Planning Board - Regular Meeting

Thursday, September 11th, 2025 is called to order at 7 PM. First up, our roll call. Dr. Benoy here. Dr. Roberts here. Mr. Porter here. Mr. Manard here. The chair is here. Uh, Miss Ramos and Mr. Alier are not here. Uh, next up we have the minutes from the August 14th meeting. Give you a few moments to look those over and have give us any comments or questions you have on it.

I'll move to accept as presented. Director Benoid has moved to accept as presented. Do we have a second? Second. We have a second. All in favor? I opposed.

The meeting minutes from August 14th are accepted as presented. Uh, next on the agenda, um, do any planning board members have need to disclose any potential conflicts on the matters before the board of the city? No. Hearing none. Next item, disclosure and notice. Planning board members shall disclose any exparte communication about any contested or material adjudicated facts or opinions concerning the merits of any application before the board. I need to disclose that I did have a a brief text conversation with one of the abutters on one of the projects. I did not offer any opinion on that project. Provided a little guidance on how to uh how to participate in a planning board meeting. Um and that and that person is here this evening. So that's great. But don't feel any need to recuse myself for it. Okay. Okay. Um declaration of voting members is our standard group of voting members. Dr. Penoy, Dr. Roberts, Mr. Porter, Mr. Manard, and myself. So first up,

you want me to make my motion first? Oh, can I do that? Yeah, go ahead. All right. Uh Mr. Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion to add an item to the agenda for discussion. It will only take about a minute. Um, I'd like to move that we add to the agenda the a discussion on the town charter. That item would be put at the end of the agenda though and then can we add it and then I can bump it? Either way. Either way, there's been a motion to amend. Yeah. Needs to be a second. Yeah. Second. We have a second. Is that a roll call? Need not be recorded and obviously can only be for discussion only.

Okay. Those in favor of the amendment. I I Okay. If you want to save it for later, we later. Yeah. I think it'd be best to save. That's fine. We have an eager crowd here. They they paid big money for these tickets. They want the show to start it. You know, I was going to use it for some education, too. That's fine. All right. So, uh, item seven, uh, public meeting recommendation of town council, uh, Slater Court Land Exchange, uh, zero Greenville Road. Uh, Mr. Krillo, could you just give your summary, please? Yes, Mr. Chairman. Um, this item, it's actually zero Main Street. That's a typo, so I apologize for that. Right.

Um, I believe the applicant, Mr. Godfren, is here. uh he has a sub a minor subdivision pending uh in the planning office and as part of the subdivision he would like to acquire a small uh lot that is surrounded by the subdivision on Main Street uh that was formerly a a uh water a wellwater lot I don't know how to descri but it was a it was an active well which is now defunct and he would like to exchange that small piece of property for a larger piece of property uh to the I guess that would be to the east on the property. Um to square off uh portion the his his lot and to and to merge the further portion of the property with some current town-owned property providing a larger open space for the town as well as access to the reservoir.

And I think um Mr. Godfred might be here to discuss that. Is is the the land that's surrounded by his property the the one with the dirt turnout and a building? That's what I thought. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Not that I'm familiar with the area at all. Any uh Mr. Chairman? Question for Mr. Kuo. Yes. Would the parcel that the town is relinquishing be suitable for low mar housing?

Well, it's an undersized parcel. Um, it's 8,600 square ft. Um, I guess it potentially could be if someone was to build or or desire to build low to moderate income housing on it. It's a very small, narrow lot. It's 58 by 150 ft it looks like. Um, but it certainly could accommodate a house. Do we have a um do we have a graphic or anything that can show that CJ?

I think I think a visual would be helpful. Yeah, I think the property is currently under control of the water department. It was a former well site. Yeah. If you now if you scan over to the to the right. Yeah. Keep scanning over to the right.

There you go. Thank you.

Yeah. Is there another half to that? Is that Is there another half to that? How did that There it is. There we go. There we go. So to the to the the right side upper quadrant is the townowned parcel. Mr. Mr. Governor, if you could first introduce yourself, but then if you could walk us through that, it'd be helpful. Phil Godfren, 47 Homerrest Avenue.

The landing question is in the upper right hand corner. It consists of about 8,800 square ft. There's 59 ft of frontage. Current zoning requires 20 foot setbacks. So if you subtract 20 ft, I'm sorry. So So is it the entire area outlined in red or is it a subset of that? No, it's just that little piece lot 368. Yeah, it's that it's that Mr. Chairman, it's that small square or a rectangle at the top right. So, it's not the whole property. So, it's that little piece. Yeah. And the proposal is to absorb that into that property in exchange for property on the far end of the parcel um outlined in red right there and merged into an abuing

parcel that abuts Main Street on that far end. Yeah. owns this piece, right? There is currently an old block building that's not used to be a pump house. Yep. After discussions with the heritage association, they actually requested this piece of property so that they would have access to the water. Right. The piece we're proposing to trade is 39,650 square ft. In return for the 8,800 Mhm. Now, if I can go back to zoning again to talk about the uses available for that piece, it only has 59 ft of frontage. Right.

Current zoning requires 20 foot sideline setback. So, if you reduce that lot by 40 ft, you can only be allowed to build an 18 foot wide structure. Understood. Why? It's rather impractical. Yeah. Anything else, Dr. You. Does that answer your question? who was going to end up owning the lot way down at the bottom left this here. Yes. We're proposing to convey that and add it to the town. That would give the heritage association what they're looking for direct access to the rest. If the heritage association owns that,

y again, could that be a buildable lot? Don't see why not. Okay. demonizing that will and the lot on the bottom left will be in the possession of the town or the historic society. Yeah. Well, we would convey it to whoever owns title to this piece. The historic commission did request that as part of that conveyance, we also granted them a uh an easement so that that would preclude the town council from doing anything that they choose,

an easement to the back of the water council, the recreation because their vision is to put a bridge across here so that you could gain access to the reservoir. Could you raise that image up a bit? As I look at the lot on the bottom left, I see a buildable lot. Yes. And that will remain that size after the conveyance and the easement. Yeah. Y and it will be possessed by the town. The town. So if the town wanted to put a low mod housing unit in there in the future, Absolutely. They they could actually half.

Yeah. It's actually it actually is a little bigger because it includes the the piece there that's not outlined in red which the town already owns. So you get right I'm just quite a bit of frontage as well as trying to see if we can gain a low unit there someday. Yeah, Mr. Caruo, is it conceivable? Yeah. So Oops.

Excuse me. I'm sorry. Yeah, it would be it is conceivable. Um the proposal, what I would propose to the town council at the end of the day is if there is an exchange and it's authorized by the town council that that portion of the lot be merged into the frontage lot, which would be a town-owned lot, whether whether the council puts restrictions or whether, you know, the owner imposes a restriction. I think that would be a negotiation between the town council and the owner. that that would be that would be worked out between the two parties because the town council may want a restriction, they may not want one. If the owner wants to impose one, the town council may say we won't accept it. So, I mean, that's a negotiation between those two and then, you know, the the 8,000 ft parcel will be merged into that uh that existing portion of 270 there. So they would So you'd end up with two reasonably rectangular lots that went from Main Street to the water as opposed to now having that small rectangular lot surrounded on on two sides by Mr. God's property and then you know an oddshaped lot which kind of reaches behind the town owned lot. So I mean reasonably I think it's a good exchange. I think the town is getting uh the benefit uh a greater benefit of the property and providing access to the water if that's what it desires. And you know the exchange in land is about 39,000 versus uh

8,000. So I I would I would support it. I'm okay with that. Great. Thank you. Any other questions, comments from the board? No. Um what's our action on this? It's a recommendation to the town council in favor of the proposed exchange. So for a favorable Yeah. motion favorable favorable recommendation of the town council uh for the proposed exchange of land. Okay. I make a motion sorry for favorable decision for the exchange of the

favorable recommendation. favorable but recommendation notation not a decision. All right. Recommendation I apologize uh for the exchange of the small apostle for the large aposle and the large apostle to be merged with an existing town piece of property that is straight frontage. Okay.

I'll second for discussion. Um because I I'm curious if you know the the discussions have been with the heritage association that I understand many of those members to be um looking for conservation easements. So I don't know if we want to you know I wish Mr. was here because he would be able to speak about about uh the needs of the heritage association a little bit more. But if there was any portion of the parcel that could be given to a conservation easement, so then that way it's it's deed, it's you know left untouched and then regardless if you know um the town decides to build on that parcel or not, there still remains the access to the waterfront. So, um or in the in the event that the town sells it in the future as well for for other purposes, uh that there's still be an ease a conservation easement put on some or not if not all the the property. Yeah, I that was one of the questions I had I think in in the first time we talked about this development um this project um about having some sort of conservation easement along the waterfront, you know, narrow enough um narrow enough to protect um you know, whoever lives there and all that, give them their space, yet wide enough to allow people to enjoy the waterfront because we we don't have a lot of open waterfront on that reservoir which is one of the biggest assets in this town.

Okay. So I I think I would like to add to Mr. Manard's motion and just say to the council to in in addition to our positive recommendation consider some form of conservation easement along that property. So then that way uh whatever happens to to it in the future there is the ability to have maintain access for future generations. All right. So we have a a motion for a positive recommendation with the uh added recommendation for the conservation easement. Do we have a second? I second. You second it for that discussion. Okay. Okay. Roll call vote. Dr. Benoy. Yes.

Dr. Roberts. Yes, Mr. Porter. Yes, Mr. Manard. Yes. And the chair votes yes. Great. Was that for the amendment, Mr. Chairman? Pardon me. Was that for the amended? That was for the amendment. There was a motion. There was a second. There's discussion. I think Mr. Porter was making a motion to amend the original motion. It was for the Okay. Thank you. I just want to be clear on that. Yes. The amendment Now you would vote on the amended mo. You'd need a motion for the amended motion. Gotcha. In a second and then a vote. Yeah. As amended.

All right. I'll make a motion for motion as amended. There you go. Thank you. We have a second. Second. Great. I Roberts, Dr. Mr. Porter, yes. Mr. Manard, yes. And the chair votes yes. Sorry, my name's not Robert's, but that's that's okay. It's okay. Have you ever seen Robert's Rules the book? It's that thick. This guy had too much time on his hands.

All right, so I think that closes out. You're welcome. U next up, uh public hearing, Unified Development Review, Greenville Realtors. Um, good evening, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. My name is Elizabeth Nunan. I'm an attorney with the law firm of Adler Pollock and Shien, and I represent the applicant and owner. In regards to this application for unified development review, uh, this is property located at three Greenville uh, Road. It's a business neighborhood zone. We're seeking to do a gas station and convenience store on that location. And we have brought this before this board in some form like an informal matter. I think maybe two or three years ago. I can't recall. Um and we're back here tonight seeking both the zoning relief under the UDR as well as the master plan.

