Providence City Plan Commission, January 20, 2026 meeting

January 21, 2026

Call to Order, Roll Call, and Approval of Minutes

09:06 - 10:20

The City Plan Commission meeting was called to order, followed by a roll call of members and staff. The commission reviewed and unanimously approved the draft minutes from the December 15, 2025 meeting.

Election of Officers

10:20 - 11:45

The commission conducted its annual election of officers for the new year. The current slate of officers, including Michael Gasdaco as Chair, Charlotte Lipchitz as Vice Chair, and Noel Sanchez as Secretary, was nominated and approved to serve another term.

Director's Report

11:45 - 13:39

The Deputy Planning Director presented the director's report, highlighting ongoing efforts to implement the comprehensive plan through various zoning changes. He also announced a staffing update, noting that Chris Martin has replaced Tim Shea as the community planning manager.

Case 25-087 UDR (75 Layton Street)

13:39 - 01:08:50

The commission held a public hearing for a minor subdivision with unified development review at 75 Layton Street. The applicant's request to subdivide a lot containing two existing dwellings into two separate lots, along with associated dimensional and parking relief, was approved with conditions.

Case 25-074 UDR (784 Branch Avenue)

01:08:50 - 01:58:11

The commission reviewed a proposal for a minor subdivision and development plan review to construct a six-unit row house development at 784 Branch Avenue. After hearing expert testimony and public feedback regarding traffic and neighborhood character, the commission approved the dimensional relief, development plan, and subdivision.

Case 25-088 UDR (604 Angel Street)

01:58:11 - 04:28:04

The commission considered a unified development review application to subdivide the historic George Benson House property at 604 Angel Street into three lots. The proposal, which includes preserving the historic mansion while adding a single-family home and a three-unit condominium building, was approved along with the necessary dimensional relief and special use permit.

City Council Referral 3605 (Zoning Ordinance Amendments)

04:28:04 - 04:46:08

The commission discussed City Council Referral 3605, which proposes technical amendments and clarifications to the zoning ordinance. Following staff explanations and public comment regarding administrative modifications, the commission voted to send a positive recommendation to the City Council.

Adjournment

04:46:08 - 04:46:19

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made and seconded. The commission voted unanimously in favor, and the meeting was officially adjourned.

Speaker 0

09:06 - 09:15

Alright. Oh, my my bun's over there. There we go. Alright. Good afternoon.

Speaker 0

09:15 - 09:28

I think it's evening. Yep. Today is Tuesday, January 20. I'd like to call this meeting of the city plan commission to order. It is 04:55PM.

Speaker 0

09:29 - 09:32

Let's do a roll call starting with Miguel.

Speaker 1

09:33 - 09:36

Miguel Casalam? Dave Caldwell.

Speaker 2

09:36 - 09:37

Rachel Johnson.

Speaker 3

09:38 - 09:41

Sheryl Mandrick, our DVD staff.

Speaker 4

09:41 - 09:43

Bob Bezar, DVD staff.

Speaker 2

09:43 - 09:45

Sharon Gardner, legal counsel.

Speaker 0

09:45 - 10:09

And I am Michael Ganzdako, chair. You all should have received the draft of the minutes from the 12/15/2025 meeting for your review prior. Has everyone read them? Are there any edits, corrections, a motion to approve if

Speaker 1

10:09 - 10:11

Move to accept the minutes. Second.

Speaker 0

10:12 - 10:20

Alright. We'll do a vote for this. All in favor of accepting the minutes as drafted, say aye. Aye. Any opposed?

Speaker 0

10:20 - 10:35

Any extensions? The minutes are approved. Oh, I didn't even realize it. It's our first meeting of the year, so we have to do election of officers again. Bob, would you like to

Speaker 5

10:35 - 10:37

Yeah. I'll I'll just introduce that?

Speaker 4

10:37 - 11:15

Yep. So, we have, right now, the, three officers, chair Michael Gasdaco, vice chair Charlotte Lipchitz, and our secretary is Noel Sanchez. And as far as I know, all of those officers are, willing to serve another term. And if, one were so inclined to move to, nominate the slate of those three, I think, we'd be happy with that.

Speaker 0

11:17 - 11:24

Anyone care to to nominate or nominate a different slate of officers?

Speaker 1

11:25 - 11:32

I'll go to, to, who be nominate the slate as presented. Do we have a second? Second.

