Zoning Board - Regular Meeting

Thursday, September 18, 2025
Transcript
Video
Agenda

About this meeting

Government Body
Zoning Board
Meeting Type
Zoning Board
Location
North Providence, RI
Meeting Date
September 18, 2025

Transcript

48 sections (from 213 segments)

0:01 – 0:390

I guess that's a good thing. It's amazing how there really is no 150 down the street in front of it. It's 950 ft away. It's not enough people. Miss Al. Well, he usually sits there, right? Al's usually over there.

0:36 – 1:210

He sits next to me. Oh, wait. Oh, I get all confused. Who's the guy that was the other guy that sits? Oh. Oh, okay. What happened to We only have four. He's a He's a municipal chapter. Oh, I know. Petra. Yeah, he's a municipal. What happened to the older guy that used to Oh, Joe. Yeah, he was. No, I thought his name was Joe. I would have called him Bob to I thought it was Joe. Oh, he resigned. Well, he's a nice man. He was nice.

1:19 – 1:460

Yeah, he's been on the board for a while or was on the board. So, is is Chris He's a municipal judge? He is. Yeah. In the in the town in lockown or attorney. So, let's Oh, he's prosecutor. Oh, so he's that's the police station, right?

1:490

And then and then so Bob is the judge, right? Yes. Joe George.

2:040

Yeah. Oh, yes. Yeah. Yeah. He was a little he was a few years older than he was like

2:20 – 2:330

65. Georgia was probably in his mid60s, right? No, I'm 62. Oh, he was young. There was another George S.

2:36 – 3:200

A lot of the kids that they worked at all those places. I remember like the neighbors. We had neighbors. They worked at Angelos the two waiters. There was a lot of they walked to work. was I was supposed to say she in the arm like that go right to the hospital right that's where they brought it back there was no activity oh I remember that

3:17 – 3:550

wow Remember that? I died twice on the table. You were at the right place. Where did you go? Rhode Island. Oh. Oh, Miriam. Yeah. But now Miriam sends him to island. Were you having surgery now? You said I wasn't quite done. I was training to do a triathlon. Wow. And I had just finished 18 miles. I had dizziness and lightness and the back pain and the arm pain. That's the jaw hospital. But they took me they took me.

3:57 – 4:330

Wow. Wow. I had a dear friend of mine. It's 17. Yeah, fortunately it's locked up so we can't adjust it. Round trip each way. Yes. Well, that was it was from East Providence to Bristol. He was 60 something like that and he dropped right down and died of a heart attack on his bike path. Ron Hatch, he was from Central Falls.

4:30 – 4:570

Oh, okay. [Music] I don't ride my bike anymore anyway, so it's not going to happen that way. I play pickle ball and golf, but that's about it anyway. You know, you just can't get the the

5:04 – 5:450

go. Do you go? I bet you golf. No, I don't go. No. I said the thing I miss the most is the driving range that used to be on site. Oh, my son. They took it out. He worked there. You know what the best thing was? The golf ball collector. Yeah. Yeah. Right. That's fun. It goes, "Oh, yeah. Everybody's aiming." I love it when I get They're in a cage. Did

5:43 – 5:550

that I missed that? I could get it out to like I think the next which is pretty good.

6:050

Probably come back here tomorrow night or Saturday.

6:13 – 6:570

Well, I mean I I missed that. I miss I don't want I want to be right on the ball. Top actually go into smoking. My father I got I got to enjoy it. I got

7:01 – 7:410

Oh yeah, that was a it's two and was in the back. They developed the mine. Oh, they were like I think the last ones sold like stupid one. What were they? Maybe something they're like little as they call them.

7:39 – 8:040

But people went single level and they're built road or fessant ridge or fessant at the beginning off of wood on wood. Yep. They're asking 850. Are they condos? Yeah, but they're like individual individual. They're like single family up and pay almost a million dollars. I don't want to win. I don't want to do that. I wouldn't want

8:07 – 8:490

people back anymore. Well, that's even a long time. How long have they been? I just I just

8:48 – 9:150

How many years? Three years been long time. Thank God they took that action. What are they going to do? Put sprinklers on it and water damages. Water running into the building, too.

9:12 – 9:500

Yeah. ground water that came through the cracked foundation cracked water base was all moldy condos that he did up in situ. Yeah. Those people suffer their own black. Where's that? This is years ago. Brady Sullivan. Well, there's another development. did the same thing.

9:48 – 10:000

He did the exact same thing on shirt where the locomotive company sand blasters ball [Music]

10:030

good. How are you? Another day in paradise

10:14 – 10:490

maybe. Probably. Yeah. So, it's up to you before she gets here. I just have questions for legal advice. Just wait. How long before she gets here? I don't know. I hate to go without legal. I mean, I'm not Please. You take All right. All right. Okay.

10:57 – 11:420

In case you two minutes, we'll wait till 6:30. Imagine one of these. The first one the first one away. Yeah.

