Mic check. Test on two. This is the handheld mic. Mic check. Test one two.
This is the gooseneck podium mic. I check test one two, testing one two.
Good evening. We will be starting shortly. So if you have not and you're here to, testify on an item, please go right ahead and sign up on the item that you're here to, testify on. Thank you. But we will be starting shortly.
Alright. Good evening, everyone. Welcome to committee and ordinance. I'm councilman Pedro Espinal. Madam clerk, would you please call the roll?
Vice chairwoman Peterson? Present. Councilwoman Harris?
Councilman Vargas? Councilor Royas is absent. You have four present, one absent. You have a quorum.
Thank you so much. Madam clerk, item number one, please.
Item one, petition from John j Garahee Squire. John j Garahee Law LLC two zero eight eight Broad Street, Cranston, Rhode Island zero two nine zero five dated 02/10/2026 requesting a zone change for the property located on assessor's Plot 115, Plot 626349 Killingley Street from R 1 to R 3.
Thank you very much. I'd like to turn a motion to enter into the record CPC the letter from CPC. So moved. Made by councilor Peterson, second by councilor Mervargas. All in favor, aye.
Aye. Opposed, the ayes have it. Thank you. And do we have anybody here? Mister 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. Mister Azar, good evening.
Good evening, mister chair, members of the committee. I'm Robert Azar. I'm the deputy director of the Department of Planning and Development. And this particular petition is for a piece of property on Killingly Street. It's currently zoned R 1.
It's a vacant lot. It is over it's about 8,600 square feet in size. It's, very much buildable. Currently, the back portion of this lot is in the C 3 zone. But this sits between different zoning categories.
R 3 is across the street, and C 3 is directly adjacent to and behind the lot. And under these circumstances, the comprehensive plan is is says that property when it's on the border of zones like this is eligible for a change in zone. In this case, the applicant seeks to go to R 33 family residential. That would be certainly allowed by the comprehensive plan. It would just involve dragging the r three zone line across the street to encompass this lot.
This would enable the development of a three family house, and that, according to the applicant, is the intention here. So the City Plan Commission considered this, and they voted unanimously to support this petition.
Thank you, mister Hayes. Are there any questions from my committee members? Thank you, Bob. Mister John Garahi?
Good evening, mister chairman, members of the committee. I'm John Garahee on behalf of the applicant. I think mister Azai did an excellent job of explaining this proposal. It's really located at a at a a nexus between several, commercial zones with the commercial zone in the back, Citizens Bank. I'm right abutting it in our three zones across the street.
Mister chairman, I think, you know, we where it's appropriate to have higher densities, it should be done. I think this is an entirely appropriate area to have an r three zoned, a high you know, Killingly Street, Hartford Avenue, entirely appropriate for this to be more housing than less. Any questions? Happy to address them. Any question from committee members?
Hey, Renan. Thank you, mister Garhee. Chairman.
Believe it's David Gallegos or Daniel.
Hello. How are you doing today? Good evening. My name is David Gallegos. I live on 343 Killingley Street.
I'm asking that you that you deny the rezoning of 343 Killingley Street from r 1 R 3. It's inconsistent with the, comprehend comprehensive plan, which designates our neighborhood low density residential for one to two family. R 3 allows three family. It's spot zoning. Every other lot on this block is R 1, singling out one lot for upzoning has been overturned by Rhode Island courts.
Killing Lee can't handle parking. We don't have driveways or six cars. Killing Lee already is narrow as it is, especially in that area. There's high traffic. As you know, the bank is there, which brings in more traffic, putting, R 3 allowing a three family unit.
It's gonna allow that, that many more cars. It's about maybe 50 feet to a 100 feet before you get to a streetlight. And, again, it's, it's gonna be it's gonna increase the, the flow of traffic there. So I ask that you deny this.
You mentioned the comprehensive plan. You realize that under the new comprehensive plan, which is the next, ten years, there is no r two. There is no resident to two family that automatically became, r three. So the jump is from r one to r three because there is no two. Okay.
And and that is done in order to increase density.
And so this is also going to allow for others to, to apply for that rezoning. So is that going to be approved in the future?
Oh, absolutely. Bob, this will be in a case by case basis. Right? This is not, exactly. This only pertains to this case specifically, which is, eighty hundred, 8,600 square feet Okay.
So if I have a lot that's also 8,600 square feet, I'm I'm gonna
be allowed to, rezone my r one? You you would be entitled to the same thing that they're doing. You'd be able to come here to the zoning board to us, and, we'll evaluate that case. And if that's appropriate, it not a problem.
Okay. And what about the, low density zoning? Area is, low
density? Well, you know, you you you you have single family areas, but you do have certain lots that are, like especially this one here, which is, 8,600. Right. And and the gentleman's asking to build a three family in order to, provide more housing.
Okay. So now from what I understand is, just because it's, 8,600, square feet, doesn't really determine that it's allowed to build a, r three unit there.
If there's enough land, they have the right to petition, and then we make a decision on it.
So enter a petition, you're saying? I'm sorry? Did you say enter a petition?
No. No. I mean, what was your question?
So although it's a, from my understanding, even though it's a, 8,600 square lot, because it's a low density, it doesn't necessarily say that you cannot, build a r three unit on there because of it being low density.
That's why it's presented to the CPC to the zoning department so that they can explore this. They can look into it and see whether that is adequate or not. So that so they they they look at the entire map, and they compare it to what is adjacent to, and they conclude whether that can be achieved or not. So that's why it's per case basis.
Okay. With that said, only to the motion to close the public hearing on item number one. So move. Made by council member Vargas. Second by council member Peterson.
All in favor, aye. Opposed, the ayes have it. And after hearing all testimony and following the direction from the zoning CPC department, I'll entertain a motion to approve. Second. By councilor Peterson, second by councilor Mabargas.
All in favor, aye. Opposed? The ayes have it. Thank you. Item number one is approved.
Thanks. Madam clerk, item number two.
Item two, petition from Dylan Conley Esquire, Rhode Island, Lyon, Youth Law of 123 Dyer Street, Suite 3 B, Providence, Rhode Rhode Island 02903 requesting an amendment to the official zoning ordinance of the city of province by adding a new subsection to the text of two zero zero five section f billboard removal invented.
Thank you. We have a petition from the we have a letter asking to decide and be continued from the petitioner. So I will entertain a motion to enter into the record letters of continuance. Made by councilor Peterson, second by councilor Mabargas on a favor, aye. Opposed, the ayes have it.
