PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
The meeting was called to order at
Gary Girard Victor
Calabretta
Not present: Jean Brown
Also present:
Cinthia Reppe – Recording Clerk
Joseph Manning
Eric Offenberg – Engineer –
President – Northeast Engineers
Paul Aldinger - Hydrogeologist
George Gifford – Landscape Architect – Gifford Design Group
Bruce McIntyre - Attorney
Ray Bazanq no
Ian Thompson – Parker Construction
David Revens
Mike McCormack – Land Surveyor
Pat Walker - Engineer
A motion was made by Commissioner Calabretta and seconded by
Commissioner White to accept the minutes with the following changes:
Page 2 - first paragraph under New Business; A motion was
made by Commissioner Girard Calabretta and seconded by
Commissioner Brown.
Page 2 – Second to last paragraph, 5th sentence; She would also like to look at District Dimensional
Regulations, Development Plan Review, and parking with regard…..
So unanimously voted.
II. Correspondence
1. FYI – ISDS Application #0215-0381 Rosario Sciuto,
2. FYI – Grow Smart Rhode Island – The Power of Place
Summit – Agenda/Reg info
3. FYI – Dutton Re: Letter of withdraw of Application
from Joseph Palumbo. Received
III. Citizen’s
Non Agenda Item – nothing at this time
IV. Reports
1.
Town Planner’s Report
2.
Chairpersons report
Commissioner Girard informed the
Planning Commission that because of the change in the fiscal year the stipend
will be distributed in the next month and be effective from July 05-June06.
3.
Town Committees
a. Harbor
b.
c. Buildings
and Facilities
d. Others
4.
Sub Committees
Public Hearing
Manning
(Upland Farm) Major 9 Lot Subdivision with waivers -
John Dudley 25 Stea
Town Planner
They did 3 test wells and did extensive pump tests. In addition to the 3 wells on their property they
measured abutting neighbor’s wells levels too.
The were looking for levels of drawdown in
abutting wells and this indicates how the wells on the property would impact
the abutting wells. The nu
They also looked at the quality of the water and they looked at nitrates. The quality of the water will not be affected
either. They looked at all the
contributions made to the groundwater and took all if it into consideration.
John Dudley – How deep are the wells going to be? He was answered, 300-500 feet is what the
estimate is.
Town Planner
Louis Da
John Dudley –If you cut down the big trees do you gain water
or lose water? Mr. Gifford has to turn it over to Dr. Aldinger, it depends on
what you do when you cut the tree down, Dr. Aldinger replied. Trees uptake water and they will be handling
the excess stormwater on site.
Mr. Murphy explained the roadways and drainage systems that
will capture the rainwater.
Eric Offenberg, an engineer from
Northeast Engineers, bio-filtration swales were designed and they will capture
the runoff and it will recharge the property.
Commissioner Ventrone – the document on Schedule A he
thought it was the agreement last time that there would be restriction on the
sprinklers and they would require a cistern system and Commissioner Ventrone
wants it in there. It could be added if
that is what the commission wants stated Mr. Murphy but it was his recollection
that the board did not give a decisive answer since it was an informal tie
vote.
Commissioner Calabretta – If we use the cisterns to capture the
water from the roof then we are not allowing the water to recharge back into
the groundwater which is not our goal.
Commissioner Holland – as he recalls the discussions there
was a debate about whether or not they would restrict the sprinkler
systems. He does not think it is fair to
say either way or he disagrees with Commissioner Ventrone. George Gifford stated that automatic
sprinklers are more efficient with water use.
To collect the water in cisterns is counter productive to some of the
things that have been discussed. Commissioner
Hubbard wants George Gifford to describe some water saving devices. Some of the benefits that automatic sprinklers
give the homeowner, timing, accuracy, and choice of types of heads like drip
irrigation and you can put a rain sensor on the system. His contention has always been that you can
be much more efficient with water use.
Commissioner Holland comments that early morning watering
goes back into the aquifer and recharges it with little evaporation. We don’t have any restrictions on the island
at this time, its discriminatory for just one development. They voted on it once before.
Commissioner White agrees with Commissioner Ventrone but
thinks that if automatic sprinklers are not agreed on they will put other ones
in that are less efficient. He agrees
that they may be more efficient but if they are prohibited altogether then they
will be less likely to water with hoses.
