Providence City Plan Commission, November 14, 2023 meeting

November 16, 2023

Call to Order and Roll Call

00:24 - 09:27

The regular meeting of the City Plan Commission was called to order at 4:48 PM. A roll call was conducted to establish a quorum of commissioners and staff.

Approval of Minutes

09:27 - 10:09

The commission reviewed the revised minutes of the October 17, 2023 meeting. A motion to approve the minutes as drafted was passed unanimously.

Director's Report

10:09 - 11:30

The planning director provided updates on the land development subdivision review regulations and upcoming zoning changes. He also discussed the completion of the public engagement portion of the comprehensive plan.

Agenda Item 1: Request for Extension - Case No. 21-048MI (56 Pratt Street)

11:30 - 12:47

The applicant requested a one-year extension for a previously approved minor subdivision to January 2025. The commission voted unanimously to approve the extension.

Agenda Item 2: Development Plan Review - Case No. 2023-11DPR (870 Westminster Street)

12:47 - 19:00

The commission discussed a design waiver request to allow residential uses on the ground floor of the historic Citizens Bank building conversion. The waiver was approved with the condition that commercial space is maintained in the front.

Agenda Item 3: Minor Subdivision - Case No. 23-053MI (116 Benevolent Street)

19:00 - 22:20

The applicant requested a minor subdivision of a vacant lot into two buildable lots. The commission approved the preliminary plan with delegation of final approval to staff.

Agenda Item 4: City Council Referral No. 3560 (12 Governor Street)

22:20 - 28:36

The commission reviewed a proposed zoning change from R-3 to C-2 for the Aguardente restaurant property to allow for expansion. A positive recommendation was made to the City Council.

Agenda Item 5: City Council Referral No. 3556 (53 Bachelor Avenue)

28:36 - 33:46

The applicant requested a rezoning from C-3 to R-2 to construct a single-family home. The commission voted to send a positive recommendation to the City Council.

Agenda Item 6: City Council Referral No. 3558 (49 Leander Street and 24 Parent Street)

33:46 - 46:03

The commission discussed a rezoning request from R-1 to R-2 for multiple lots to construct two-family homes. The commission approved a positive recommendation subject to the City Council passing a pending zone change for adjacent lots.

Agenda Item 7: City Council Referral No. 3559 (639 Wickenden Street)

46:03 - 01:20:24

The applicant requested a rezoning from R-2 to R-4 to allow for a multifamily development. The commission voted to recommend denial because the request is inconsistent with the low-density residential designation in the comprehensive plan.

Agenda Item 8: City Council Referral No. 3557 (95, 101, and 105 Dedham Avenue)

01:20:24 - 01:30:57

The commission reviewed a rezoning request from R-1 to R-2 for three newly subdivided lots to allow for two-family homes. A positive recommendation was approved for the City Council.

Recess

01:30:57 - 01:34:14

The commission took a brief recess to allow members to use the restroom before continuing with the remaining agenda items.

Agenda Item 9: Minor Subdivision & Unified Development Review - Case No. 23-054UDR (53 Pomona Avenue)

01:34:14 - 02:23:00

The applicant requested a minor subdivision and dimensional variance to create two lots, which was complicated by a significant tree on the property. After hearing public comments and discussing alternatives, the commission voted to continue the hearing to December 12, 2023.

Agenda Item 10: Development Review Regulations Discussion

02:23:00 - 03:17:05

The commission reviewed a draft of the new development review regulations updated to comply with recent state legislation. The commission voted to approve the document subject to minor formatting edits and continued the public hearing to the next meeting.

Adjournment

03:17:05 - 03:17:12

A motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and approved by a voice vote, concluding the meeting.

Speaker 0

00:24 - 00:26

It's just labeled on the. No problem.

Speaker 1

08:41 - 08:44

Yeah. It's you know, they're on the

Speaker 2

08:47 - 08:48

for you.

Speaker 3

08:49 - 08:51

We did. Okay.

Speaker 4

08:52 - 08:55

We achieved a quarrel. You couldn't just set up.

Speaker 5

08:55 - 09:12

Yeah. And good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to call this regular meeting of the city plan commission to order. Today is Tuesday, November 14. It is 04:48PM.

Speaker 5

09:12 - 09:16

Let's start with a roll call. Go around in a circle. Will

Speaker 0

09:16 - 09:20

Sherry. Charlotte Lipchitz. Nicole Vardy.

Speaker 2

09:21 - 09:23

Cho Young, manager of guard GPD staff.

Speaker 4

09:24 - 09:25

Robert Azar, staff.

Speaker 3

09:26 - 09:27

Megan Desanto, consult.

Speaker 5

09:27 - 09:41

And I'm Michael Gadsdaco, the chair. We're gonna roll right into approval of the minutes of the 10/17/2023 meeting. Hope you've all received them. They were revised. I saw a typographical error.

Speaker 5

09:42 - 09:56

Sent it back to Choi An, last evening. He sent out a revised copy this morning. Hope you all had a chance to review them. And if there's no more edits or comments, we take a motion to approve, and then it's as drafted.

Speaker 0

09:57 - 09:58

Motion to approve.

