51 replies to this topic

[jencoleslaw]

just got the agenda for next week's CPC:


NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING �� TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2006 �� 5:00 P.M.
Providence Public Safety Complex
1st Floor Auditorium
325 Washington Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903

OPENING SESSION
�� Call to Order at 5:00 p.m.

�� Roll Call

�� Approval of Minutes: Regular Meetings of July 24, 2006 and July 25, 2006

DIRECTOR’S REPORT
�� Providence Tomorrow Update
�� Workshop – Comprehensive Permit policy

CITY COUNCIL REFERRALS
1. Referral 3272 �� Abandonment of Barclay Street
Petition to abandon Barclay Street between Broadway and Federal Street. The petitioner claims that the street is no longer used as a public way and no longer useful to the public. (Federal Hill)

2. Referral 3273 �� Abandonment of a Portion of Evans Street
Petition to abandon a portion of Evans Street off Chalkstone Avenue. The petitioner states that the paper street is of no current use to the public, inadequately maintained, and is currently used for illegal dumping. (Smith Hill)

3. Referral 3274 �� Abandonment of a Portion of Lyman Street and the Abandonment and Relocation of Stewart Street Petition to abandon a portion of Lyman Street (off Dean Street) and to abandon and relocate Stewart Street (off Westminster Street). The petitioner requests the abandonments as part of the plan to develop the adjacent property. (Federal Hill)

LAND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
4. Case No. 04-091MA �� 60 Valley Street
Request to amend the approved Final Plan for a Major Land Development Project at 60 Valley Street showing
parking facilities being relocated from their current approved location at 50 Valley Street to adjacent lots at 98, 104 and 110 Valley Street and 89 Valley Street. The project consists of the construction of a mixed-use
development with commercial and residential uses. The subject property is located on the west side of Valley
Street. The project received final approval on January 27, 2006. (Olneyville)

5. Case No. 06-003MA �� 50 Valley Street (Public Hearing)
Request for Preliminary Plan stage approval for the redevelopment of a former mill with 28,000 square feet of commercial space and 11 dwelling units. The subject property is located on the west side of Valley Street between San Souci Drive and Delaine Street, abutting the Woonasquatucket River. The project received master plan approval at the March 21, 2006 meeting. (Olneyville)

6. Case No. 06-035MA �� 131-133 Pitman Street (Public Hearing)
Request for Preliminary Plan stage approval for the construction of a 20,000 square foot retail development. The subject property is located on the south side of Pitman Street near the intersection of Butler Avenue. (AP 15, Lot 591). The master plan for this project was approved at the May 16, 2006 meeting. (Fox Point)

7. Case No. 06-059MA �� West River Lofts at 146 West River Street (Public Informational Meeting)
Request for Master Plan stage approval for the redevelopment of a vacant mill building with 34 residential
condominiums. The subject property is located at 146 West River Street (AP 100, Lots 13 and 49). Continued from the July 25, 2006 meeting. (Mount Hope)

INSTITUTIONAL MASTER PLAN
8. Providence College �� Institutional Master Plan Amendment #3
Request for approval of an amendment to Providence College’s Master Plan for the construction of a new fitness center addition and entrance to the Peterson Field House. (Elmhurst)

9. Butler Hospital �� Institutional Master Plan Amendment #3
Request for approval of an amendment to Butler Hospital’s Master Plan for the construction of a single-story,
25,000-sf addition for University Orthopedics. (Blackstone)

PRE-APPLICATION REVIEW
10. 450, 470, & 472 Potters Avenue
Pre-application to discuss a potential Major Land Development Project. (Elmwood)

ADJOURNMENT

[JimmyGreaves]

Jen,

How many street abandonment requests does CPC receive each year, and, if you know, how does this compare to other cities?  Not knowing the situations which form the basis of each request, it just seems counterintuitive to abandon streets unless the justification is overwhelming.  Why interupt the structure of a neighborhood and eliminate any opportunity for community development by erasing streets from a city map?  I'll admit ignorance on any justified reason, but that's just my gut feel.