Sorry. Okay. As well as master plan approval. I have two witnesses um this evening. I have uh Phil Henry of civil uh design engineering and Bob Misho of MDM for traffic um traffic information. So without any further ado, Phil, you ready? I think we're all loaded up on Yep. And Phil, if you could just give some uh your background to this board. I don't know if it's this board's um practice to qualify people as experts. No. Okay. It's good to have a little background. We don't require anything formal. and he's taller than I am. So, I'm going to give him more of the microphone, um, have him go through his background, and then discuss the existing and proposed plan.

Good evening. Uh, for the record, my name is Philip Henry, uh, with Civil Design Group. I'm a registered uh, professional engineer in the state of Rhode Island. I've been practicing civil engineering for 20 years. Okay.

And we I we were we were before this board like, as I said, two or three years ago on this property. So I guess um I could proactively go go through the existing conditions uh and the proposed um if you could jump to the last sheet. So we're here before you um for a master plan. So we don't have a full set of site plans. We have a survey, a site plan, and I think one of the other requirements was a a slope plan. Um, those of you that are familiar with this site, uh, knows that it that it's located at the intersection of Route 104 and 146A. Uh, there Greenville Road is here. Smithfield Road runs, uh, top to bottom. Uh, the site is located here. It's just under an acre. Uh, and those of you that are familiar with it, it's largely impervious. There is a small retaining wall that stretches at the bottom of this slope here. And then these these lines here are actually slope slope lines. Uh there's a two to one or one to one slope sloping back up here. So this is largely vegetated and then all of this area here is um is asphalt. Um from Smithfield Road to Greenville, it slopes maybe eight or nine feet. It's it's actually quite deceiving from when you're out there. looks a lot flatter uh than it is uh on on on paper. But um be that as it may, um our proposal, Can you jump to the second slide or this the the site plan? The proposal is to construct a a 3,400 uh square foot convenience store which is located at that as that gray rectangular hatch and four pumps, four fuel pumps. So there four four dispensers, eight fueling positions. Um

I can't quite remember the layout that we had before you a few years ago, but um this one affords us a little bit more more room. Uh we are proposing an access curb on on Greenville Road here as well as an access curb on on Smithfield Road. The site will be supported by 23 parking spaces. Four of which will be behind the site. Uh six will be in front of the site. And then there's some auxiliary parking on either side of the dispensers. Um this site we are also proposing a a drive-thru uh which is located here. So site circulation would be you enter you could enter through Greenville Road and and you could enter the pumps or you would circulate around the building here. This site has an inner drive drive-thru which would access the window or an outer lane should you need to get out of that line or just circulate around the building. Um, and then the the drive aisles on either side of of the dispensers are are full access in either direction. So, so you can continuously drive around the dispensers in either direction and then the building is just oneway direction counterclockwise. Uh the front entrance is obviously located here with the supported ADA space. Uh trash is located back here. Um we we also uh are proposing to to redo the the sidewalk along the along the intersectional frontage as well as provide a pedestrian access uh located here into the store. Um we have as I said we haven't uh we haven't fully prepared the full set of plans. However, we we did advance some of those plans, storm water, drainage, utility, landscape. So, um while those are not finalized, I'm I'm happy to to speak to them should there be any questions

regarding that. Uh one last thing, the the retaining wall that uh currently exists here uh will be will be removed and and and in part re rebuilt as shown um here with this this gray solid line hatch. and then this solid line hatch here. So I think that's the that's a general overview. I'm happy to answer any specific questions.

Um before um there are any other questions we have received uh obviously as put forth on your agenda. Uh all of the relief that we're requesting is set in there for zoning. Um they're set forth at pages uh two to three of uh the agenda and then the planners comments after that. Uh but it is a fairly tight site. So there is requests for you know setbacks on the dumpster. Some of the landscaping there's no landscaping out there now. Um and location of the parking spaces are you know going to be near the front of it. Landscape design standards because there's there's no no natural landscaping now. Um, we've also asked for some signage uh relief which is part of the package there and then the drive-through window. So, we that the relief is all spelled out there. That's the zoning side of it versus the master plan side of it and the standards that you're more familiar with, although I'm sure you're getting used to the zoning ones. We also are aware of um following the the planners uh comments throughout uh the the report that he makes some recommendations at pages five to six. list nine conditions, some of which are to be done at the next stage of preliminary plan. Some will be done at final, some are ongoing, you know, um operations, manuals and and monitoring and things like that. All of those conditions are acceptable uh to the client on the on that matter. So, we have no no issues with with any of those of that. Um so, if there's any questions for Phil, if not, I have the traffic engineer next.

There any questions or comments from the board on the first presentation? first part of the presentation. Dr. Bow,

I I don't see any accommodation for snow storage in the winter. Is it possible to move that big block stone wall more to the rear and then possibly even consider a terrace so that the snow could be piled on the second terrace? Yeah, I I I think there's an opportunity to do that. The wall will probably not not be that tall, so we we won't need to we may not need to terrace it. We we may just be able to push it back five or six feet just to provide a shoulder for for snow storage.

Okay. Uh at the present time, all the trees on that hillside are uh decid deciduous. I think some coniferous trees and vegetation that would shield the back neighbors from looking down on the station might be preferable. Exactly. Yeah. And and what we'll do is maybe we'll take a closer look at where the some of the more mature trees are maybe to try to avoid pushing the wall back in those locations to so as to maintain that veget. There are no decidu there are no coniferous trees there at the present time. No, but but but but mature trees in general, right? So, okay. Anything else? Supporter.

Um, I get concerned with the number of parking spaces. Um, I know you're required to have seven. You have now triple that that amount at 23. So, you know, I know I understand that there's a business to be had here, but also it's a completely impervious surface right now. you're doing some things to make it a little bit better and I'm looking to perhaps make it even more better uh for lack of better words. Um just because you know there's a school teacher in the back of the room.

I know I know my apologies. So, uh I I was just uh considered looking at at the amount of parking there given, you know, the location of it and um and the impervious nature of the existing site would probably look to have a little bit more infiltration. Uh to Doc Benoyy's point, you could probably have some more snow storage locations. Uh and and then, you know, all the gas stations that we have here in town, people are always parking at the pump and running in and out. So, uh, if you could consider that, I I would certainly appreciate that. Certainly, I think that that's a good a good note.

I I would just add to that. It's also an opportunity provide a little bit of outdoor seating or whatever, too, which which also presents better uh because you could have some some smaller trees, things like that. I know I've done that on some other other sites we've worked with where there has been some outdoor seating. So, we'll certainly Dr. Robert.

Um, yes. I wanted to underscore what was just said about outdoor seating. um keeping the mature trees and also I know I said this the last time because I remember this proposal if there are any solutions um related to decreasing the impervious surfaces and adding curb appeal and beauty um and like a calming effect because um that corner on the one socket side there's a storage on the other side there's like an aging strip mall and now a convenience store. Then across there's a gas station. It's a very developed area and not not doesn't look very nice in many cases and that is an entry to our community. So it would be appreciated to have it just look as nice as possible and be like as soft as possible.

Um. Right. And Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah, I was going to say that and frankly it probably make it more appealing and therefore perhaps better for business. Um but but to that point, uh I think also because one of my concerns is it's it's very tight. I mean there's traffic flow there and there's very little room. So if you have cars that pull in when they're backing out, they're blocking, you know, there's a lot of that when you start eliminating that then you when you start changing that and making like the seating area and stuff, well now you eliminate that problem as well. Um, and in terms I know you haven't done the landscape plan and as you're as as you know there's no landscaping there. I'm also thinking about in the front right on the corner where you have the sign that's an opportunity to to add a lot of uh vegetation

and stuff uh to again dress it up to Dr. Robert's points. Yeah. And I think um I I should have added that the the site plan that you currently see here results in a in a decrease of almost 6,000 square ft of impervious area as compared to the to the existing condition. So if we explore removing some additional parking spaces at opportunistic spots, that will just increase that even more. And um I agree with you that that that this is a good opportunity to provide some some nice low-lying shrubs and and perhaps maybe some trees provided that they don't block uh sight distances. Right.

And then and then lastly the the retaining wall because because right now this site slopes from I'll call it you know 100 to to to to 92 or an 8ft drop. Um now now we're putting a flat structure in this area. This retaining wall is going to stretch around the frontage. That might be an a good opportunity to provide some facade look to to that wall as this wall tapers from we'll call it five or six feet here down to zero. So, all right. Good. I just have one other thing.

Um I just wanted to call to our attention to that there's um I believe it's a cedar swamp nearby. So, any kind of care that can be taken with how runoff is being collected. I know of course we have regulations, but if we could do the very best that we can like above and beyond acknowledging that there's the cedar swamp and the wetlands nearby, that would be appreciated, too. Um there's one thing, Phil, if you could just mention the permits that are needed for this um for this property. Obviously, um Bob and Jo will be talking about the DOT uh permit. So,

okay. So uh definitely an underground storage license permit through through Rym will be required. Um I I don't know if Rym storm water is going to be required. Usually the threshold for for Ryum is you're either in a wetland jurisdiction over one acre of disturbance. Um we we we are not within a wetland jurisdiction. We have less than an acre of disturbance and we're going to be a redevelopment. So um we we may or may not be um subject to to Rym filing wi with that being said the stormwater report will adhere to Rym standards whether we need to apply to them or not.

Okay Dr. I am concerned with the exit onto uh the 146A going northbound can in my opinion which is poor uh it should only be southbound. Uh going north is going to be a dangerous maneuver with the density of traffic. Uh, anyone inside the site can easily exit on Greenville Road, get in line, and go north with a left turn signal. Can I put Mr. I know he's coming on and then we'll get into, like I said, my opinion is not worth much. No, no, abs it absolutely is, but Phil's not going to touch that one. So, we'll wait for Mr. Misho.