Speaker 5

09:58 - 10:02

We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Go around with a voice vote. Will?

Speaker 5

10:03 - 10:09

Yes. Charlotte? Hi. Hi. It's Nicole, and then I go to I.

Speaker 5

10:09 - 10:13

Director's report. Mister Azar, do you have anything for us this evening?

Speaker 4

10:13 - 10:37

Well, the last item tonight, you'll you see will be the land development subdivision review regulations, so we'll be going through that. I hope that you've had a chance to at least peruse them. It's been a big effort to get that done. The, the zoning changes are, have been heard. They were passed out of committee.

Speaker 4

10:38 - 11:20

They will be at the city council for first passage this Thursday night. And if all goes well, they'll be approved in early December. So we're looking forward to getting all of that tied up so we can meet the deadline of January 1. Right on the heels of the zoning initiative, we have pretty much wrapped up the public engagement portion of the comprehensive plan. We're going to be back to you maybe next month, maybe the month after that with a discussion of of the big picture items that were that came out

Speaker 5

11:20 - 11:20

of that

Speaker 4

11:20 - 11:28

public engagement, and then we're gonna start drafting the document. So we have that to look forward to.

Speaker 5

11:30 - 11:55

So plenty plenty on the horizon, and we'll we'll speak more about the development review regulations towards the end of this meeting. But with that, let's just roll right into the first agenda item. We have a lengthy agenda this evening. The first agenda item is a request for extension. It's case number twenty one dash zero four eight m I fifty six Pratt Street.

Speaker 2

11:56 - 12:00

Sure. And, commissioners, this is a request for a one year extension of the subject

Speaker 4

12:00 - 12:02

Speak into your mic, please.

Speaker 2

12:02 - 12:21

Sure. This is a request for an ex a one year extension of the subject minor subdivision. The plan was set to expire in January 2024, but the applicant is requesting that it be extended to January 2025. And we recommend that you grant the extension. But should you have any questions?

Speaker 2

12:21 - 12:22

I know the applicant is here in the audience.

Speaker 5

12:25 - 12:28

K. Commissioners, any discussion, questions?

Speaker 3

12:32 - 12:33

So I'll make a motion.

Speaker 5

12:33 - 12:35

K. We have a motion. Do we have a second?

Speaker 0

12:35 - 12:36

I'll second.

Speaker 5

12:36 - 12:40

Alright. Let's go around with a voice vote. Will? Aye. Charlotte?

Speaker 5

12:40 - 12:41

Aye. Nicole?

Speaker 0

12:41 - 12:41

Aye.

Speaker 5

12:41 - 12:46

And I vote aye. Right into the second agenda item.

Speaker 2

12:47 - 12:47

This is

Speaker 5

12:47 - 13:08

development plan review. Case number 2023Dash11DPR. It's for 870 Westminster Street. I think you'll all recognize this application, except maybe, Charlotte, you weren't here the first time they came before us. I don't actually, I don't know if you were at Will either.

Speaker 5

13:08 - 13:12

Well, you'll be introduced to this application.

Speaker 4

13:12 - 14:12

Okay. So this is a a project that has been approved. This is a conversion of the historic Citizens Bank building at the corner of Westminster And Cranston Streets into a housing development. There's there's already already an approval in place, and the applicant had previously received a waiver from the the ground floor regulations that prevent residential from being within 20 feet of a main street. And that waiver had applied to the the sort of modernist annex and then also to a portion of the facade along Westminster Street and also along Cranston Street.

Speaker 4

14:12 - 15:31

Originally, this area here that is at at the sort of front of the building was programmed for commercial and likewise on on the other side. The applicant is proposing to maintain a commercial space that will be accessed through the through the So as you can see in our staff report, we feel that that this would not detract from the commercial character of this building by allowing for residential uses in this space. And we're encouraged that the the applicant wishes to maintain the, commercial space, accessible, out into this this main plaza. So that's, that's kind of the story there. The applicants are here if they have anything else to add.

Speaker 1

15:33 - 15:36

Oh, not really. We covered most of it. We just we have a look

Speaker 2

15:36 - 15:40

at the two more units on the ends. And

Speaker 1

15:44 - 15:46

Yes. That's perfect. And identify yourself.

Speaker 2

15:46 - 15:47

We'll just look at the

Speaker 1

15:47 - 15:48

two board. Identify yourself first.

Speaker 2

15:48 - 16:05

Bill DeStaffano, president of the Omni Group. So we'll look at the two more residential units on the ends of the corner at 29 Branch in Westminster Then we're gonna keep commercial in the in main front door area of the back.

Speaker 5

16:10 - 16:12

Any any questions of the app again?

Speaker 2

16:13 - 16:15

The commercial gonna be retail, or

Speaker 5

16:15 - 16:19

is it going to be office space? We we have no idea. It was such

Speaker 2

16:19 - 16:23

a lack of demand right now. That's part of the reason just kinda shrinking a little bit. Yes.

Speaker 5

16:30 - 16:38

K. Thank you very much. I guess let's hear the staff report, and then we'll see if there's any public comment on this. Okay.