Providence Committee on Ordinance Meeting - June 24, 2026
Providence Committee on Ordinance Meeting - June 24, 2026
The Committee on Ordinance, chaired by Councilman Pedro Espinal, met on June 24, 2026, to consider six petitions related to zoning changes, text amendments, and institutional expansion. The meeting included public testimony, staff presentations, and votes on each item.
Consent Calendar
- Letters from the City Plan Commission (CPC) were entered into the record for items 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 via unanimous consent.
- A continuance request for Item 2 (billboard removal amendment) was approved without objection.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 1 (349 Killingley Street): David Gallegos, a neighbor, opposed the rezoning from R1 to R3, arguing it is inconsistent with the comprehensive plan, constitutes spot zoning, and would worsen parking and traffic on narrow Killingley Street.
- Item 3 (storage containers and zone change): Jack Saadati, representing the petitioner (EW Auda and Sons), spoke in favor, noting the company has used storage containers for 60 years and the change would legalize existing practices. He confirmed containers would be placed on most of the 18 lots.
- Item 5 (Providence College I2 expansion): Marisa Brown, Executive Director of the Providence Preservation Society, opposed the expansion, citing the loss of housing units (including a six-unit apartment) and the cumulative impact of institutional growth on neighborhoods. She urged the city to reassess the I2 zone's effectiveness.
- Item 6 (163 Normain Street): Ken Snyder (owner of adjacent historic home) and David Gower (nearby resident) opposed the rezoning from R-B to C2, expressing concerns about potential larger, denser development harming the historic district and the structural stability of their properties.
Discussion Items
- Item 1: Deputy Director Bob Azar explained the lot is vacant, 8,600 sq ft, and abuts a C3 zone and R3 across the street. The CPC unanimously supported the change. Councilman Espinal noted the comprehensive plan now omits R2, making the R1-to-R3 transition logical.
- Item 3: Azar detailed that the petitioner seeks to rezone 18 lots from MMU to M1 and add text allowing permanent storage containers. He disagreed with the CPC's condition requiring a special use permit, calling it unnecessary. Council members raised concerns about precedent and neighborhood impact, particularly on Sherman and Bay Streets. Councilwoman Harris moved to continue for further review.
- Item 4: Azar reported the property at 149 Governor Street had a dentist office that no longer operates. The CPC found the RP zone compatible with the historic use. The petitioner's attorney, Mary Shikarchi, confirmed only interior expansion is planned.
- Item 5: Azar said CPC approved the I2 expansion as part of PC's institutional master plan. Councilwoman Peterson expressed reluctant support, noting the loss of family homes and the need for broader conversation about institutional growth and student housing. She thanked outgoing PC representative Steve for his professionalism.
- Item 6: Azar described the lot as adjacent to a C2 zone and consistent with the North Main Street corridor study. The CPC recommended approval. John Garrahee, the petitioner's attorney, framed the change as infill development that restores historic density. Council members noted that any new construction would be subject to Historic District Commission review.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 (349 Killingley Street): Approved unanimously (4-0). The public hearing was closed, and the motion to change zoning from R1 to R3 passed.
- Item 2 (billboard removal amendment): Continued to September 14, 2026, at 5:30 PM, per petitioner's request.
- Item 3 (storage containers and zone change): Continued to September 14, 2026, at 5:30 PM, to allow site visits and further community input.
- Item 4 (149 Governor Street): Approved unanimously. Zoning changed from R3 to RP.
- Item 5 (Providence College I2 expansion): Approved unanimously. Public hearing closed and motion passed.
- Item 6 (163 Normain Street): Approved unanimously. Zoning changed from R-B to C2.
All votes were unanimous with no recorded opposition.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Uh we will be studying shortly. So if you have not and you're here to uh testify on an item, uh please go right ahead and sign up on the item that you're here to um testify it on. Thank you. But we'll be starting shortly. Uh good evening, everyone. Welcome to committee on ordinance. Um Councilman Pedro Espinal. Uh Madame Clerk, would you please call the role? Chairman Espino. Present. You have four present one absent. You have a forum. Garrahee Esquire. John J. Garrahee Law LLC 2088 Broad Street, Cranston, Rhode Island, 02905, dated February 10, 2026, requesting a zone change for the property located on assessors plot 115, lot 626, 349 Killingley Street from R1 to R3. Thank you very much. The letter from CPC. So moved. Made by Councillor Peterson, second by Councilman Vargas. All in favor, aye. Aye. Opposed to a sabbat, thank you. And do we have anybody here? Mr. Azer, would you like to present on this first? And then we'll hear from the attorney. And while I do that, please give me the list of the people that signed up to speak on this item. Mr. Aza, good evening. Good evening, Mr. Chair, members of the committee. I'm the deputy director of the Department of Planning and Development. And uh this particular petition is for a piece of property on Killingley Street. It's currently zoned R1. It's a vacant lot. It is uh over. It's about 8600 square feet in size. It's uh very much buildable. Uh currently the back portion of this lot is in the C3 zone. Um but this sits between uh different zoning categories. R3 is across the street, and C three is directly adjacent to and behind the lot. And um uh under these circumstances, the comprehensive plan uh is is um uh says that uh a property when it's on the border of zones like this is eligible for a change in zone. Uh in this case, the applicant seeks to go to R3, three family residential. Uh that would be uh certainly allowed by the comprehensive plan. It would just involve dragging the R3 zone line across the street to encompass this lot. This would enable uh the development of uh three family house, and that um according to the applicant is the intention here. Uh so the city plan commission considered this, and they voted unanimously to support this petition. Thank you, Mr. Hazer.
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