Town Council - Regular Meeting

Thank you Heather.

We are going to salute you.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Have any announcements? Not seeing any. I'm going to make a motion to approve February 27, 2026 minutes. Do I have a second? Second. All in favor?

I going to make a motion to approve March 10th, 2026 minutes. All in favor? I I have a change on February 27th minutes. I'm sorry, not February 27th. February 26 minutes the first page. They're not numbered. Moving down to that big paragraph. The last sentences council McHugh commented. You sure the fire marshal is mandated? You see that one? I'm going to strike those words. What day are we talking? February 26th.

You voted to approve the 26th. 27th. Yeah.

So, we're going to strike strike those words and we're going to add these words to it. The community center and Oddfells are type 5B 100 woodframed. No fire rating. The tables show that existing daycare and assembly occupancies are not allowed on the second floor of type type 4B unless the buildings are sprinkled. Section 3.3.198.2 goes that assembly occupancies start once you have 50 people as your occupant load in an area. That's the only change on that one. Go ahead. A motion. I'll make a motion to approve those.

What was that? Just to clarify what you're uh saying that five marshall mandated. There's really no mandate. It's in their code. Okay. And I'm selling the code in case anyone wants to look it up. Second. All in favor?

I I thank you. And the last one is March 5th. We have one change there. On page four, right at the top, this council Talbert stated this displacing people out of year round rentals uses for monitoring and it's growing, doubling or leveling off. want to strike that and replace it with we are trying to understand if this is displacing people out of year round rentals and monitor it to see if STRs are growing, doubling or leveling off. I'll make that motion to change that. Do I have a second? I do. All in favor?

I thank you. U one question for the solicitor. Is that okay to do what council president is doing to change that language like that even though correct? Yes. Okay. Just wanted to make sure that we're not going to get into any hang-ups. Head reports. Motion place department head reports on file unless anybody wants to pull anything. Discussions. All in favor?

I old business. Uh there is no new business. Oh, I'm sorry. Before I go to new business, I would like to add to the agenda. I move pursuant to RGL4246-6B to add the following items to the agenda. One is Little Compton Community Center to place a storage container between the community center and the Oddfellow's Hall to allow them to collect items for their annual rumage shell. They didn't make it to the agenda. I'm going to make that motion. Do I have a second? Is that under new business? That is under adding to uh new business. Is it new business solicitor?

Uh you should semantically business. Yes. That's item three in new business. Is a motion made and second? Oh, I have a motion. Who second it? I did. Okay. Any further discussion? All in favor? I I would also like to add to the agenda uh there's going to be little league signs and boy scout signs on town property for the next two weeks. I'm going to make that motion. Do I have a second? Second. Any further discussion? All in favor? Thank you for that. Probably could have put that on announcements. Um you didn't reference that under the Rhode Island general law. Uh no. No. Would you like me to?

Yes. He did say 42466B. Right. Thank you. New business one. Request letter from Westport River and Vineyard and Winery for discussion for the ability to be a Rhode Island wholesaler at Adams Wine and Spirits located 81 Stone Church Road. Um I've looked over all of that with a solicitor for the past few days. seems that we've come to a conclusion that are they here today?

Um, yeah, if you want to, you can come on up. State your name and your address, please. But, uh, Rob Russell, uh, Westport, Massachusetts, 417 Hicks Bridge Road. Hi, Rob. Hi. It's my understanding you need to file a petition with the council to add a warehouse to the zoning tables. Um, and then once that happens, the council will then submit that petition to the planning board for their review. Um, then then they'll schedule a public hearing. Solicer, is that about right? Yes. I I spoke to uh Robert F. Overcoder. Yes. He's your attorney, correct? And I explained the situation to him and what needs to be done. The petition that needs to be filed.

Okay. That needs to be filed with the town council. With you. No, with town council. with the town council goes to town clerk. All right. And what what is a petition specifically supposed to look like? Oh, you know, uh, Mr. Overbercoder asked me the same question and I said to him, just write it out. So, did you read there's no form for it? Did you would the letter that I gave to you and the council suffice? No. Because it has to come from him or because don't come from whatever. But I explain to him the form that it should go in. Okay. Should we go back? Not that hard.