Anything else on the board? Okay. And just one thing overall with this property in terms especially to the variance standards um as as Phil has mentioned it has that steep topography in the back it slopes and so one of the main standards on the on the variances is is the essentially the lot um you know configuration due to the unique characteristics of of the subject land. So that's just something to think about especially as we get into the um the traffic discussion. So Rick

Yes. Uh thank you for the record. Uh Robert Misho, managing principal of MDM Transportation Consultants. Um I'm a registered professional engineer here in Rhode Island. Uh I've got 37 years of experience uh and have always practiced uh in the realm of transportation engineering and design. Uh what we've done in this case is is prepare a traffic impact and access study to Ryot standards. Uh we've had consultation with Ryot as well. uh and they were courteous enough to take a look at the initial site plan and offer some input to that prior to uh what will become a a formal physical alteration permit process with them. Uh we've also incorporated into the study um a lot of the local information through consultation with the planning department here in North Smithfield as well as wind socket so that we have a more comprehensive view of how traffic is likely to change over time beyond what we're proposing here. What I'd like to do is um kind of walk you through some of the highlights of what that traffic study says uh by first talking about the context of the site. Uh many folks here have seen it evolve over time. Uh and the next slide, if you could kindly uh would indicate, of course, as Philip mentioned, uh the proximity of the site. It's at uh a well-known intersection that serves a lot of commercial businesses, uh AutoZone, CT gas, uh self- storage facility. Now, um many of these existing commercial uses actually have wide open undefined driveways. in many cases parking that requires that they back into the street. Uh and uh this site in particular presents an opportunity to actually address some longerstanding issues that have been on the site. Uh the next slide uh shows the context of the site which at one point uh contained uh not only the beef barn but the coffee

and cream. Uh it did have a drive-through facility. It was a wellused, very active site with very undefined driveways as the board is probably aware. Um, this is a view from Greenville Road uh looking at the site on its most southerntherly side. Uh, this is the area where Phil had mentioned a wall would go from about the 5ft elevation down to one. Uh, wide open, a lot of parking and trip activity within a fairly undefined parking area. Um the next slide would give a better context of the middle or central portion of the site which at one point did have the drive-through facility which is a bit um atypical, right? You're going through the parking field to get to it and um and of course very well parked, very well active. Uh the next slide presents the more northerly side of the site uh at Smithfield Road uh where again there's a lot of activity in the beef barn in in in the in the scene. So that's the context that we've uh uh we've understood uh and are trying to plan a better site frankly. The next slide uh provides a snapshot of what we anticipate the site itself will generate for traffic. Uh before talking about that in detail, I want to emphasize that we've gone out in in this year and quantified counted traffic activity along both of these roadways at the intersection as well. We've made seasonal adjustments to that data. We've grown that data by a five-year horizon to include growth that is normally going to happen in the area as well as very specific projects that are identified and recently permanent here in North Smithfield as well as in Windsocket. Uh there's a school project just over the town line here that we were made aware of uh you know by both Ryod and Windsocket that we've now incorporated into this. This site um has a combination of uses, right? You've got the convenience store, you've got a a coffee component to that store with a

drive-thru, and of course the fuel pumps. Um, we look first at industry standards to understand for that range of uses, how much traffic might be generated. And what's presented in this slide, and this is based on industry standards, uh, is a snapshot of what might happen during a weekday morning peak hour, a weekday evening peak hour, and a Saturday midday peak hour. And um it really represents um the totality if you will of of trips that uh when you net out the fact that many of the trips will be actually generated as what we call pass by trips. People who are driving by the site today who may be inclined to get gas on the way to or from work or a cup of coffee or a convenience item. Many of the trips for these types of uses are actually already on the street. they just find that this is a convenient location to pull in and do those transactions and continue on their trip. Uh when you factor those types of trips in, what we're really presenting is a project that uh from a change in traffic perspective, new trip perspective is going to be generating somewhere around between 50 and just under 70 total vehicle trips per hour during those particular hours of the day, the the mornings, the evenings, and the Saturday midday. So the snapshot would be this um that if you were to be standing at the signal and trying to discern how much additional traffic this would be generating, you'd you'd see about an average of 30 additional trips being generated into the property over a typical hour and 30 out, right? It's about about a vehicle every two minutes. So it's from a standpoint of changing traffic, it's not a necessarily a high impact project. Uh and it's very quantifiable. Um the next slide.

Excuse me. Can I ask a question on that? Yes sir. If if you just go back CJ. So pass by is basically current traffic. Yes. And net new is the new stuff generated. That's correct. So if I read that correctly, the net new is 50 to 60% more than what's going through now. I I would consider that significant increase. Uh well the site is vacant today. Right. So Well, I understand.

Right. But um and and in fact some of the slides I'm going to be presenting to you will pro provide some context for what that change looks like relative to what the site has traditionally had on it and we've gone across the street to CT gas to understand how much traffic it's currently generating so that there's a kind of a relative way to compare

uh what these volumes really mean. Um so the next slide uh is is called historic use. Uh, and we know that we had those uh, several uses that I mentioned earlier, beef barn, cream and coffee, drive-thru. Uh, and when we apply industry standard trip rates, the same methods we've used to estimate for this project to that older series of uses, uh, what we see is that when you look at the total new trips that are being generated, right, and you compare one to one, there will be an uptick in the amount of traffic for this site in the morning, right? because we are introducing a use that u quite frankly is a higher generator during the morning. Uh uh but when you look at the weekday evening peak hours and Saturday middays there's very little change. Um there's likely to be a net change of about 15 to 17 vehicles either coming in or out of the site in a weekday evening peak hour relative to when Beef Barn was active in and Cream of Coffee and in fact less traffic during a Saturday midday. Uh so the relative change from a historic perspective is not that much. There there will be an uptick in the morning principally driven by frankly the coffee we think um you know as a convenience item.

The next slide uh pres presents the outcome of what we've counted across the street at CT gas. All right. CT gas does not have a drive-through facility. It's convenience store and and fuel pumps. That site today is generating about 60 vehicle trips per hour. Right. So, so when you look at that site and you compare it to what we're proposing, we've taken a somewhat conservative TAC and how we're estimating the total amount of traffic, um, we're we're estimating uh that in totality, uh, all of the trips that would be generated, including the pass by, by the way, uh, total number of vehicles coming in and out would be about 85 uh to 90 cars an hour, right? including traffic that's already on the street but decide to turn in. Uh when you compare that to what's happening across the street, you'll see it looks like we're generating a lot more traffic. In reality, our uses are almost identical to what's existing there with the difference being the drive-through component. Uh so from an industry standard, we're applying a very high and what we believe to be conservative standard in terms of how much traffic will actually be at these driveways and what percentage of that will actually be new. uh to the area. So the next slide would present a snapshot in a very simple way uh for in this case the weekday morning peak hour. Uh the the gold arrows that you see here are the additional trips the new trips that we expect that this site would generate. Uh these are above and beyond just people who happen to come in and go the pass by trips. So if you look at um Greenville Road for instance uh in either direction, even on the windset side, we're talking about increases of less than 20 vehicles per hour, one vehicle every 3 minutes. Uh and uh those vary depending on where you're coming to or from, but the the numbers are not extraordinarily high. And the next slide would present the same information for a weekday evening peak hour. Uh and the

next slide after that would be the Saturday midday peak hour. all 20 or or fewer vehicles on any particular leg of that intersection. Now, um to understand and quantify what impact that might have, u the next slide presents uh an aerial diagram, a very schematic of um what we call a level of service analysis. Um and that analysis which is done to a Ry dot standard uh and has been reviewed with Ry dot uh would indicate that um the intersection the signalized intersection uh today operates below capacity meaning it functions reasonably well. It does not have extensive or really long delays associated with it. There's some queuing that happens there for sure but it's not extensive queuing. uh and uh in a letter grade format uh what we try to achieve is is what's known as a level of service D or better operation and that level of service D correlates to an average delay that someone might experience of 40 seconds or less at an intersection. Uh if we can achieve that standard that's considered an acceptable standard. Uh in this case um under today's condition the signal works at um in the morning a B and in the evening and Saturdays a C. it will continue to operate that way once this project will is built. Uh when you look at the driveways themselves, which are the two flanking red uh dots, uh those driveways really will not sustain a whole lot of delay, frankly. Um they will have somewhat of a a dance, if you will, to when the signal releases and cues dissipate, you have the opportunity to turn on to either Smithfield Road or or Greenville Road. But from a from a standpoint of average delay, they are not long a long long delays. They're not subject to long cues. Um the next aspect of the project, which is the next slide, is to understand uh this something we discussed with Ryot as

well, the the functioning of the drive-through facility. Uh we know that coffee shops with drive-through facilities tend to generate about 2thirds to almost 80% of their business through the window as opposed to in store. We have a lot of data that indicates that industry recognizes that most of those trips actually 90% of those trips are actually pass by related trips. Uh in this case there will be about an 800 square foot se segment of this um convenience store that's dedicated to that coffee use and the window. Uh and if you apply the industry standard trip rates uh we expect that there would be about maybe 30 transactions an hour typically happening through that window. Uh, but we're planning and and the analysis shows this, we're planning for up to 90 transactions to be able to go through that window and not create an issue on the site. Right? So, what's shown here in color are the two gold cars that we expect on average are going to represent what you typically see in the drive-thru during a peak hour. That's typically based on the 20 to 30 transactions per hour. What we think will happen. What's shown in blue is the maximum extent of queuing that might occur if you could ever achieve 90 transactions an hour through the window. That would be hard to do, frankly, based on the amount of traffic that's on these side streets and and and the business model for this site. But, uh, Ry dot's standard would be to demonstrate that you can accommodate at least 10 vehicles in a queue without backing on to state highway and and creating a circulation issue. We're well within those bounds. In fact, even within the site, and as Phil pointed out, there's a lot of areas of circulation here that would allow you even in that extreme case to get around the back of a queue and circulate just fine, right? It's it's really not an impediment. Um, the next slide really speaks to the maneuverability of the site and why the driveways are laid out the way that they are. And this

represents a model of the very largest vehicle that would need to get into and leave this site, which is a fuel tanker, right? uh refuel of the underground storage tanks. Uh this is uh tractor trailer type vehicle. Uh this is a swept path analysis uh that assumes in this particular example where someone uh that truck is coming up Smithfield Road, needs to be out making a left turn into the property to get to where the underground storage tanks are and then leave again. and the width of the driveway, the width of the circulation aisles uh and the driveway on Greenville Road are all sized specifically to accommodate that larger sweep. That will not occur regularly. That's the type of movement that you'll see uh typically occur off hour and only maybe once a week uh if that. Um so the site access is designed specifically to accommodate that kind of worst case condition. Um you'll also recognize on the um Smithfield roadside uh there are some markings there uh in the street and we've discussed these with Ry dot. Um the concept there is that there is an average of about four cars that queue up on that particular approach. It gets pretty close to and maybe even slightly past the driveway. Um, from our perspective, that's not necessarily a problem because that queue dissipates very quickly when when they get the green light and you can very easily make a turn out of that driveway as you have in the past when Beef Barn was there. Um, but uh we're looking at potential controls, markings, signs that would indicate to somebody approaching the signal that perhaps they should stop if they see the back of the queue, not block the driveway. Uh so if someone wants to to leave they they can do that even if there's a a smaller queue there. Um the specific design of that is really going to be subject to Ry dot. Um they suggested that there may be a different marking uh or sign package that would be more appropriate but that's the intent.

