uh Christian Vargas.

Good evening, Mr.

Vargas.

Good evening, good evening.

Hello, how are you all?

Um I'm a little nervous, not gonna lie.

So, but um keep this going.

Uh I live in um Justin's ward as well.

And um, you know, something's happening.

Ward four.

But I I grew up in uh Providence, um, you know, born and raised to immigrant families.

Um we came here, my father worked very hard.

Um I've also lived in Councilman Oscar's uh ward when I first uh moved back to Providence.

Um I only lived out of Providence about one year or two years of my lifetime.

So I live currently again back in the ward, and I'm a local builder now.

I was uh you know, I was working on electric boat.

I got the opportunity from a GED program.

I'm a high school dropout, um and I know what it's like to struggle, and so and like have the um things going against you.

I've seen tremendous gentrification since I've been born in Providence, and not just the one that happened about 2020, five years ago.

I'm talking about, you know, we're we're talking about communities that are being pushed out now.

What about the ones that were being pushed out before, right?

So there's there's been a lot of gentrification, and so I'm kind of I'm on I'm on the I'm on both ends of things.

Um I would I like to consider like by myself a fair builder.

I I build a great quality, and also when we go into a neighborhood, we do things for the neighbors.

And what we see is that when we build a home, everyone gets inspired to start fixing up their homes.

And usually they come and they talk to us, and what we do is we if it's a roof or if it's siding, we do it at cost.

You know, like we literally try to help the neighborhood, and that's how we also keep them happy.

So we provide that service, and we clean up the snow, all this stuff.

I I spent this last snowstorm in my whole ward.

I probably spent, she knows, because she was helping me out getting recovering from a sickness, but um I spent about 12, 16 hours out there rescuing people too, driving them home.

It's a few Uber drivers that got stranded on Woodward Road, and I brought them all the way home.

And thank you.

You know, you know, you're welcome.

And uh that that's just what I do, it's just in my heart, and that's that's just how I operate.

So let me get a little bit more on topic.

Um, you know, I I I gotta say I will be starting to get more um coming to these meetings more because I definitely want to help.

You know, I want to work with you guys.

You guys do an amazing job.

I look up to a lot of you guys.

So thank you for your work.

And um uh the I didn't get a chance to review all of the changes that are gonna be happening, but um I just asked that you please keep in mind some of the costs that could go into this because of all the tariffs and all the stuff that has going on, building supplies is already through the roof.

That doesn't mean that we want to use cheap materials, but we want to still help provide um affordable, somewhat affordable housing.

Because I'll tell you this me and my team, we have chosen people over profit, and I can bring multiple people that I've sold houses to for a steep discount, so because they were Providence residents and they wanted a home, they've been looking for two years, getting outbid, and we made it work for them.

And so that's that's one thing that you know I can I can attest to.

So keeping these the prices lower, um it just helps us being able to provide houses for people that actually live here in Providence.

I feel like if we start um making these houses a little more fancier, like the way that Boston does and all that kind of stuff, it's only gonna attract more Boston people to come down here and buy more of these properties.

So that's that's just what and then out getting out bid, you're gonna outbid the the regular person in Providence, you know what I'm saying?

So um there's only so much we could do there.

And um, as far as 25% transparency in the front, I think I saw that.

Um that's that's quite a bit with the small lots that we have.

It's that that's a lot of window space in the front.

Like we already work with 15% transparency, and that's quite a bit on new construction.

So, like just the structural impacts that that will happen, the way that will that will happen.

We just would like building and zoning to help us out and like come through these hurdles, you know.

So that's that's one thing I that I ask is just that the process to get a permit is about a month and a half, and that's only because we know the process.

Anyone else trying to get a permit, you're talking about three months, you know.

So it's it's not easy already.

It has improved a lot, I will say, but it's just that's just the name of the game.

So um, but I'm just here, I just want to voice that.

I want to let you all know that I'm an active member of the community.

Um, so as my family were a family family business.

Um I started again five years ago when I quit electric boat.

I was getting a divorce.

I was the world was ending right, COVID, and um I was like, you know what, I'm gonna cash out my 401k and buy a lot right in Waverly Street.

And I went all in.

So, and here I am today.

Um, I want to give back to the community, and I want to help inspire.

Like one of my goals is to start an entrepreneur center for local Providence residents, kids, high school kids leaving high school so that we can start training them up and how to be business owners.

We have a lot, we have a big industry where people come in from all these states because of our colleges.

Let's capitalize on that, and let's give our neighbor neighbors, our own people the ex the the backing and the knowledge to be able to open up businesses and create a life for themselves.

So just wanted to say that.

Thank you.

Well, thank you, Christian.

Um, I I thank you for your investment in the city.

Uh your story, which I know is one that's inspiring, you know, and I encourage you to continue on.

Uh yeah, you're always on time.