Speaker 0

11:33 - 11:44

Alright. All in favor, of moving the slate of officers as they currently stand, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions?

Speaker 0

11:45 - 11:51

Alright. Carry forward as is. Director's report. Okay.

Speaker 4

11:52 - 12:30

Well, we continue to advance implementation of the comprehensive plan, through the, through many, iterations of zoning changes. We have two that recently passed through the city plan commission. As you'll recall, one is related to building design standards, and the other one was a lot of miscellaneous changes, many of which were to, implement the various new state laws and some items related to the comprehensive plan, specifically the

Speaker 1

12:32 - 12:32

gas

Speaker 4

12:32 - 13:17

station provisions and then some other sort of cleanup as we continue to refine the ordinance. Those will be heard by the city council on February 11. There will be an informational session in front of the ordinance committee next week on the twenty eighth at 05:30. So we'll we'll have staff presenting at that meeting, and we will continue throughout the year to to advance the comprehensive plan. And I believe oh, one staffing change I'll I'll mention.

Speaker 4

13:17 - 13:39

You'll remember that Tim Shea, our former community planning manager, he resigned. We've replaced him, with Chris Martin, is, an outstanding staffer. He was a principal planner, and we're in the process of hiring to backfill that position. Well, I

Speaker 0

13:39 - 14:01

wish Tim the best of luck. It was a it was it was a good day. Alright. With that, we will, move into, our first agenda item, which is a minor subdivision with unified development review. It's a public hearing for case number 25 Dash 087 U D R 75 Layton Street.

Speaker 0

14:02 - 14:17

Sure. Thanks, mister chair. Quick introduction while the applicant make their way up. This is a request for a minor subdivision on a lot that contains two buildings, a three family dwelling and a single family dwelling. It measures 4,400 square feet.

Speaker 0

14:17 - 14:25

The applicant is proposing to subdivide into two lots of 2,200 square feet each, keeping each building on a lot.

Speaker 3

14:25 - 14:48

Related to this subdivision is relief that's required, and it pertains to lot size, lot width, impervious coverage as well as the minimum pervious coverage requirement in addition to parking. And so I guess the applicant's here, and they can walk you through how this relief is required.

Speaker 5

14:50 - 14:52

I do have a presentation.

Speaker 0

14:52 - 15:00

We need you to hang on. I wanna make sure you're talking into the microphone. Everyone in this room and in the virtual room needs to be able to hear you.

Speaker 4

15:00 - 15:02

You need to get it very close to

Speaker 0

15:02 - 15:08

you now. It's not gonna work there. Yep. No. Is

Speaker 5

15:08 - 15:11

it on? Yeah. I think it's on.

Speaker 4

15:13 - 15:14

Left.

Speaker 3

15:24 - 15:24

Yeah.

Speaker 0

15:26 - 15:48

It worked earlier. It's good that it happened now instead of halfway through your presentation. You'd really lose your flow in that. Hate it when that happens. Not worth.

Speaker 3

15:48 - 15:50

Yeah. So nothing

Speaker 0

15:52 - 15:53

worse than losing your.

Speaker 6

15:58 - 16:01

You're not writing that, are you? Okay.

Speaker 0

16:04 - 17:10

Yeah. Is, is Dylan on the in the audience here?

Speaker 6

17:10 - 17:12

Yeah. He's does he need to be

Speaker 0

17:11 - 17:16

does Dylan need to be promoted? Don't know. He is.

Speaker 4

17:16 - 17:19

Who who's gonna do the who's doing the presentation?

Speaker 0

17:19 - 17:19

Oh, he said

Speaker 4

17:19 - 17:23

just on Angel. Do you wanna be promoted so that you can project onto the screen?

Speaker 5

17:23 - 17:24

Yeah. However Good.

Speaker 0

17:54 - 18:18

That's Yeah. I'll check-in. I'll be there if you have the Yeah. The next week or two. I'll be there at least once or twice in.

Speaker 3

18:18 - 18:20

Well, trust me. We both build on. I

Speaker 0

18:22 - 18:24

would push nothing. Yeah. Do the kind

Speaker 6

18:24 - 18:27

of healthy. They send it to the file.

Speaker 4

18:28 - 18:35

Just a reminder that once we get going, make sure the witnesses are responding. Oh, yeah. All three of

Speaker 0

18:35 - 18:49

these are UDR. Right? Yes. And for testimony too. Yes.