Um our con consultation with Ry dot suggested that they're generally comfortable with what's shown here. Uh certainly we have to go through a formal process with them. Uh but the the fact that we're tightening up the driveways uh to something that's more traditional standard with uh markings, traffic control, signs uh and and all of this analysis that we've done showing that they they'll function quite well, I think was reassuring to them. Uh certainly a vast improvement over what's there today. Finally, I'll mention that um Bright did mention the need to have to update the sidewalk systems along the site frontage. So there aren't any there today really. Um, and the idea here is to uh improve all the way from the Smithfield Road upper corner um around the corner through the Greenville Road driveway to a driveway a sidewalk connection that would lead directly to the building itself and have a dedicated crossing uh that's well visible and marked. Uh so there will be a pedestrian enhancement as well. I failed to mention that um we know also also know that the signal although works reasonably well um could probably work better by retiming and optimizing how it functions. We're also aware that the Woodset school project, the Barry School project um has uh programmed about a $2 million improvement uh for uh sidewalks improvements and retiming and improvements to this intersection. Uh that study is still ongoing. uh we were made aware of that through uh a study that was uh commissioned by uh Winsocket and that we had access to. Uh Ryot made us aware of it as well. So uh this this planning project uh that we're presenting to you is not being done in a vacuum. We're we're aware of other longerterm improve imp improvements that are in play that that will be made to this intersection in addition to those

that we've identified on this plan like the enhanced sidewalks and the reduction of the the uh the curb openings the u the driveways. So our conclusion is um that this site is vastly improved from what it has been in the past. Uh there's ample capacity at the signal to accommodate this. Most of its trips are actually passby related. There will be very little queuing at the driveways for the site. The drive-thru will be adequate without any provision or impact to to how things work at the driveways or internal to the circulation. And I'm glad to answer any questions. Can I just ask you a few questions before the board gets at you? Um, can you uh address the the sight lines to the property or did I miss that? I'm not sure.

Uh, thank you. That's a very good point. Um, and this is documented in our study. We were very careful to look at the sightelines at each of the driveways to make sure that they conform with good industry standards. Right? Sight lines, as the board is is aware, are important because it allows a driver who would be leaving the property to actually see an oncoming vehicle and select an appropriate gap uh or for a vehicle approaching the site, the driveways to see a vehicle as they're entering into the travel way and make a decision to slow down and avoid a collision. And uh I'm I'm pleased to report that for both driveways, those sight lines are in excess of 500 feet, which is far more than what we need. As Phil had mentioned, obviously any landscaping improvements, uh any sidewalk improvements that are uh built here, we'll need to respect those sight lines. Uh and that will be uh presented in more detail as the site plans are evolving and becoming more detailed.

Got it. Thanks. And the report that you prepared uh Mr. Mr. Chairman, it's part of the application that and materials. We don't need to mark that as a separate exhibit. Is that fair? No.

Okay. Just want to make sure how you did it. Um in that report uh which is the uh traffic uh traffic impact and access study dated September 2025. At page three to four, you have a section entitled recommendations. And I believe you you touched on most most of those including um I believe was in one of them on page four talks about the do not block intersection markings. And that's the intersection you were concerned with, right, Dr. Benoy? The the left turn out on on Smithfield. Okay. And in DOT, you talked about having the sort of the markings on the pavement. Was there any discussion of needing to close the lefthand turn intersection at this point with DOT? Right. Left hand turn.

We specifically discussed that with right eye. They did not see the need uh to restrict any particular movement. Um clearly because of the relationship of the driveways to the signal and how the signal functions there will be um the ability for someone leaving to allow cues to dissipate and make reasonable movements. Our capacity analysis indicates that there will be very little delay to do that. It doesn't mean that you won't experience a delay and have to wait, you know, for 5 10 or 15 seconds or so to make that kind of a movement. But those are the types of delays that would likely occur. five, 10 or 15 seconds. Um, we are also looking at safety and and crash records for the intersection. We have been in contact with the police department. They were kind enough to uh summarize uh data for the last 5-year period uh crashes there. U they're still in process of providing detailed records so that we can understand specifically where and why crashes occur. Uh the preliminary review of that indicates that um many of the crashes that occur at this intersection are really related to the wide openen driveways and the backing movements that are necessitated uh at certain businesses. Um and it's for precisely those reasons that our site and our planning process is designing the driveway so that they have adequate sight lines, they uh present reasonable delays, they have appropriate traffic controls and are and are highly visible. Um so um as we get additional information from the police department, we're going to incorporate that into the longerterm uh site plan details uh that that Phil will be working on. Uh but at this point, DOT has not advised us to restrict uh any turns uh to or from the site at least at this point. And then just my last question to you which is you know the plan that Phil showed of the existing conditions has a lot of wide open curb. Um this may be

simple but does it make more sense from a traffic perspective to close it into these two intersections and have the rest of it not an open access. Is that safer?

It it it absolutely is safer. Um again, the preliminary review of the crash records um that were given to us, uh we just received these today would indicate that uh many of the crashes that we do see, so it's roughly 10 a year for the entire intersection. Uh and and they're not all in one spot, but uh the ones that we were able to discern, you know, what might be the issue is is related to these wide open driveways. So closing the driveways or better defining them having stop controls again improving the sightelines etc is is absolutely a safety enhancement over u what has been there in the past.

And then just finally in terms of the other proposed improvements you said the ongoing projects whether they're in one socket or other ones will be addressing the signalized entrance going forward including if this project's approved it would take that into account.

Absolutely. So uh we have uh been reaching out to De Mo Engineering who's been working on the Winsaka project to share information uh and to glean exactly what they're proposing to do there. But u there is as I mentioned documentation that we were given by wind socket that indicates that uh there will be substantial infrastructure improvements that go along with that school project the Barry school and that does include signal retiming. It does include sidewalk improvements, essentially safe root roots to school type improvement project. Uh and that is forthcoming. Uh we don't have a specific timeline for it. Uh but those those are in process and and uh we're aware of them.

So, thank you. Dr. Roberts, you had a question up. Yeah, I'm just following up on something that you you addressed a question that I had, which is the um the hashmark area for the Yes. place coming out. Um just last night I was on Route 138 near URI where like the mobile station is and I noticed there was like a new painted section. Is that that same kind of thing? Yeah, it is. They're called do not block the box markings. You'll see them at fire stations and things, you know, places that that you really don't want to have vehicles queue in the event that someone really needs to leave. They're traditionally placed at um intersecting roadways, um

fire stations, public facilities, etc. Um they have been used uh for driveways scenarios in many communities. Ry dot as a policy had indicated to us that they don't typically like to see those as at private driveways but it doesn't mean that you can't place signs that say do not block intersection with appropriate markings in the road. So the exact form of what is presented might change a little bit but the intent is to advise people that you know please be courteous and you know

I really appreciate that because I second the concern about going left out of there and honestly when the beef barn was there it's like you're taking your life into your hands to go left literally like it's that bad because people are coming down the hill and there's a lot going on at that intersection. People are going left. people are, you know, and it if the sun is at a certain angle, like it can be very dangerous. So, yeah, we actually have the same problem at Crumbland Farms in Slaterville, right?

Where it really just makes sense if you want to go back towards one socket or towards uh Main Street, Slaterville, you really should just go out that exit. You you can go out the other exit and take a left and wait two minutes or try to dodge through. It's and so I think we all share that concern.

Yeah. And and it's a valid concern. Um you know the fact that there are two driveways give those options to folks who are familiar with the site. These sites actually generate most of their business by people who are repeat customers and they're familiar with it. Um so to your point I know the self- storage facility was once a plaza and it had a lot going on with it and so things over time have changed here where there are fewer cur curb cuts there uh in this case better defined curb cuts that are being planned. Um so that will help mitigate some of that confusion. But um the fact that we have two driveways affords that ability to have folks who are familiar with the site make a educated choice and a comfortable choice that that they they feel is safer and that might mean more turns onto Greenville than Smithfield.

Yeah. Dr. You

do you have an estimate of the additional traffic that will flow when the new when school is completed? Yeah, that the we weren't able to actually get the study that identified those, but um the vast majority of those would be school bus related uh trips and of course employer teacher trips as well that are already on the road. They're just beun they're going to be reallocated and consolidated to this to this location in Winocket. So we don't expect that there will be a large increase in volume here. And the objective of their improvements is really to understand that um there there's likely to be some school related walking activity uh associated with that that they want to make sure is um safely accommodated. So I mentioned safe routes to school. Uh that's a sidewalk initiative that basically says, you know, for you know any a mile within a school uh are there viable safe means of pedestrian access to or from the from the school? This is within that zone. I'm thinking more on how many parents drop off their kids and pick up their kids

after school activities. Pretty substantial.

Yeah. And and um I'll say uh again we haven't we don't have the specific study data that would indicate that. We've requested it. Woodset wasn't able to provide anything to us. I think it's still in process. But um we also know that those same parents today uh are using this intersection to go to and from where they're currently dropping off their children to school. that the Barry School is going to represent a consolidation of the elementary grades from K through four. Uh and that um I I don't expect that there will be a a really large increase here, but um I did mention a signal rettime that's being planned in support of that school. Uh that would likely offset any increases that might be associated.

Could you elaborate a little bit on how they're using that intersection now since there's no school there? Yeah. Well, well, what the the Barry School um is really uh it's it's going to be a consolidated school facility that that that you know folks who are currently bringing their children to other school locations that are being consolidated to that location may be traveling through this intersection today. Um why there's nothing close to to or from their workplace as they're dropping off uh children. I I I think it'd be worth getting the information because I think I think there's potential for a tremendous increase. Sure.

In, you know, because you do have the drop off, there's your moaning stuff, then you have a you have pickup, but then you also have after school activities which then will add stuff, you know, later in the day. Yeah. And we're endeavoring to get that information. So, we we're Demo Engineering is uh is the the the firm putting that together. We're on it. Any estimates of when you might see it? Uh we're I I can't promise anything. We've been reaching out to them on on several occasions. Uh you know, I think u you know really ideally we may end up getting it through Winocket as opposed to directly from them. But uh as soon as we do, we'll we'll make sure that it's incorporated in some form. Okay.

And if if this is approved and goes forward to the next stage and that information is available along with the DOT, you know, permit process, we'll certainly bring it to the board if if it comes to that stage. I think it'd be important to have that information. I don't I don't disagree with you nextage. And I'm sure DOT will be looking at it too in terms of the issuance of the PAP for for this location. Understood. Mr. Manard, I'm not sure if this is a question for the traffic engineer or the civil engineer, but is there a planned traffic pattern for the fuel pumping in ter for the refuel the underground storage?

No, no, no. For customer for consumers to fuel their vehicles. Sure. Will they be directed in only one way in, one way out, or will it be willy-nilly and you'll have some nose in, some nose out?

Yeah, it it's a good question. So, the the site is purposely designed so that it it affords flexibility. Uh if you're on Greenville Road and you want to make a left turn to get in here, um you can do so directly, not have to go through the signal up Smithfield and then make a left, for instance, and vice versa from Smithfield down. Um so full access driveways afford the ability to have customers come in from both locations, from both directions. Uh and u depending on and I do this every time I go to a gas station. and I look at my fuel gauge to see that little arrow that says, "Okay, your fuel dispenser is on the right side of the vehicle or the left side." And it varies even by the same model of car, right? Um so, um it as would be the case for any fuel facility, um there's no prescribed way to to get in and say you can only access from this direction or that. It's it's specifically designed to allow flexibility so that depending on your vehicle type and where its dispenser is located, you have the option of pulling into a pump either on the left side of the pump or the right side of the pump. It's there's no unidirection, in other words, to the pumps. They're birectional. Uh so it gives you choices.