All right. And then that gets uh goes to town council. Then that goes to planning board. That's correct. Yes. All right. So we're done for tonight. Yes, you are. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Russell. Thank you very much. Thanks. What my agenda is my agenda? No, it's not your agenda, but you can read. Thank you. Okay. Communications one. That's where we are, right? My agenda request from Young Family. No. Is this two? Stone walls.

Oh, Stonewall repair veterans field discussion man school. Do you have our town administrator with us? Yes. Yes. TV above your head. Can you hear me? Hi Ana, could you contact Principal Mckennon over there? They're doing a project on Stonewall Par Veterans Field. Can do. Thank you. Yep. Do you want to vote on that? No vote needed. Communications. One request from Young Family Farm for an But we're going to talk about the little comp community center. Your two additions. I've already did my two additions. But we don't have to do anything about that. We've already voted, I think. Well, we approved to put it on the agenda. Now we have to

Okay. Whatever you want to discuss on it, then approve to vote. Vote on it to approve whatever they want to do. Oh, we already did that. No, no, we pro put it on the agenda. Okay. I'm going to make a motion for all three of those that I put on the agenda. Do I have a second? You mean three? You put two. Two or three. Thank you. So, the Little Compton Community Center wants to push a storage facility between the Oddfellows Hall and the community center. Yep. And that's what she wants approval for. Yep. Okay. I'll make that motion. Second it. All in favor? I. Thank you.

And the signs for Boy Scouts and Little. Yep. Have a motion for that. I move second. All in favor? I

Thank you. Sorry about that folks. Okay, communicate request from Young Family for an annual entertainment license located at 260 Main Road. I also spoke with a solicitor about this also and I will tell you what I found out. Seems to me that what they're asking for is farm to fork dinners, field to vase, flower floral workshops, birthday bridal and baby events, uh, and farm cores and workshops. Uh, I've read the easement um that is on there. Um, and it looks like we can probably talk about approving those except for birthday, bridal, and baby. seems that that's also needs to go down uh to the planning board um and and and put in our tables. Solicitor, you want to take that from there? Well, uh the application is for and and by the way, I have a a letter here from uh Dean Simmons on this and I agree with 90% of what Dean has on it. The request is for um farm to fork dinners, field cavves, floral workshop shops, birthday bridal baby events, farm tours and workshops. And uh my advice to you is going to be governed by the Zerella case which we discussed the last time that the Youngs were here. uh as well as a review of the development easement that is on the property uh that is held by the um it's not like a subset of DDM the agricultural lands preservation commission and a letter actually from them because they took a vote on this.

So um under that case and after discussing the matter with DEM legal council on it, it appears to me that uh the farm to fork dinners, field to vase floral work shops, the farm tours and the and and related workshops all fall under the exceptions of the Zerella case and are considered uh farm uses. So those can proceed in the ordinary course with the necessary licenses that have to be attained for for matters of this. Uh what the DEM lawyer tells me and I agree with him is uh for the birthday, bridal and baby events uh those uh would need to be um uh a permitted use or use permitted by special use permit under the zoning ordinance. And Dean is correct under your current zoning ordinance. Now for agricultural uses, that's section A of the use tables. Uh those are not permitted uses. So you would need to add them uh to the um would need to add them to your use table under agriculture. So that would be a zone uh zoning ordinance amendment. Planning board uh gives a recommendation and you have a public hearing.

So that's about it. Okay. So, I'm going to make a motion. save a little bit of time here that and this is already allowed as far as I'm concerned but just in case anybody has any question on it you say it was approved or I don't know if it's going to be approved by the council but to allow the young family farm to do fieldto- vase uh floral workshops farmtofork dinners and educational farm workshops and other workshops s with all uh zoning and ordinances, town and state uh adhered to. I'll second that.

Also include parking and traffic with the chiefs. And parking and traffic with the Chiefs.