The quality of your building of your houses, uh way up there.

Uh you do great work.

Uh so I'm I'm sure you can take something like this and make the best of it.

Um so this is not so much aim at someone like you because you're very responsible builders, but we're just trying to keep something what standard and making sure that as uh city grows that we keep quality housing and also that um that is in character and and a norm with the neighborhoods that are in, but but uh you you do great work.

Uh anybody else has any question for Mr.

Vargas, Councilman Royas.

Not so much a question for Christian, but um I do want to make sure that uh if I could give give a chance for Bob to come back up and just kind of maybe give some insight.

Um Christian to talk about what those what that committee was like for with the other developers and um sort of the consensus reached about if this would put a lot apply a lot of pressure on on making the finances work and what we're asking in this ordinance, if that's helpful.

Uh you know, yeah, I appreciate that.

Yeah, Mr.

Azer, please.

Thank you, excuse me.

Thank you.

Yeah, thank you.

Um so I I do want to um address the uh ms Mr.

Vargas raised this um this issue of transparency.

Uh transparency speaks to uh when you have a a building facade, how much of it is glass, and he's right that 25% is is very high.

In fact, um the only mention of 25% is in this ordinance is where we're striking it out.

Uh we realize that that was too high of a standard for multifamily housing.

So um we we uh changed that to uh be consistent to be 15 percent on the main facade, and then um on other facades 10 percent, or depending on if you get too close to lot lines, that could get a little bit smaller.

But um, yes, we did so so as I mentioned, we had representation of um architects who uh who work on designs of both smaller uh buildings and larger commercial buildings.

Um, and then we also had builders who uh work in in you know building just houses, two-family houses, uh the typical two-family houses you see around the city, and then other people who worked on on larger projects, and so it was really um, I thought it was an interesting process of sort of give and take, where you know, we planners we we kind of came at it from the perspective of of you know, we know what we like to see, we know what historic buildings look like, we like things to be built in kind of more of a historic fashion, and then the architects who talked about um you know, like modern building standards and also building codes, and how building codes sort of force you to do certain things that um might be hard to change through zoning, and then we had the perspective of the developers who came at it and said, well, you know, the stock sort of um materials that we buy, say at Home Depot, because a lot of people buy everything they need to build a house at Home Depot, they come in certain lengths, and if you ask us to do certain things, we wouldn't be able to use those materials, it would raise costs and so forth.

So we took a lot of that into consideration as we were putting this together, and and um you know I I think we we really didn't have dissent, you know, uh on on these ultimate regulations.

I think they the people saw them as um improvements to kind of up the game a little bit, but not something that's gonna result in in um tamping down development.

Thank you, Bob.

You're welcome.

And that was the last person within the uh list.

So uh I'd like to take a motion to close the public hearing on this item.

So move motion was made by councilman Vargas, second by councilwoman Peterson or in favor, I oppose the ayes have it.

And with that said, and following the directions of the CPC, uh, I'd like to take a motion to approve.

So move.

Maybe by councilman Vargas, second by councilwoman Peterson in favor, I oppose the ayes.

Have it.

Item number two is approved.

Thank you.

Item three.

An ordinance in amendment of chapter 27 of the ordinance of the city of Providence entitled the City of Providence Zoning Ordinance approved November 24, 2014, as amended to change certain taxing articles two, four, five, nine, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, and twenty.

Two, four, five, nine, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, and twenty.

Thank you.

So this again it's it's something that we did uh a couple of times already, I believe.

Uh so every so often the states uh updates the zoning uh laws.

So we also do the same in order to comply with that.

Uh and with that said, uh, Mr.

Aiza, you please uh give us a rundown on this.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um that's exactly right.

So this amendment um is intended to uh do a few few different things.

Um the state uh four years running has uh amended the zoning enabling act, which has guidance to local communities about how they are to uh write their zoning ordinances, certain things they're allowed to do, certain things they have to do, certain things they can't do.

So um our zoning ordinance has to be consistent with that state law.

So there are a series of of amendments here that are intended to address state law.

Um there are also a couple of items in here that are are intended to address um uh goals and policies of the comprehensive plan.

Um and uh then there are a series of corrections, clarifications, updates, um, the type that that we do on occasion uh to make sure that that the ordinance is doing what it should.

Uh what we attempt to do with our zoning ordinance is make it as clear as possible about how land may be developed in the city.

Um and we're trying to make it um as easy as possible to comply with the zoning ordinance and not have to seek variances.

Um many communities do not stay on top of their zoning ordinance, they let it kind of become uh out of date and irrelevant, and then everything goes to the zoning board.

Um we strive not for that not to be the case.

So um, as I described to this committee last uh week as I and and my staff um in in great detail, um these these amendments are intended to um to keep this ordinance working properly and in accordance with uh state law.

So um with that the uh you have two letters from the city plan commission.