I'm going to let Phil also take a take a a swing at this because we've done a few stations in the past.

Yes. So just to put a finer point on it. So these these dispensers are are are pointed sort of from I I would guess we'll call it 4:00 to 10:00, right? As opposed to some older gas stations where they're sort of in line with with uh with the rightway. So the this design would afford someone to come in here and and and loop in here and go out or come in here. So the new the newer ways gas stations are designed is such that they're supported or they're flanked on either side with minimum 24T drive aisles. So you can choose which way you want to go. So in other words, when you're done fueling here, you can just pull out where as opposed to if if these fueling stations were were rotated 90, you would be dependent on the guy in front of you to go.

Whereas these are all these act independently of each other. Yeah. I'm not questioning the the the positioning of the pumps. It's just the site is a very tight site and where you have proposed parking and somebody leaving a fueling station, fueling spot and somebody's backing out and the traffic coming in, it can be extremely I think it could be a congestion issue and it's going to be an issue.

Yeah. The way the the way we look at it is um a car a car needs 24 feet to back out of a parking space. So if if you were to if you were to say that these dispensers are actually parking spaces just like a Lowe's parking lot, you'd have a bay of an 18t space, 24 foot drive aisle, 18t space, 24t drive aisle, 18t space. So So this will act as like a parking lot so to speak. I I think it further speaks to the reduction of parking spaces though,

right? I was going to say one of the things, you know, the suggestion of of dropping some of the parking and then maybe trimming those spaces in the front, you can increase the landscaping and then, you know, we can also show you the the turn templates for the internal more internal site circulation. We tended to focus on the fuel delivery truck because that that's the biggest largest one that comes in. But um I think like I said if we retool it with some you know reduction of some of the impervious losing some of the parking spaces do enhancing some landscaping it might it work and then we could do when we show you know when it gets to the point of showing that plan we can do show you some of the turning templates for the internal circulation aside from the drive-thru or the fuel trucks which are kind of what we were focusing on. All right. Why I brought this up, my in my mind, it's a very similar layout to the BJ's fueling station on Route Six. And that only allows you to go in one way to the fuel pump.

Yeah. Which mitigates a traffic issue when you're leaving. You know, I just I can see somebody coming in from Greenville Road trying to stay to the right side, right? So on the intersection side to go into a fuel pump, somebody's trying to exit and they can only go so far with the vehicle because you have parked vehicles also. Yeah. In front of there, you know, and not everybody parks the way they're supposed to. Really can't help. Just going to stay. for

I mean generally I've se I'm I'm not offhand familiar with the one the BJ's Route Six one but I've I've seen ones where there really is only one way you can go in and through the you know for the for the gas pumps but majority of them are are more open like this. I mean I live where it's insane. It's an old corner lot and everyone still manages to do it without colliding that I've seen it in my 30 years living there. But I think the new the way the new drive aisles and the fact that these are just more expanded ones um drive aisles tend to work a lot better. Like I said, we can when we retool the parking spaces, we can get one of those templates, but I think it works better to in our experience, and Phil can chime in, to kind of allow the flow to go both ways on on a location like this. Understanding it goes one way in certain places also, but those ones, the one-way ones also can cause problems because then people get stuck. I've had that happen like when the larger trucks try to get through and people can't get out. So, each has their own their own issues.

Ju just a point of interest. It's always Yeah. Yeah. No, and I think it's like I said, since we're going to be looking at the parking, we can incorporate that in our in our next if we get to our next stage of review.

Mr. War, did you have something? I live close to the Dunkin Donuts that's here in town and every Saturday morning there are cars that are lined up along the side street and then spill out along v uh victory highway and almost to the point where it gets backed up to the navig credit union entrance. So quite to say it's pretty busy. My concern with this is if you're endeavoring to have 90 trips per hour and then topple uh combine that with parents dropping off their children at school in the morning and they all need their coffee because I sure know I do after dropping my kid off. Um

just coffee. Yeah. that I get concerned that Smithfield Road is then going to get backed up coming south because people are going to be backed up all along the way and then people are going to be turning in to use the drive-thru,

right? Um, I don't know how you would plan to mitigate that, but I just wanted to state that that is one of my concerns that the the drive-thru traffic will then spill out onto um Smithfield Road or even potentially Greenville Road because people are waiting to go um you know north on the site, have your gas pumps on on your right, and then go into the drive drive-thru lane. So it could and then with the uh diagram with the 10 additional cars going through,

it looks like there could be some room for interpretation on how that drive-thru lane gets marked appropriately. Uh CJ, I don't know if you can go to that slide. It's an MDM. Yeah.

So So this one here, so if you're coming south from Greenville Road up, we're all Rhode Islanders. if you're that last car in line, you're not letting someone come up and and you know, excusing yourself and cutting in, you know. So, I I would just like to see a little bit more um delineation probably similar along the lines of Mr. Manard's concern of how that drive-thru if you're really getting those peak 90 90 uh visits per hour. I know Dunkin Donuts can't do two minutes per customer as many times as I go up there and wait in the drive-through line,

right? Um, so that that's just one of the concerns that I' I'd like you folks to take a look at and how we could potentially mitigate that to ensure that we don't have any spilloff on onto Smithfield Road because there because right now as you're coming north on Smithfield Road where the CT is on your um left and the plaza is on your right, there are people that go into the drive driveways over the solid white line because they're all turning right, but then you have people kind of barreling down the middle because they're going to turn left and they don't want to wait their turn to get to the light. It's messy.

So, there's a lot of and I understand there's a lot of activity going on between the school and this and and other potential developments. So, I think there's a lot of factors that need to be considered while we're looking at this site um particularly with uh as far as traffic goes. And and to miss I'll just add on to what Mr. reporter was saying the other thing is if you you know and again we're concerned you're going to be very successful. Okay. So um but if that queue gets longer

the way it's currently designed now they're blocking vehicles that are pumping gas and want to leave. So something needs to be done to push them off to the side or something. So you can allow for that longer queue too. I mean, it gets back to the the internal tra traffic pattern as well as um the concerns being being mentioned. Uh and again, that may be one potentially if we're looking at some traffic spaces maybe on that side, you know, that might give a little more more leeway. And like I said, you know, 10 is the the DOT queue. So, I mean, that's where your heavy traffic is because you have the pumps, you're going to have people coming to the sort whereas the left side is really just people leaving, right? You know, so Okay. No, I I understand that. Okay. Thank you.

All right. And I think the 90 trips is best or worst case scenario depending on how you define it. We'll wait and see what it's not necessarily the school project. We'll see what the school project brings. Gotcha. Gotcha. You know. Okay. Um so with that I think Okay. Go ahead. I'm going to ask Mr. Igliozi a question. In the event that this goes through and there is a left turn north on Smithfield Road, can we put a condition that at the very first bodily injury accident that they are compelled to close that

that's a difficult question. And I think you your condition should be driven by the traffic information and do and but once there's bodily injury that changes the picture.

Well, I I I think accidents are a matter of life. And you know what I think you can do is if you're not satisfied with the traffic and you want to make it one way in, that's a condition you could make. Even though it's controlled by DOT, I'm not telling you to do that. I mean, you got a traffic engine here that says it's not needed, but I I don't I I don't see how the planning board can rule uh after the project is over that way. I think your your decision is your decision. Your conditions are your conditions, and it's not like you can trigger a condition down the road. I I I've never seen it. I'd have to research it. I didn't want to challenge you.

Not challenge me, but uh if you really want me to look into it, we can do that between now and uh preliminary plan. We still got to go to preliminary plan. in anyway. Thank you. There's nothing you could you could defer your decision on the track. You know, you could approve the project and defer the question on the layout of that section until after you get the DOT information because they haven't got a PAP yet and um and further information on that to make a decision. So, you you don't need to stop the project. You can just defer that one question. Sure.

And actually, David, thank you for saying that. It was something I thought of that if you know obviously we've got traffic engine here. We have a few a little bit of site reconfiguration and master plan does give us our layout but if this is an issue then build in a safety valve now to say let's we'll revisit it at prelim see what it looks like. We may or may not have the the DOT permit um at that stage. So we're comfortable with that safety valve if you will. Okay. If there's nothing else from the board at this time we'd be looking for a motion to open the public hearing. So move. We have a motion to open public hearing. Do we have a second? Second. We have a second. In favor? I opposed.

Public hearing is open at 8:16. Mr. O'Hara, you had your hand up, so you get to go first. Could you It's all right. Take your time. The lot you're speaking about is a land owned by my father's family. My grandmother's house was there. Know it oh so well. I live on Summit. I knew Greenville Road when the little houses weren't there. It was the house was built about four years.

Mr. So I know the history. Could you uh pull the microphone down? That way it gets recorded. I should be louder in front. Okay. And and if you could introduce yourself.

Uh my name is Claire O'Hara. I live at 16 Summit Avenue in North Smithfield, but I was born and bred on that corner. My grandmother's house was there. I lived right over the line. Uh I even snuck on the North Smithfield bus, I'll have to say, so I won't have to pay uh to buy tokens. But um that area is so bad right now. I can't even tell you. And all your numbers aren't what I lived through. The way those cars drive, all of it. They try to put a drive-thru, by the way. And they weren't allowed to at that other gas station. I don't even want see why they're going to consider it there. And people just go in and out, live there. They come down that hill like uh someone's chasing them. It is the most dangerous area in North Smithfield. We're trying to get sidewalks. The state has even uh gone over the sidewalks. And as far as one soccer is concerned, they've made their hat of that road three lanes when it hit Providence Street.

Okay. You take a right, you go straight. The other one's over line on the other side. It is horrendous. A in traffic 24/7 I at time will take a instead of taking the at the end taking a left because you can't get out I take a right I go to stop and shop go to the light so I can get on the road. That's how bad it is. So you know fairy tales can come can come true. And what you presented, as far as I'm concerned, is the best fairy tale I've ever heard in my 80 years on this earth.

And what about the taxpayers? And what about the children? Don't tell me one line's coming in, one line's going out. Remember, and a lot of little bender benders happened when it was coffee and cream. I have about I had about four of them. They the cars were very close and as time went on the trucks got longer and the cars got bigger and the bumps continued. Some people say just forget about it if it's not that bad. I can bump it out but they haven't in the morning. There's children waiting in once one socket. At this point, we've had to endure one socket using uh White Parkway and Summit as a turnaround for their buses until I kind of park my car a little too far a couple of times in the street so they have to back up and I'll do it again if I have to. Our children need a safe place. Even waiting for the bus, there's a curve where they wait. Now we're, you know, we are not Slaterville. We are the other end, the Pox Square end. And they put the town did because that highway doesn't pay for it. Um, concrete sidewalks from stop and shop all the way down with the businesses. And what do we have? It's asphalt and it was just done because they did a lot of work on summit with the water from one socket and uh they went over everything. The setback's not even right

and the other night and I told my grandson when you go leave your friends walk your bike down the hill and up. Be careful. Well, someone decides they can park anywhere. Even though there's no parking from set place and set place, it's not being in. He came in shaking. A car came so close to him, it rubbed his shirt, and someone made uh the remark, or we'll just have him uh go walk on someone's grass. I'm not going to say who, but he was an official. He was an adult. Get with the program. That is the most dangerous area. And now when they go down, they come down where you have one lanes, two lanes, and a third lane. Half of the people in it

when you go to down to that light. And when they come down from Slaterville, they're coming down that hill. Just pray it doesn't uh turn turn red. M. I've been hit many times. And the picture that you're showing is not the real world. Sounds good. You did a great job. But I don't believe it because I live there. Thank you for your time. And if it happens, I want to decrease. Or maybe you should say my house was the first house built on Sunday. Turns 100 years old.