I have a motion in a second. Any further discussion? All in favor? None opposed. Thank you. Make comment about this. Sure. So, uh, my name is, uh, Larry Anderson. I'm, uh, speaking on my own behalf, not on behalf of any other, uh, vidual or group. Uh, I I commend and, uh, appreciate the, uh, thorough, comprehensive, thoughtful proposal by the, uh, well, in principle. I'm glad you voted to do this. uh without going into all the details as you know this is a they've identified a a an issue that we haven't addressed for for 10 years and and I hope they open the door to a more comprehensive uh discussion and approach including the planning board including the council including the farm community and especially including the agricultural conservancy trust uh to achieve some of the uh to to address some of the issues and If I may, I'm going to read the Young's some of the Young's uh uh quote here. It's it under their heading commitment to preservation and longevity. We are mindful of the fact that Little Compton's landscape is changing and we have all felt the loss of cherished local establishment, not just farms over the years, such as the country stand, Walker's roadside, the Commons, the Barn, and Crother's restaurant. It is becoming a sign significant challenge to sustain a business in town. and we worry that without the ability to adapt, more local landscapes, landmarks will disappear. But we understand the town's commitment to preserving our lands. We must also ask whether the commitment lies uh in preserving the businesses run and operated by Little Compton uh residents. Uh if our community's focus on preservation does not allow for the adaptation and growth of business businesses maintaining and working these lands, we face a future where quite

literally there will be no local businesses left to preserve. Um they make uh one other point uh concept for little content. We have seen how the local theater has been permitted to host a limited number of events for the public and how the town's private clubs and are able are able to host similar gatherings. We believe it is fair uh only fair that local family-owned businesses once so deeply involved in the community be afforded the same opportunity. By by doing this they're opening the door to a set of rules that provides the same opportunities for all similar farm operations that should fairness and opportunity for all. I won't go into the whole thing of course but the the problem with the vineyard settlement was that it involved just one property. did property. 10 years ago, I was here with a proposal to allow for special use permits for agricultural accessory use. Some of us on the council asked the planning board to come up with an ordinance. They did in early 2019. We went a little fast because we hadn't consulted the planning board and we had not really reached out to the farming community. There was there was resistance. We sent it back to the planning board. there was some further work. COVID came along and um and the thing died on the vine. That's 10 that's 10 to 12 years ago. So, um the the Young's the Young's proposal is timely. It's it's too it's late. And I hope that that that they address the specific proposal that they're asking for, but also look more a little more broadly at other agricultural accessory uses that will contribute to the viability of agriculture in town. Point is that the

biggest owner of agricultural land in town is us, the agricultural conservancy trust, nearly 2,000 acres, much of which is agricultural. this land is not going away. It has to be more than just a scenic uh background for us property owners. It's it's going to have to live and survive. So, the town has a big stake in in in in dealing with these other uses. So, I support what they're doing. I'm glad you voted for it, but I think uh as time goes on, we should perhaps broaden the number of uses and and the special use permit is the way to go. It's what we talked about 10 years ago. So, I'm glad you're taking this step and thank you to the young firm.

May May I May I just say something? Sure. Uh, in response just quickly, uh, since the the 10 years you're talking about, this isn't just an issue for Little Compton, it's an issue for um other rural communities in the state. So the advice that I've given uh tonight as to what can be done now applies to all of the farms uh that are in this community uh the state uh uh considers them to be agricultural uses as defined by the statute and also as defined under the regulations that uh we we've talked about. The question then becomes what else can be used on that and the uh young proposal is a a limited proposal which is a a good first step that many other farms in the state are already trying. It's good to take a quick look at it but what applies to the young farm will also apply to all of the other farms that you have in this town. I have a hand come on up. I just want to uh Sal Marinosi uh uh I don't know if everybody I'm on the planning board. I'm not speaking for the planning board, but I'm speaking to the general public. We're in the process right now on the planning board of coming up with a new comprehensive plan. And I suggest that everyone that has an interest and these issues come before the planning board or right into the planning board and put those issues in front of us so we can incorporate them in a plan that's comprehensive. That's all. Thank you and I'm glad this was passed this evening.

So, Mr. Young, go ahead. So, my name is Tyler Young. I uh I do appreciate what you guys just did tonight. Um my family's here, our friends are here, and uh I hope this is the next step to uh you know, keeping farmers here. There's not a lot of us left. Believe me, there's a lot of land here, but there's not a lot of us left. We're a rare breed. Uh not just here in Little Compton, but nationwide. We're about 1% of the population. So, we should be cherished. Uh we do feed a lot of folks and uh you know, for us to continue doing what we need to do, uh we have to diversify. Uh I mean, just just now what's going on with fertilizer right now, uh is crazy right now. I mean, last year, ura, which is a form of nitrogen, was $600, $1,000 right now, a ton. And we buy a lot of fertilizer. um each trail we buy probably about six seven trailers of fertilizer. It's not all ammonia fertilizer or ura fertilizer to diversify but it's our costs have gone up crazy and for us just to rely on a monoulture type crop like potatoes which is written in a letter um it just can't do it anymore. So we've diversified over the years and uh you know gone to the retail end of it and uh it's um helped us a lot again. We diversify more with the flowers. Our daughters are into the floral. They're here tonight and we got a couple more generations on the way. So, we hope to be here. So, just going to work, but we're happy to work with you guys. You know, counties, we're here. We're here to stay. And, you know, you need to work with the the locals, you know, especially us because we're here. Uh, I know you had some issues in the