Um uh that came in in January, and then uh we had there were a couple of items that um we realized that we needed to address in this ordinance, so uh we brought it back to the city plan commission um uh to consider the items that are shown in yellow in this ordinance.

Those are the those are the sub A that you uh incorporated today.

Uh so you have a second letter from the city plan commission that addresses those.

Uh the sub A is mainly um just sort of uh reiterating what's already in the state law and our local ordinance.

Um most of this is at the advice of the law department, uh, and then there was one clarification in the dimensional table about uh the height of row houses, and there's a little technical reason for that.

So um I hope that that um that I was able to give a comprehensive uh view of this last week, uh so I won't get into into too much detail today, but if you have any further questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

Thank you, and again, I thank you for taking the time last week to go through this with us.

Um Mr.

Azerb from committee members.

All right, hearing none.

Thank you so much, Bob.

And before we proceed, I want to take a motion to enter into the record uh testimony, letter of testimony, item number three.

So move made by councilman bargas, and second by councilwoman Harris, all in favor, aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it, thank you.

And also I'll entertain a motion to enter into the record, sub A.

So move.

Uh made by Councilman Barga.

Second by Councilwoman Harris, all in favor, aye.

Opposed, the ayes have it.

And with that said, I'll entertain a motion to close the public hearing on this item number three.

Oh, I'm I'm so sorry.

The um my apologies.

City sergeant, please um you please bring the list on item number three.

Uh clerk is on top of it.

Thank you so much.

Shandar Sai.

Good evening.

Good call.

And again, I apologize.

No problem.

I um so I I just I have a problem with some of the wording in the ordinance.

I don't know if it has to do with regards to state law or if it can be amended.

But um you have a specific area.

Yes.

So um section 1801, number nine, where it states written notice shall be given to all owners of real property as shown on current real estate tax assessment records of the city or town, as well as section 1903, the administrative modification number four, which states the modification will be granted unless written objection by anyone who is entitled to notice under this section is received within 14 days.

And then um finally, section G, the neighborhood um character-based modifications.

Um, and I'll paraphrase because it's a long uh section, but it says in case of an NCBM modification of greater than 30 percent, zoning enforcement officers shall notify by first class mail all property owners abutting the property, which is subject to the NCBM modification request, and um that they have they shall publish in the newspaper of local circulation of the town for 14 days, and um a written objection can be received from any party entitled to notice under this section within 14 days.

Um and to me, this ordinance, those ordinances exclude over 50 percent of the residents in Providence because they're renters, so they don't receive any notification, only the homeowners receive notifications.

Um, and if they happen to read the newspaper, they're not entitled to object because they're not an entitled notification person.

So um that that was my I'm just that it was just upsetting because some of those people, those residents, the renters, you know, they have lived there for longer than some of the homeowners, but then they have no say in the character of their neighborhood, any changes or modifications.

It's just it's not fair.

Well, thank you for your concerns.

Um the way that the ordinance is written, what exists today, uh, it is where uh property owners are notified.

I understand that not the rest, not uh tenants.

Um in order to uh accomplish something like that, and I think it'll probably be a separate uh ordinance okay to change that, but as far as what we're doing today, it's just aligning with the state requirements.

Uh Bob, would you like to add anything to it?

Uh you don't have to go anywhere, you can you can stay.

Bob is the uh hearing that I went to I can I can he's actually the reason I'm here because when I went to the notification, the um the hearing, I was wondering where my neighbors were and come to find out they were notified.

So yeah, so uh the chairman is right that this language is verbatim from state law.

The the in this is the even if even if the council were to um create a an ordinance that says that more people are entitled to notice under state law, it doesn't give those additional people the right to file an objection.

The state law is clear about who who is allowed to object.

Um and in fact, it used to be that anybody in the world was allowed to object.

That's the way it the that's the the way the the state law was written, it was simply said if any objection is received, and it didn't say who was eligible to file an objection.

Um but in this most recent round of changes to the zoning enabling act, they took that out and they made it clear who is actually in uh allowed to do this.

So um I understand what you're saying.

Um that would have to be an amendment at the state level in order for it to apply here, unfortunately.

Okay, thank you.

But thank you so much for coming over and expressing your concerns.

All right, so that was the last person on this item.

So now I'll entertain a motion to close the public hearing.

So move.

May my councilman varga, second by councilwoman Harris, all in favor, aye.

Opposed, yes, have it.

And uh again, I'll entertain a motion to approve item three as amended.

May by councilman varga.

Second, and second by councilwoman Harris, all in favor, aye.

Aye.

Opposed, yes.

Have it.

Item number three is approved.

And being that there is no further items on the calendar, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn.

So move.

Maybe by second by councilwoman Harris, all in favor, aye.

Opposed.

This meeting is adjourned.

Thank you all so much.