[jencoleslaw]

JimmyGreaves, on Aug 16 2006, 03:58 PM, said:

Jen,

How many street abandonment requests does CPC receive each year, and, if you know, how does this compare to other cities?  Not knowing the situations which form the basis of each request, it just seems counterintuitive to abandon streets unless the justification is overwhelming.  Why interupt the structure of a neighborhood and eliminate any opportunity for community development by erasing streets from a city map?  I'll admit ignorance on any justified reason, but that's just my gut feel.

i do not know how many we get a year --maybe 20? maybe more...but what it doesn't usually say on the agenda is which is some of these streets are paper streets, meaning they are on paper only, never turned into city streets...I have no idea how many more or fewer of these that we do compared to other cities.  There is a set of criteria, as laid out in the comp plan about what makes a street "abandonable," and what does not.   But like any other important yet vague document, it is sometimes open to creative interpretation...

Edited by jencoleslaw, 16 August 2006 - 02:30 PM.

[brick]

Quote

6. Case No. 06-035MA �� 131-133 Pitman Street (Public Hearing)
Request for Preliminary Plan stage approval for the construction of a 20,000 square foot retail development. The subject property is located on the south side of Pitman Street near the intersection of Butler Avenue. (AP 15, Lot 591). The master plan for this project was approved at the May 16, 2006 meeting. (Fox Point)

I missed this before.  I assume this is an addition to the already standing plaza (with East side marketplace)?  Or is this another standalong building, a la the Brooks that sits there?

[Cotuit]

JimmyGreaves, on Aug 16 2006, 03:58 PM, said:

Why interupt the structure of a neighborhood and eliminate any opportunity for community development by erasing streets from a city map?

The Smith Hill abandonedment sounds like people are sick of it being used as a dump. Some good code enforcement could fix that (not being familiar with the street in question though I can't completely speak to the necessity of it).

Lyman and Stewart are for Metrolofts. Stewart currently sits too close to the Service Road to make the land between the two useful for much, Metrolofts will move Stewart away from the Service Road increasing the lot size to allow for their project to move forward. Lyman Street is currently a dead end, it no longer connects to the Service Road, it will be truncated at the relocated Stewart Street.

Barclay Street is for the (so-called) Atwells Parcel development between Federal and Broadway at the Service Road. It's a one block street that only runs between Broadway and Federal. Neighboring Bradford Street is a suitable replacement. In fact, I'd like to see Bradford Street improved (well I'd like to see every street improved), with better lighting signage and a sense of place to connect Broadway, Atwells, and West Exchange. Installing a traffic signal at Atwells and Bradford should be considered in light of the heavy pedestrian traffic around Dunkin Donuts and Dominica Manor.

[Cotuit]

jencoleslaw, on Aug 16 2006, 04:01 PM, said:

i do not know how many we get a year --maybe 20? maybe more...but what it doesn't usually say on the agenda is which of these streets are paper streets, meaning they are on paper only, never turned into city streets...

Not all 'abandoned streets' actually go away either. RISD had the alleys between ISB, the Design Center, and the Auditorium abandoned after the river relocation project when Canal Street at that location ceased to be a street (rather a walkway). The alleys are still there, but they now belong to RISD (and are being used for parking   ). I'd like to see a mechanism/policy whereby streets can be abandoned, but remain open to pedestrian and foot traffic. Some of the alleys on Federal Hill off Atwells could certainly go away, but keeping them open to foot traffic would be preferable in some cases.

[jencoleslaw]

i will be excited to see so many of you at the CPC meeting next week!

[Garris]

brick, on Aug 16 2006, 04:06 PM, said:

I missed this before.  I assume this is an addition to the already standing plaza (with East side marketplace)?  Or is this another standalong building, a la the Brooks that sits there?

Odd address.  That should be near the intersection of Wayland and Pitman, the building on the South side of the street West of the sales center for East Side Commons.  The Brooks market fits most of the area of Pitman fronting East Side Market, and the Salvation Army is at the interesection of Butler and Pitman.  

Strange...

jencoleslaw, on Aug 16 2006, 04:30 PM, said:

i will be excited to see so many of you at the CPC meeting next week!

A tad early, but I should be able to make it!

- Garris

Edited by Garris, 16 August 2006 - 04:29 PM.

[oak]

Garris, on Aug 16 2006, 05:28 PM, said:

Odd address.  That should be near the intersection of Wayland and Pitman, the building on the South side of the street West of the sales center for East Side Commons.  The Brooks market fits most of the area of Pitman fronting East Side Market, and the Salvation Army is at the interesection of Butler and Pitman.  

Strange...
A tad early, but I should be able to make it!