past with corporate uh, conglomerates, but we need to prioritize local. We'll be here if you want us to. Thank you. Anyone else?

I have a hand. Go ahead up, sir. Hi, I'm I'm Skip Paul for Bushing Stone Farm down 25 Shaw Road. I just want to I'm here to support Tyler and his family and getting and I'm thank you for getting to look re reexamine this issue about various small businesses that help farms, you know, pay for the bills and get things going. We had uh issues about 10 years ago when we were trying to do uh dinners and there was ordinances that that blocked it and made us basically give up on the dinners until we we could see a way through how to make it work. So I'm supporting Tyler and uh any any of the other farmers. I know Jack Nelson's son is here. uh that farm was able to make you know not huge amount of money but necessary money to make them a viable farm about seven or eight years ago and then some ordinance came down about weddings and the whole thing just went away. So, I think we're hopefully we're moving in the right direction. Not that we want to have massive huge weddings with 700 people, but just like a a wedding that's reasonable and we can work with the fire department, whatever we need to to make it work. But I think finding new ways to support farms staying viable in this town is I think I appreciate your you're looking at it. Thank you.

Anyone else?

So, I'd like to just make a comment. This comes from uh Agricultural Land Preservation Commission from the state of Rhode Island. Tyler went up there in front of them with his family and asked that some of his land is under easement from the DEM. You can't do too much with it, but this is what they came down with. Commission reviewed the aerial maps made by the Youngs discussion of the proposed layout of the tents and parking. Commission made note that the tents owed to be cited within an area of the farm where agricultural structures allowed to be constructed as out outlined by the de development rights. The commission further noted the parking is to occur in existing parking area next to the retail farm stand and along exiting farm roads will not negatively impact agriculture operations. There was a motion made by Ad Lynch and second by Jay Mner and the commission voted unanimously to approve the layout parking of Ted's tent sites on the farm and events would be in not be inconsistent with the deed to development rights held by the Agricultural Lands Preservation Commission. But the first thing that they that Tyler did, he put in this request, and I say this with emphasis, request for letter of compliance regarding hosting future weddings and small events. So, the DEM has already said that this was a liable. What's holding Tyler up from being financially successful or staying in business is our zoning.

So, I'm going to make a motion that the solicitor come up with some kind of language to allow special use events and get it to the planning board before the meeting at the beginning of the month so we can move this along.

So, I'll second your motion. Just for the record, um, for the for the minutes, there's not a DEM easement. It is a state of Rhode Island Agricultural Land Preservation Commission that you just read. Uh the ALPC is the acronym for is a quasi governmental agency that works closely with the DEM. Just so we're clear on it. It was formed in 1981 pursuant to General Lord chapter 48-82. I think Gary you're right what you said that our or there's nothing in the ordinance for it. Um so we can send it down again. And I would just reiterate if we want to have this work, it's been decades or more than that. We're all going to have to work together. We're all going to have to give a little neighbors, farmers, people. So, I look forward to the next round at the planning board and and and having this come up and hopefully uh we can get over the line with it.

One one other thing I'd like to say is that the Youngs have their Apple picking festival, I guess it's called, and they have bands there. And I've never heard of any um problems with that or any complaints with that. So obviously they've been good neighbors and I think we should give them what they need to say stay physically responsible and to stay in business. He's got two young daughters. I'd like to see them stay in town with their families. So I hope that the planning board can that solicitor can come up with something and the planning board will look favorably on it. Have a motion and a second of the table. Anyone else on discussion here? Not seeing any. All in favor?

I oppose. Not seeing any. Thank you. Uh consent. Motion to place consent calendar on file unless anybody wants to pull anything for discussion. Second. All in favor? I. Payment of bills. Motion to pay the bills as written. Second. All in favor? I I'll accept a motion to adjurnn.