Everything's except the kitchen because they're like well yours is original. I want to pass on to I'm looking at because my grandchildren mean more to me than what's being allowed in this town. Thank you.

Okay. Anybody else wish to speak on this topic? Yes. Please come up to the podium and introduce yourself, please. Hello, my name is Margaret Connley and I am the assistant manager at CT Gas. So, for those of you who don't know, CT Gas is located at 503 Smithfield Road, right across the street from the parcel that was discussed tonight. I'm here speaking on the behalf of my boss, who is currently out of the country and unfortunately can't be here in person. We're opposed to the idea of opening this gas station for many reasons. One of the most obvious being the overwhelming traffic and congestion that we already have at this intersection. There have been countless accidents over the years, most of which I've witnessed with my own eyes, more than 15 of those happening in the last year alone. What can we expect it to look like if this gas station is approved? The proposal tonight seemed confident that there wouldn't be an increase in traffic or other concerns of that matter, but they feel the need to put a sign that is usually designated for fire stations and hospitals. So, everyone knows that gas stations are a necessary part of the community. But with the good also comes the bad. The installation of underground tanks opens up a possibility of chemicals leaking into the soil, potentially contaminating groundwater as well as releasing toxic emissions into the air. Is it worth taking that risk? Business, as we all know, is about supply and demand. With 10 gas stations within a half mile radius, where is the demand? More importantly, do we need another gas station right across the street from a

gas station? One thing I think we can all agree on is that we want to see North Smith thriving and increase its revenue. But I can say with certainty that approving a business that will effectively a pre-existing one right across the street is not the way to do it. I'm asking all of you to please take our concerns into consideration. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you. Anybody else wish to speak this topic? No. I think we can I'll take a motion to close the public hearing. Motion to close the public hearing. Second. Have a second. All in favor? I I public hearing is closed at 8:25.

Okay. So, at this point, we um go through the um the waiver request. The first order is definitely the variances. The variance requests, I'm sorry. Yeah. And we have to do them individually, right? I think there's three. You have to go to the the um you can take them as a whole as presented by the um planner if that's the board's choice. You should if you you can incorporate the planners recommendations. I don't know how far the board wants to go from that, but that has to be done first.

Okay. Any any opinions on whether we take them individually or as a whole? I just have concern with the variance request for the um signage.

You know, uh I know this is kind of our our new territory for us, but we obviously have these rules and regulations for a reason. and you know being a community that based very uh we're we're very proud about our of our rural uh background. So starting to go above and beyond for anything for signage starts to concern me a little bit that's outside of our our um zoning regulations. So really that's that's one that I that I'm not in support of uh off the bat. Okay. Yeah. And yeah, it sounds like we should take them individually.

I think that that's the thing. Um, and maybe we could get a little bit more information. I imagine this would be from the civil engineer uh specifically on the signage because I have the same I have the same concern. M Mr. Chairman, may I suggest if if you went um if you extracted the ones that you maybe had concerns with and had questions about and then acted on those that you didn't and then you could just go back and revisit that might be a better way to do it. Okay. So, the other two are the setbacks. Is that correct? Could you could you give us an overview again? Yeah. So, so looking at it,

Mr. chairman. Um the first one uh 4.8.1 A1 there's a dumpster setback. They didn't really address that, but if you look at the site plan, top leftand corner, dumpster setback is supposed to be 10 ft. There's a retaining wall there is a grade change. It's 5 foot setback. Planning office has no issue with that. Um 6.8 C2 B2. So yes, why don't we just let's just take that one up then right now. Since we're since we're going to do them individually.

Well, I I I would think my my suggestion was group the ones that you don't have issues with, act on those and then go back and act individually on the other ones. But if you want to do each one individually, that's fine. I just want to first get does anyone have an issue with that one so we can determine. No. No. Okay.

Okay. So next. So, so the so the next one is the is the landscape buffer and as has been explained there there is no landscaping now and the requirement is to have a 10-ft landscape buffer along the full frontage of the property um except for curb cuts and I have to put my glasses on but as as you can see along Greenville Road there there's because of the the orientation of the building and the drive-thru they're unable to have a 10-ft setback there but along the front and along a portion of that property they do have landscaping, but where it dissipates as you're heading towards I guess that would be easterly along the side of the building, it reduces down to zero. So that is the requirement for the landscape setback deviation there.

So the landscape deviation is not to wave it entirely. It's to No, it's not. It's it's it's where it doesn't meet the 10 ft. So, so along the front on um Smithfield Road

in the northerly direction, there's some landscaping just to the top of those top of the driveway, that's 10 ft. And then as you come around and around the perimeter, the majority of that is in excess of 10 ft. The two points where those parking spaces are is about 5 to 8 ft. And as you're wrapping around, it goes back to 10 ft and then on the other side of that 10 ft and then it dissipates down to zero. So there is landscaping being incorporated and where they can meet the 10 ft they are. Where they can't they're asking for the deviation. There is no landscaping currently. Right. So it's a substant in my opinion it's a a substantial improvement to the existing condition.

Does anyone have an objection to that? Nope. Okay. So those those two are fine. Uh shade trees less than required shade trees. Um there's an issue with visibility in sight and I think the traffic engineer went over a lot of that. So to incorporate trees onto this site. I think they'll be incorporating landscaping and lowlying um hedges and other greenery in place of the trees. So they're asking for relief from installing street trees. I think it's one per 50 ft of frontage is the requirement. I mean there's room

or one per 30. I'm sorry. It's right on the page. room for them on the corner. I mean set away from the road because that doesn't seem to block any sight lines. So you still will incorporate them where it doesn't affect sight lines. There'll be trees just at the interval of one. Understood. Okay. Anyone? So then in that case the no trees proposed is not not correct in our agenda. Right. It's if I if I can respond to that. In my opinion, there's none there's none indicated on the plan. Um

the requirement is one per 30 that because of other issues related to it. They're not going to be able to meet that. However, there is a requirement for a landscape plan moving forward. Um if you grant relief for the trees, doesn't that doesn't preclude them from installing trees, right? And that's then that's what we would like again perhaps not at the 1 through 30 uh certainly not interfering with sight lines but it would that's your condition number seven talks about a landscaping plan. Right. Okay. So everyone good with that? Okay.

Okay. The the next standard which I give the attorneys credit for finding this because mo most people don't. 6.8 C.2 two says you can't have parking spaces in the front of a building. That's what it says. So that seems odd. It it's a conflict internally. It's a conflict internally within the ordinance. It will be resolved with the adoption of the new ordinance, but it exists and are asking for relief.

Okay. I I think we're okay with that, right? Yep. Another one that probably I'll give the attorneys credit for finding this. Uh 340.6.8.f says they shall meet the architectural standards consistent with the local character of the area. I'm not sure what that means. Well, we've we've applied thatwhere. Well, you know, zoning ordinances unless you have a special use district, architectural standards are not something that are enforceable,

right? So again, I mean to define a subjective criteria of architectural stereot architectural standards consistent with the area. Well, that's not an architectural I mean we have an architect. I mean he could say what the area generally looks like, but is that a standard or is that a subjective? I don't think we want it to look like what the area looks like. I I would agree. So you you know would you agree with that, Mr. Architect? Yeah, I sure would. Okay, great. Um, all right. So, we're good. The the the the next section 4.26AB DJ is the sign. We're going to leave that out for now. Y

um and then the last one is 340 attachment 2, which is district use regulations drive-thru window, which is a prohibited use. They're asking for a use variance. Uh I don't want to speak for the attorney, but I think the standard is there was a drive-thru on the site. um that building was raised for for safety purposes and they're asking to reestablish a pre-existing use. Although once you remove a pre-existing use, there is no grandfather, right? So they're back here asking for that relief. Opinion from the board. Uh Mark, what about um we did skip over landscape design standards as well. Oh, I'm sorry.

6.8D. Yeah. So, okay. So 6.8D says preserve the natural landscape of the area and the site. The site is almost totally impervious. I think they did address the back 40, I'll call that, where there are currently some deciduous trees growing on the the the slope heading up. So again, there is no real natural uh landscape associated with this site as it currently exists other than that area that they're not affecting. Well, which will be part of the landscape plan. Correct. Right. Okay. But those boulders are so beautiful.

Yeah. Okay. So, on the drive-thru opinions from the board on whether to have the waiver right now, they're not allowed to have a how do we feel about that? Do you have comments? No. I think we I I'm curious about um here just hearing about the property across the street. What was do we have the And this is just a question. Was there a re It sounds like the property across the street applied for and then by the zoning board of review denied a drive-thru. Was there any

I'm not aware of that. Um, however, zoning rise and falls on the merits of the uh petition before you. Okay. There's no precedent set. I mean, I was our attorney's here, he could probably explain it better than I can, but nope, that's fine. I being that the planning board is now responsible for zoning. I just wanted to make sure that we are are, you know, keeping our noses clean as best we can. So, to answer that question, there's no precedent set by a by a zoning variance being issued. Each property is reviewed on the merits of the information presented to the zoning board at that point and you have to make your decision based on that not based on other things that may be have happened in in the approximate area.

Okay. Thank you for that clarification. All right. So with that, how do we feel about the drive-thru? We good? We're all set. Okay, Mr. Carillo. So, we are all set with all of them except we want to discuss the signage. So, so, uh, we would accept a motion to adopt the planning department's recommendations with regard to all of the zoning relief requested except for the sign. So, a motion to that effect, a second, and then a vote. And then you could take uh you could you could consider section 340 point-426 ABJ for discussion. Yeah. And then move forward from that point. Okay.

Would you like to So, if you want to say so moved, if that if that So moved. Okay. And we have a second. Um, roll call vote. Dr. Benoy, yes. Dr. Roberts, Mr. Porter, yes. Mr. Manard, no. Okay. Chair votes yes. Okay. So, now let's move on to the signage. Would you like to ask for what you're Yeah. It'd be good if you could get that up there again. That page should be up there.