11:38 – 12:480

The second one not happening. Number three. Not happy. [Music] I'd like to call to order the North Providence Zoning Board of Review meeting of September 18th, 2025. We're gonna stand all for the pledge of

12:45 – 13:050

allegiance flag of the standy for all

13:08 – 13:530

like to take a roll call of members. Mr. Paul Peasy. Mr. Ken Scotty present. Mr. Al Cardante present and myself Deborah Gonzalez Cavalier and we are waiting um f a short time about 15 minutes or so for a solicitor to join us our town solicitor who is Angela Bo Angelica Bobas. So first on the agenda is the approval of the minutes from July 17th 2025. Motion to approve the minutes of July 17th. We have a motion to second that. I'll second. Minutes approved.

13:51 – 14:050

And I Oh, yes. So, all right. All in favor say I. I. I. All right. Eyes have it. Approved.

14:02 – 14:430

I was approving it myself anyway. All right. So, our first item on the agenda is for zero Victoria Avenue. Applicant is Tanya Bala, 10 East Lake Drive, Lake View Drive, North Providence 02904. request for a 50-foot foot lot with variance under section 204 district dimensional regulations to construct it to construct a single family house. if you just want to explain projects.

14:44 – 16:110

Uh my name is Lewis Du Quattro uh law office address of 1417 Douglas Avenue North Providence and I represent the applicant Tanya Bakala. Um uh before you uh is approval for a a planning board recommendation uh to um uh approve a 50-ft lot with variance under section 204 district dimensional regulations to construct a single family home. Uh currently the lot meets all uh zoning requirements. Um uh all the applicant had to do was uh put uh a roadway in about 100 ft to provide the proper frontage for the property uh which he was granted approval to do administratively. Um during that process uh some neighbors indicated that they had a concern that the road going in that far potentially could uh cause some drainage issues. Uh so to appease uh the neighbors in in a recommendation of the town uh they said we'll just bring the road in halfway in front of the property um which would make that 50 ft which would require us to have a 50-ft variance to put crush stone on the rest of the roadway uh to the end of the property. So that's essentially what the application is is intended to do. Is there knowledge that there can be any other homes built in the area of this property either behind it or it's 10,000 square feet but

16:10 – 16:540

it's one single family home that's the entire but no I'm saying other owners if somebody else could come in and build behind that or whatever I don't think there's other any other open property but there are actually two lots which are owned by I believe this gentleman um Mr. McNamera is it? Oh, okay. Um, so he's actually in favor of this project, I believe, last time we talked. So, um, maybe if you want to um discuss that. Yeah, he's the only other developable lot on the road before the the corner. So, all right. All right. Thank you. Is there anything else you'd like to say?

16:51 – 17:160

Uh, no. If you have any questions, we'll answer some more questions. have any questions for the attorney? All right. All right. Is there anyone in the audience who is for or against this application? And if they would like to come forward, please state your name and your address, please.

17:12 – 19:080

Brian McMire, 7 Grove A. Um where I seven Grove Avenue. Um no issues with the the street variance coming in 50 ft. Um what I was curious about after seeing the plans was the relief area. Um what was discussed uh when we met at the site um was that uh the relief area was only going to cover um from the corner of my neighbor's property line to my property line. But looking at the plans, it shows that it continues the full 100 ft and and makes it square kind of on a grass area that has been there um and been maintained for two generations um uh by my family and his. Uh, so I was just curious after reviewing the plans if what we discussed that day was not continuing that to square the relief area out um, but to set it on a diagonal from the corner of my property to the corner of his property just to not dist disturb that grass area that has been maintained for such a long time. So I think if the zoning board um feels um to make a condition about his requests, you could request that it remains unpaved and not have a preference of gravel or left unnatural. Leave it up to um you know what makes everyone happiest in the area um whatever that may be. I mean, according to the plans, it looks like that it does show that there is still a significant area that can be uh gravel andor stone or boulders or whatever. Um uh like I said, no problem with the 50 ft like they're requesting. Um, but we just want to make sure for the most part that there is not uh an area where somebody could just drive through that and drive into my backyard,

19:07 – 19:380

which my fence line is right there, or drive through that grassy area that is, you know, meticulously maintained. Um, so there it looks like on the plans that there is still room for that relief area. Um, but we're just asking or curious to see if it's possible to not completely square it out to the full 100 ft, but to bring it in on an angle a little bit just to reach the corner of our property lines. That sounds reasonable. So that

19:36 – 20:120

if you grant this variance, I'm not voting. Um, if if the variance is granted, you don't have to leave any conditions about that. It it doesn't have to be constructed. It can be left natural. It can be gravel. There can be essentially whatever whatever makes everyone happy that isn't paved. So this this variance is requesting not to pave according to town standards all the way at the 100 foot width of the property. So that's already a condition that they're going to keep it unpaved in the area of course that you're speaking about also. Right.

20:10 – 20:530

So you can specify that if you want. This is a request to keep it unpaved. However, on the plan it does show gravel. So there doesn't have to be gravel there if you don't think there should be. Well, gravel is considered unpaved. Correct. It is. However, it's labeled on the plan. So, if it's on the plan, generally, you're supposed to make it. But if we condition it, it doesn't have to be according to the the plan here. All right. Well, that will be a condition to keep it unpaved to keep. Now, is there a fence or a a barrier of any type? natural um what do you call it? Shrubbery that provides a barrier.