- Garris

If this Wayland/Pitman project is the same one that came before the ZBR (and I think it is), the developer wants to build a a new strip mall in the parking lot.  The model home/sales office will come down eventually.  There was a lot of discussion about whether one main large tenant would occupy the space or if several small merchants would occupy it.  Apparently, the owner of Wayland Wine is worried that a large package store in this location would put him out of businees.  The applicant wouldn't indicate who the tenant(s) were going to be.  The developer testified that the proposed building will mimic the look of the existing strip with Blockbuster/Bank RI etc.  

For those of you who are interested, the next ZBR meeting is the same night as this CPC meeting.  Capitol Cove and the Masonic Temple signage are on the agenda.

[Garris]

oak, on Aug 16 2006, 07:28 PM, said:

Apparently, the owner of Wayland Wine is worried that a large package store in this location would put him out of businees.

Why would a package store put a wine place out of business?  Apparently the Wayland Wine folks believe in the danger, as I heard they sold out and the people doing the Wayland Wine renovation right now are new owners.

I always wondered if they were going to put another strip plaza there, as the parking lot is clearly configured for it.  

oak, on Aug 16 2006, 07:28 PM, said:

For those of you who are interested, the next ZBR meeting is the same night as this CPC meeting.  Capitol Cove and the Masonic Temple signage are on the agenda.

Ack, what time and where is that again?  Must...  See...  If...  Capitol...  Cove...  Is...  For... Real...

- Garris

[Cotuit]

Garris, on Aug 16 2006, 08:43 PM, said:

Ack, what time and where is that again?  Must...  See...  If...  Capitol...  Cove...  Is...  For... Real...

ZBR is 5:30pm at City Hall link [pdf]

Want to split the meetings between us and meet-up after to compare notes?

Quote

CAPITOL PROPERTIES, INC., OWNER AND CAPITOL COVE, LLC,
APPLICANT:  80 Smith Street (bounded by Canal Street, Park Row
West & the Railroad), Lot 261 & 262 on the Tax Assessor’s Plat 4
located in a Downcity D-1 Zone and the Capital Center District (Parcel
6); filed an application to be relieved from Section 306.1.2 in the
proposed construction of two buildings totaling 300,000 square of
floor area containing commercial space, 260 residential dwelling units
and structured parking.  The proposed uses are permitted within this
D-1 district.  The applicant requesting a dimensional variance,
whereby, D-1 regulations require that new structures be built to the
property line at the street level.  The applicant proposes a setback for
the struture at the Smith Street property line and requests to taper the
setback of the building face from the property line along Park Row
West.  The lots in question contain approximately 211,474 square feet
of land area.

[gregw]

Garris, on Aug 16 2006, 08:43 PM, said:

Why would a package store put a wine place out of business?

You do realize that in RI a package store is a liquor store, right?

[Garris]

gregw, on Aug 16 2006, 09:10 PM, said:

You do realize that in RI a package store is a liquor store, right?

Obviously I didn't...  Why is it called a package store?

- Garris

[gregw]

Garris, on Aug 16 2006, 09:22 PM, said:

Obviously I didn't...  Why is it called a package store?

- Garris

Good question. Probably a Temperance Movement-inspired euphemism of some sort. You don't buy the booze but the "package" that contains it. You hear the term in Mass and probably other parts of New England as well.

Now you'll know what people mean when they say they have to make a "packy run," i.e go to the liquor store!

Edited by gregw, 16 August 2006 - 07:32 PM.

[runawayjim]

Garris, on Aug 16 2006, 09:22 PM, said:

Obviously I didn't...  Why is it called a package store?

- Garris

it's like that in CT too... i've never known the reason...

[Garris]

Cotuit, on Aug 16 2006, 09:00 PM, said:

Want to split the meetings between us and meet-up after to compare notes?

Sounds good.  I wouldn't mind taking the Zoning Board Meeting at 5:30, as that would be a safer time for me to reliably make the meeting.  

- Garris

[Recchia]

Hmm, they want a setback from Smith Street?  I think it'd be nice if it was right to the street, despite the elevation...

[JimmyGreaves]

Recchia, on Aug 17 2006, 07:21 AM, said:

Hmm, they want a setback from Smith Street?  I think it'd be nice if it was right to the street, despite the elevation...

Obviously, without a render, I have to somewhat reserve judgement on this.  How much of a setback are we talking about?

[jencoleslaw]

way to poach folks out of the CPC meeting and into a zoning meeting. Nice. :

[Cotuit]

jencoleslaw, on Aug 17 2006, 02:37 PM, said:

way to poach folks out of the CPC meeting and into a zoning meeting. Nice. :

Garris and I should get those secret service ear pieces so that we can have open radio communication between the two meetings.