Commissioner Girard – philosophically is against it, but
with the proper water saving devices it might be OK. Commissioner Girard asked
Mr. Murphy about the things that are in the memo from
An Easement to the town for monitoring the well in the
common area is required. The easement to
the town will include a provision for the town to monitor the wells. They will get
together on item 3, item 5 put it in developers
agreement. Item 6 put it in the final
agreements.
Mike Gray, town engineer says it will vary from property to
property on how much recharge is on each property. People have the option of having a cistern if
they want. Put in the developers
agreement that roof drains can recharge water into the ground. Runoff needs to be recharged but don’t say
how. Put a generic statement in the developers agreement.
Commissioner Holland said it says this agreement is in
effect until 2014 unless 2/3 of the owners want to change it at that point.
Commissioner Girard moves and Calabretta seconds that they
direct
V.
Old Business – nothing at this time
VI. New
Business
This is a perfect example of
affordable housing in Commissioner Calabretta’s
eyes. Mr. Bazzano stated he will be creating
an ownership opportunity for the current tenants. He also has another piece of property up the
street for affordable housing that he would like to develop if he is successful
in purchase.
Mr. McIntyre stated he would like
a summary of what they want to see regarding landscape and design. Commissioner Holland asked if height going to
be a problem? The building will be 54
feet high, the neighboring building is 75 feet high so they will be going for a
height variance.
Mr. Bazanno
says the price range will be in the $348,000 range on the one bedroom units.
Commissioner Hubbard is assuming
that the desire to recreate the historic look is what they are after and just
make sure that the architect looks at all the buildings around it, she feels
the parking, being able to see through is awkward looking and of concern to her. Trees are very important too. The commission gave input and Mr. Bazanno will come back to a future meeting.
Chris Tuck the architect for Brian
Petit is proposing a 3 bedroom house on a 33,000 sq ft lot. The footprint consists of about 9% lot
coverage. The stormwater
runoff will go into a catchment area on the
property.
Commissioner Hubbard asked why
they haven’t located the house further up on the lot. She said maybe they can diminish the amount
of fill needed for the ISDS if they do that.
He can reduce the fill he stated he can bring the contours in so there
would not be as much fill. Commissioner Holland
stated that if everything was moved back they would have to go back to DEM for
approval again.
Commissioner Calabretta said when
he went to see the property on Seaside Dr. the other side is already filled and
this property is unique whatever they do to drain will end up in the catch
basin and then the bay. This is
important recharge. Can we get the water
back into the ground? He also stated he
has an issue with size of the house. Is
there a way to get the ground water and excess runoff back into the ground, he
asked the architect. Do some research to
recharge the water.
Commissioner Calabretta would like to see the water getting back into
the ground.
Commissioner Hubbard agrees with Commissioner
Calabretta, when you have crushed stone in the driveway it helps to recharge. Commissioner Hubbard asked about the foundation,
they are putting pvc pipes all the way around it so
that the water can pass through. Commissioner Calabretta would like to see the
groundwater recharged no matter what.
In subdistrict
A they generally do not allow any garages said Commissioner Girard but this lot
is much larger than most they look at but three does not seem to be minimal impact. They discussed moving the retention basin up
along the side of the house. Mr. Tuck
said they could bring gravel around the house. This is a unique opportunity and
they should have some leeway with the fill in Commissioner Calabrettas
opinion.
Commissioner Ventrone’s
opinion is to keep the ISDS and change the grades. Mike Gray stated they need 12 inches
separation between the bottom of the catchment basin
and the groundwater. Reconsider
redesigning the garage. Mike Gray said
to look at the info provided from the test holes it gets worse going east and
moving the ISDS may not a better possibility.
They need variances for where it is located right now. They will try to have the changes made to
return for the May 3rd meeting.
Information has to be submitted three weeks prior.
A motion was made by Commissioner
Girard and seconded by Commissioner Hubbard to extend the meeting until
David Revins
the attorney for Elaine Enterprises introduced the Land
Surveyor, Mike McCormick and Pat Walker the engineer. Pat Walker gave a brief synopsis of the plan
and showed where the septic and house placement would be. It is 12.7 percent impervious
coverage. They addressed the increase in
runoff with swales. They have ISDS approval
from DEM. Commissioner Calabretta asked what
is the reason for the multiple swales? The only impervious surface is the house and
roof. The commission wants to see elevations of the
house, and foundation details, which they just received tonight. They would prefer a 1 car garage instead of a
2. Commissioner Calabretta stated all
the surrounding houses are
A motion to adjourn at
Attest:
Cinthia
Reppe This meeting was recorded on 1 micro-cassette