20:50 – 21:340

It's more more so like an overgrowth. Um but there is natural shrubbery, grass. Um I don't want to speak on behalf of my neighbor, but um if the the gravel is extended the full 100 ft, it will only be a few feet off of his driveway. Um, so that's why we had discussed um at the meeting to just have the gravel uh kind of go on an angle from the corner of his his fence line on a diagonal to the corner of my fence line as opposed to completely squaring it out, which would eat into all of that green space in that that maintained grass. Yeah, I don't want that. Yeah. And I mean it would it would be mere feet from where his driveway is,

21:32 – 22:150

right? So you could perhaps condition it that it's left natural um without gravel. It sounds like that is what um he's requesting and it could be cheaper for the applicant and I don't think it's necessary um at at first it was proposed as a replacement of road um to keep it pvious but still have access for cars. However, if you grant the variance, it's not even necessary. um being less natural would you know it would it would treat the same water as gravel so it would allow it to permeate just as much.

22:13 – 22:550

Yeah. Now are you did you say you're on the Grove AB side or you on this I'm on the Grove Avenue side. All right. So if you look at the map, he is to the left. If you're looking at the map, right side up, to the left of the variance area. So yes, uh the the variance area comes from the corner of his property to the 50% mark. Okay. Of the applicant's property. That's noted. Thank you. Thank you. All right. And do we have another neighbor?

22:52 – 24:090

Uh John Oonnell, 19 Grove Avenue. I'm right behind property that's owes to be built. Um I have no concerns about building. The only concern is I I saw the plans. Now it calls for an 18x40 erosion control pad on the at the end of my property. And that's diag. like kind of like diagonal from my corner fence to my neighbor's fence, which is good. I mean, we need to control the water, you know, any type of storm that Mr. Bakala has provided. Um, I just would like to make sure that the uh paved road goes right, you know, no longer to my corner of my fence and ends there and then have the the stone um along along this the uh corner and with the erosion control pad that he proposes that he wants to install. So, and then for the barrier which Mr. Baler had did mention that he was going to put um arroites along the corner from my fence to my neighbor's fence diagonally. So it would beautify the corner lot and end right there.

24:09 – 24:450

So sounds good. So you have all that that would be in a condition correct? All right. Thank you. All right. Thank you. I have a question about a basin that I see on here. Proposed basin. that's on the Samson side of if the applicant could come forward and speak to me about that please what the basin is and I apologize the engine the engineer is not here so uh

24:490

which which uh map you're looking at which I'm looking at C4. Yep.

25:01 – 25:400

Oh, the proposed basin in the back. Yes. So, what is the proposed proposed basin? Is that something that was you're talking about something from Grove AB? This is the opposite of Grove AB. Yep. That again that that's more drainage control uh which you know meets all you know federal and state requirements. So in and the planning had uh no issue with that. Correct. Yeah. So there's actually uh two basins. There's one in the front which will overflow via a swale along the the left side of the property or the the right the north side of the property

25:36 – 26:030

to the back pond which once that fills up um will overflow through this rip wrap area. All right. So, as long as there's prevention of er there's erosion control in place on both sides of the house of the property, there is there is um a significant grading plan to uh retain all the water on site.

26:00 – 26:350

All right. Good. All right. Do we have any other questions from the audience for or against? Does the board have any questions? Any statements? All right. So, do I have a motion to approve the application for zero Victoria? A motion. Mr. Paul PZ approves it. Planning board recommendations and

26:33 – 27:160

before we continue with the condition that the gravel area remains un unimproved. Um so so that would mean there it doesn't necessarily have to be gravel. Um you know whatever makes the neighborhood happy I think would uh suffice for that. Uh if we grant the the variance there's no requirement for it to be even touched. So I think whatever he chooses to do will be additional. So all right. And then the bushes that Mr. Okonnell um requested the abites.

27:15 – 27:460

The arborites. Yeah. Do you want to make that condition too as well? Yes. Is everyone all right with that? Yes. All right. So, with those two conditions, and we have a second for the motion, please. I'll have I'll second the motion. All right. Mr. Ken Scotty seconds the motion. The application is approved. All in favor say I. Yes. All in favor say I. I. I. The eyes have it. Application is approved.

27:49 – 28:310

Yes. Decision as soon as it's ready and then then you'll be all with the building department. We have a motion to adjourn this meeting. Motion. Motion approved. I I I second. They get faster and faster. 15 minutes. Takes me longer to get here. I live off the street. It does take me longer to get here. That's fine. I text much better than planning. Oh my. Oh, did you? Yesterday. Really? Oh, last Oh, the

28:30 – 29:040

They must have had a couple of applications, right? Was it wasn't You want to save her a trip? You might call or text her. Yeah, right now we'll send it the check. Anyways, I'm always 10 bucks. I keep forgetting this thing was t. All right. It's bad. The traffic is incredible. Nope.

This transcript was automatically generated from the official public meeting video and is presented unedited. It reflects remarks made on the public record by elected officials, staff, and public commenters. Transcript accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.