We did submit the proposed signage. It should be after the last page of Mr. Henry's um engineering plans. So, it looked like this if you have it pretty simple. Looked like that. So, what you're allowed in your business neighborhood zone is 12 square feet is um allowed on a freestanding sign, which is Phil. Whoops. Um the freestanding sign essentially is on the on the corner there. So it's only 12 square feet allowed. Um and we're asking for 36 feet with the idea of being able to have some gas, the price of the gas, and then the coffee shop. That's that's the idea for that. Um the height is 8 feet is allowed under your ordinance and we're looking to go four feet above that to 12 feet. Um, that's the freestanding sign. And then for the building signs in this neighborhood, I believe you're allowed um a total of of just one sign. I Yeah, one wall sign is allowed. We are asking for three. Two being on the building and then one being on the gasoline canopy. You know, you've seen the

you like Shell or someone like that have that. So that's, you know, kind of a Dan. Oh, there you go. Got him. So that's the proposed freestanding sign on the on the corner and then the the proposed again these are sort of rough just on the on the canopy here where the gas is and then the two smaller building signs because we're on on two street frontage. Your ordinance doesn't address that. A lot of municipalities if you're on two frontages you you get the two signs not just that's just how different ordinances work. So that's that's the request on behalf of the applicant is to uh go a little bit a little bit higher and a little bit larger. 36 square feet um obviously is more than your ordinance. It's a lot less than I've done on some other ones. Um but it is it is in this area um business neighborhood. So I think the neighborhood part is probably why it's a little smaller. Um but I think the package is not outrageous. I've seen some outrageous signage in my in my experience you know 30 plus years. But being able to identify on the canopy and then on the wall um of the buildings is is what the applicant's looking for. So Phil, did you want to add anything?

Mr. Chairman. Okay. All right. Thanks. Dr. Benoy, could you show us the location of that tall sign? Sure. Can you go to his um proposed site plan and will it interfere with line of sight? I'm sure Bob can address that, but they're designed not to not to not to do that. Here we go. That sign's proposed here. Okay.

Uh to your question of line of sight, that uh landscaped area with the with that sign on it is outside of what's known as the sighteline triangle, right? So there will be no interference with your ability to safely see vehicles uh coming out of the driveways in either location or for a driver to see an oncoming vehicle. So that's purposely placed so that it avoids any issue with sighteline. Thank you. And Bob, your report specifically, I think addresses those sight line triangles. Uh correct. Yeah. Comments. No, we have it up.

In relation to the signage that's on the canopy of the the gas pumps, will that have digital signage that are that's displaying um the cost of gas or anything like that? It's just going to be strictly not on the canopy sign, just on the the freestanding sign. As we all know, that changes frequently. So, yep.

Yeah. My my overall feel is that I just want to keep within our regulations and our standards. We're in a business neighborhood look. You know, as uh Dr. Roberts said previously, this is the an entrance into our town. So, to have a very large outstanding sign uh to to greet everybody. It seems to me to be a little bit overwhelming. Uh I also get concerned with this the two-sided signs on the building itself. CJ, if you could go to the the next one. Um, if we're going to have a sign on the canopy, I don't see the need to have two additional signs on on the building. I think at that point, customers will should be able to understand where they are and what building they're going into. So, again, the and then the design of these signs, are they back lit? Are they going to be, you know, on 247 blazing? I know in our next part of the the um our major land development uh hearing with uh we we always look for dark sky compliant. So I want to make sure that we're being respectful of the neighbors. We're not having them look out their windows in the middle of the night and they're bl they have the bright illuminated signs as well. Um, so those are my my my biggest concerns that I just want to make sure that we're making making sure that we're maintaining the character, maintaining our point of entry and going from there. I just want to bring up, you know, because it wasn't last year or whatever, you know, the the new seasons opened on Great Road and it seems like the signage, whatever signage rules are in place need, we need to follow whatever was done for them.

Did you use the mic, please? Oh, I'm sorry. Thought it was Oh, there we go. Um, so, um, you know, because the sign on the canopy, if I understand correctly, is for the is for the the store brand. The sign on the I'm sorry, on the canopy is the gas brand. The sign on the building is like the building whatever it is, you know, so and so's convenience store, whatever it is, right? Is that correct? So, they're two they're two they have different content probably. Yes. Yeah. Okay.

Um but you know, the seasons has a rather significant sign on their um on their storefront and then of course they have Shell, right? Because they're in allegiance with Shell or whatever. But is the issue with the sign size related to it being business neighborhood? Is that where the restriction is as opposed to the shell? I think is not is No, I'm not sure. Yeah, I'm not I'm not sure the zoning for No, I I just want to um we have a set of standards for a reason. I want to make sure that we're complying with them.

Yeah. Um if I may, I would at this point sensing the boards or at least your Mr. Porter, your direction um maybe asked to hold off on the decision whether it's just that we let this pass off the agenda. I have two options. One, we'll live with the signage or we could come back with a different sign package. I don't know if we could just continue this um yeah, you know, maybe I don't know under UDR if we could continue the signage a bit um to to maybe flush it out a little bit. So the question becomes can you um you you before you can move on the master plan they're supposed to decide right the zoning issues. All right. So if you withdraw then I think you're going to be stuck going to the zoning board. All right,

Mr. Solicitor. Would it be could we do a condition within the the next review that we have to do because I know the conditions are um we have the condition that it's based on review and approval of of these variances. Could we have it be as one of those conditions that they come that they represent signage? Well, you know, this is uh new ground.

It sure is. Uh the the unified development plan is designed that you don't get to get a a decision on your master plan if you don't get your zoning. Just like it it used just like it used to be that you couldn't you got to get your your zoning in place.

If if I may and I and I could be wrong and I'm not an attorney so I want to qualify that but the use is not dependent on the sign. The sign is strictly a dimensional variance and I think um under the statute the applicant is allowed to get relief and move forward and if any new relief is required or desired even at preliminary they're allowed to ask at that point for different different relief. If something comes up during the design where they need additional relief I believe the statute allows you to again ask for additional relief at preliminary. So I think there's some maybe the board could not decide on this. The applicant can

withdraw and resubmit at preliminary or even go to a different venue of zoning potentially because it's not related to the use. It's it's it's it's yeah it's you're right rightuous and this is all new for all of us this uh unified development. So, I think at this point what I'd like to do is ask the board's permission um with the consent of my client to withdraw the request for relief for signage at this point and we'll we'll talk about it or obviously we're going to do a little bit of homework, you know, to get to master to get to preliminary plan. If we decide we want the signage, I understand your concerns, Mr. Porter. Um we'll look at other signage in the area and either either add on and ask for it at that time or or drop it.

Well, I would add too because I was looking at signage. For me, it's the height of the sign more than four feet wide. You know, it's being 13 feet high versus eight. That's quite a that's quite a different profile. Yeah. Um, you know, I mean, it's right up in everybody's face. So, I think as as you're rethinking it, take that into consideration. Dr. Benoy, do we know the dimension of the CT sign? There's a substantial sign there.

I I don't. And I'm thinking if we come back to you, we can do a little more. or we could show you what what our proposed sign might actually look like, what it looks like, what's what's across the street, what's in other neighborhoods, do a little more a little more on that. So, at this time, u Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the applicant and owner, I would u request from um the okay from this board to withdraw the signage relief request. Gotcha. And I just had one, this is more of just a curiosity question, why it's aligned the way it is rather than being at a 45 degree angle like facing out into the intersection as opposed to facing you know, east, west traffic.

Well, if you took it and rotated it, it would be further off the the Oh. Oh, I see. Visibility as in advertising. I got you. I I got you. Okay. Okay. Yes. Sorry. So, my motion to withdraw I think I sent this in. So, we have a Do we have to They've made a motion to withdraw this waiver. So, what do we do with that? I would just I would just accept it without prejudice. Without prejudice. Do we need to vote on that? I would vote on it just so they have a motion to accept. All right. So, we need a motion.

They made a request. I would make a motion to accept their request to do withdraw the um variance for the sign dimensional variance for the sign without prejudice. Yes. Okay. So moved. We still got steps ahead. So they could come back at and I'm trying to confirm what planner said. Okay. So I'll I'll say so moved. Is there a second? Second. We have a second. Um roll call vote. Dr. Benoy. Yes. Dr. Roberts. Mr. Porter. Yes. Mr. Manard. Yes.

And chair votes yes. So that's been withdrawn. So with that, it it appears we've met the requirement for um accepting the the variances. So So the zoning relief related to the requested use has been granted and now under consideration would be the master plan approval. The planning department has offered uh some findings and a recommendation and several stipulations related to that. um action. So, whatever the board's pleasure is with that.

And Mr. Mr. um chairman, I I guess I should just state for the record that I just reviewed the statute and the statute does say that the preliminary plan level, you can file any additional requests for variances or special use relief that you need. So, you can do it again. You can't defer it, but you can do it again. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Where did that go? Okay. However, you will need to have a public hearing at that preliminary level. Correct. You'll need a public hearing. Okay. So, you have to advertise it as such.

Anything else? All right. Just Just want to make sure. Gotcha. I got you. Okay. So, now we're on to the um master plan approval. Mr. Chairman, yes.

Mike, I'll make a motion to approve the master plan u for the following reasons. It is generally consistent with the comprehensive community plan. It's in compliance with the standards and provisions of the town zoning ordinance. that there will be no significant negative environmental impacts from the proposed development. That development will not result in the creation of individual lots with such physical constraints to development that building on those lots according to pertinent regulations and building standards would be impractical that the proposed development possesses adequate physical access to a public street.

Okay. So, we have a motion to approve to approve the plan as with all the stipulations currently outlined as well. Do we have a second? Second. Okay, we have a second. Include all the stipulations recommended by the planner. Okay, thank you. Y

Well, he didn't read them. I I said it includes all the stipulations. Yes. I will continue the approval with the following stipulations. All necessary state of Rhode Island permits shall be issued prior to final approval, including but not limited to Ryum Ripdes underground injection control permits and a Ryok Pap permit. that the project shall receive North Midfield sewer and water one socket water approval for the proposed water and sewer connections prior to final approval. That a sufficient number of hydrants and/or an FDC connection shall be located within a development subject to the approval of the North Midfield Fire Department. That all exterior lighting shall be dark sky compliant, contained on site, directed away from andor shielded from the abuing properties. that a soil sediment control plan shall be required at preliminary approval in conformance with North Mifffield Code of Ordinances Chapter 288, soil erosion, sediment control, that the applicant shall provide an excavation construction plan which may be combined with the soil erosion and sediment control plan designed to mitigate the impact of construction on the abuing property which shall include but not be limited to construction access best practices for dust control, vibration, and Iowa's hours of operation. That a landscape plan designed by a Rhode Island registered landscape architect shall be required prior to preliminary approval. That the applicant shall submit the annual drainage maintenance report to the Department of Public Works and the building officials office to ensure compliance with the drainage maintenance plan. that the applicant shall replace and or install new concrete curbing and sidewalks along the full frontage of

Greenville Road, which is Route 104, and Smithfield Road, Route 146A, except for curb cuts in compliance with Ryard standards. Those are the stipulations. Okay, Mr. Reporter you need to I I'll I'll resend my premature second and I will now second everything that Doc Benoy has said. Thank you. Okay. Roll call vote. Dr. Benoy, yes. Dr. Roberts, yes. Mr. Porter, yes. Mr. Manard, yes. And chair votes yes. Thank you. Thank you all very much.

Thank you. [Music] Thank you. How you doing? Yeah. How you doing? It seems

I know douche wine too. It took him like five years to get back to put the pipe down. You know, oh my god. This spot is at He's there all the time. He's not so much. [Music]

Okay, we're going to move on to our next topic now. Um, help if I was on the right page. Oh, thank you. Okay. Is public hearing unified development review tractor supply company 934 Victory Highway. Mr. Croll, do you want to give a little summary before we start?

Uh, Mr. Chairman, Tractor Supply was here before the planning board, I think about 6 months ago, for a pre-application. Um they're desiring to build a new um 27 21,000 ft 930 ft retail building approximately 74 parking spaces on a site uh zoned business neighborhood. They're asking for dimensional relief to have a building larger than allowed by the zoning code in a freestanding sign also larger than allowed. They're here at preliminary approval. uh under the new statute um with regard to their proposed development, they need the zoning uh relief prior to moving on to the development to to the development plan review portion similar to what was just before you except the project that was before you was here for master plan because it was an older project. This is under here as a newer project for preliminary approval. Good evening. Um, for the record, my name is uh Sam Alfronti. I'm a project manager with Solely Engineering. Um, our offices are at 11 Vanderbilt Dav in Norwood, Mass. We have also two offices in Connecticut in Monroe, Connecticut, and it's West Hartford, Connecticut. Um, I'm here representing the owner and applicant. The owner is Apple Acquisition LLC and the applicant is Palm Coast Capital LLC. Um, with me tonight is Matt Darling. He is the manager of Palm Coast Capital LLC as well. Um, okay. So, be um, so the project before you is, as the

planner said, we are proposing a track supply company on the parcel. Um, I'm sure if we go to the next slide, um, most of you are familiar with this with this parcel. Um it's right to the left or to the west of Slater Village um plaza um just west of the Victory Highway North main street intersection um where the Cumberland Farms and the credit union's right across the street. Duncan is right across the street as well which is I think pretty much all referenced earlier tonight. Um we can go to the next site. The site is 13.28 acres. It's two parcels. Uh lot 45 and 46 map one. Um, and I do want to bring a I think it's very relevant to bring kind of a site history of the property. Um, so I went back through the aerials. Um, the first development on the property is about 1951 1952 there was some clearing for agricultural purposes. As the uh as the property continued uh and history continued in 1980 basically the entire property was um cleared for agricultural purposes. I believe it was an apple orchard if I'm not mistaken. Um, and the creation of this farm pond um, popped up between those 30 years. We go to the next slide. For the next, uh, 30 or so years, it continued operation as an apple orchard. Um, the limits of clearing stayed relatively the same. There was a a small structure kind of up near the roadway. Um, 2002 aerial looks relatively same as 1995 aerial. We can go to the next slide. In 2006, this property was proposed and I I believe approved for a stop and shop um development. And I'll get into later why I think that's relevant to bring up and discuss. Um although completely separate applications, I I do want to make the board aware as well as residents as as well. So this stop and shop was uh 53,694

square ft. It was 357 parking spaces. It took about 95% of lot um 45 which is the same track supply lot. It encroached very closely to that lot 4645 parcel line which I think a lot of the residents here tonight are concerned about and I I spoke with the planner earlier regarding this. Um so if we can go to the next slide. So 2012 aerial since that time in 2006 there really the site has remained dormant. Um there's been some vegetation growth. Um it's kind of re regrown a little bit. Um between the 2012 aerial and 2020 aerial um you do see some undergrowth kind of pop up in the the middle of the site. We go to the next slide. Two uh excuse me 2025 aerial uh relatively the same. There's some undergrowth trees. Nothing uh substantial. There's no overstory trees. It's it's all undergrowth and brush. if you've been on to the property. Um, we did have the site surveyed and delineated. It was surveyed by Goddard Consulting on March 11th, 2025. We did have a survey performed and, um, the date of the survey is May 8th, 2025. We go to the next slide. As I mentioned quickly, the proposed site plan, um, it is a track supply company. It's a prototypical track supply company. Um, it's a freestanding structure. It's 21,900, I believe that's 30 square feet. That's a typo. Um, there is a total of 29,715 square feet of outdoor display areas. There is 74 parking spaces. There is of those 74 parking spaces, 67 them 67 of them are standard 10 ft x 20 ft parking spaces. The interior drive aisles are all 26 feet in width. Um, there are three angled spaces here which will be utilized by trucks and trailers. Um, so

people picking up um various feed or or anything kind of large that needs a trailer. And then there are four ADA spaces. All of the the ADA and standard parking space are all 10 ft by 20 ft. Of the 13.28 acre parcel, we're proposing 5.75 uh acres of disturbance. We go to the next slide, please. This this plan was included in the in the plan set that has been provided and submitted. Um, and I think it's important because it it it really lays out the the programming of a tractor supply company. Um, if there are questions um Mr. Darling, he he develops these um throughout the Northeast and has a pretty good understanding um of how they operate. But the fenced outdoor display, which is shown in yellow, it's just over 20,000 square ft. This is basically an outdoor sales area, very similar to um like a Lowe's or a Home Depot, their their fence display area. Um we do have some permanent sidewalk display areas, which are seasonal display, snowblowers, um snowblowers, it'd be I guess lawn mowers, shovels in the winter, salt, various things. Um, we do have a feed center internal. We have a live good center which is inside the fence outdoor display. That will be plants, um, vegetables, stuff in the winter that is, uh, grown and and needs to be watered. And then to the to the north side of the parking area, there is a permanent trailer and equipment display area. That'd be your uh log splitters, your um trailers, such things of that sort will be stored outside in that area and displayed. I will point out here that we are um requesting relief for the pylon sign. Um and one thing that is very unique to

this property is it's a large 13.28 28 acre parcel, but the frontage is is very narrow for that large of a a property. Um, so I do think that's a unique circumstance um with the relief requested um because the visibility from the street we are going to be tucked behind some some street trees um that are proposed on either side of the driveway and the building's kind of offset from the frontage. So so it it does the the store will rely on that pylon sign for visibility along Victory Highway. One thing I did omit was the propane filling station is is located within the fence outdoor display as well. We can um go to the next slide. We did perform and submit a full traffic study um traffic impact study. We analyzed two intersections um the intersection of North Main Street Victory Highway and then the intersection of Homerest A and the site driveway and Victory Highway. Um this use is not defined in any of the empirical data that IT puts out the Institute of Traffic Engineers. Um so we took a lower pass rate than any of the hardware stores, retail stores. The lowest pass rate that they permit is 23%. For a conservative measure, we took 20% um just to to allow for some conserv uh conservative numbers really. We are anticipating a net new network trips during the weekday PM of 57 total trips. So it' be 27 entering, 30 exiting. And then the Saturday midday, 131 trips, 64 entering, 67 exiting. We will um be submitting to Rely DOT and and approval of that intersection and um access is required. You go to the next slide. Uh full architectural elevations were

were submitted with our application. Um, I believe they're located in the in the rear of the planet. If not, they were a separate document. Um, but this is a a very prototypical design. There's neutral colors. It's a CMU block um design. There are some front awnings out out front. And as you can see, the the live good center is off to the right of the store. There's an eight foot high fence on the frontage of the store, the FOD fence outdoor display. And then the fence outdoor display uh on the westerly side actually goes up to 16 feet um for racking and such. We can go to the next slide. This is just the the rear of the store and then the the uh I guess westerly elevation. We did submit a full um grading and drainage plan. We have been in preliminary conversations with RIM. Um this site is is because of the ar agricultural use previously um it does have elevated levels of arsenic and and dedrin. Um so with that we we've been in coordination. There's been a phase one done on the the property actually twice now. The seller provided one and um the applicant has has performed one as well. And the recommendations from the LSP um is that we're virtually going to cap the site in all of our proposed um improvements. And with that um we aren't proposing infiltration for a storm water management. It's actually a lined sand filter. So it's a water quality measure that will act as detention and and attenuation. Um but to mitigate any um kind of leeching of groundwater, it's a line system that will discharge at a at a slower rate. Um because obviously we are going from from formerly cultivated fields to to um a development site.

All catch basins will be uh deep sump catch basins with hooded outlets. And like I said, we we do have a grass line swale here, a sediment for bay, and then the lines sand filter here. All of the storm water will discharge from the sand filter in the easterly direction towards the wetlands that are located on site. They're right along the easterly border. Um we do have a head wall with a a designed rip wrap dissipation pad. So to mitigate any any increased velocities that that are caused by the pipe. We can go to the next slide. As part of this project, um I I'll go into the sewer first. it's a little easier. Um, so there's an existing manhole that provides a a service connection for the property. It's right at the intersection um where our driveway is proposed. So we we are proposing a gravity sewer connection which is shown here in green. I just highlighted the plan. And then we are proposing a domestic and fire service that will will come off a um a water mane extension. Um if we can go to the next slide, it it provides a little bit um better detail. So this proposed water man extension I I believe has been in the works for for some time now. Um it was originally part of the Slater's Village project um or proposed as part of that. Um they the plans were designed by Joe Casselli um engineering. So I I don't want to take credit for any of this. Um we've been in conversations with him as well as the applicant of that project um and their representatives. Um so the tractor supply company has come to an agreement with them that basically per these plans. So over here is the intersection of North Main Street and Victory Highway. So this is kind of an inverted look. We're looking north is to the bottom of the page. So the Cumberland Farms is here. The

plaza is up here. The water man will be extended about 1,50 ft to the driveway of the tractor supply company. Um and at that time if the the Slater's Village um is to develop their property, they'll kind of continue the water man down Victory Highway as such whenever that comes to fruition. Um so I put the logo here. This is the track supply parcel. The water man will be basically stubbed unless the construction timelines line up then they'll continue. You can go to the next slide to this is a better visual visual representation of of that last slide. track supply parcel here is here. The intersection of North Main Street and Victory Highway is here. Um I believe the other development that I'm referencing is is down in this location here. Um so to give you a reference of how far this water man um in total is going to be extended, but for the track supply piece, it will be extended till about right here. Um it's about 1,50 ft of water man extensions. It's an 8 inch water man extension. Uh 8 inch DIP. We have been in coordination with the water department um and they were the ones that kind of initiated as well as the planner kind of conversations between the two developments um because I think they're mutually uh beneficial. So we can go to the next slide. As part of the application, we did submit a a full landscape plan. The landscape plan was designed by Mr. Kevin Alverson. Um, and I I truthfully I'm not a landscape architect, so I'll do my best if you guys do have questions regarding any of the species and I can report back to him. Um but he he does have a series of six trees, street trees kind of um within that buffer along the street frontage. And and that's as I get into the the relief requested that that really um the visibility from Victory

Highway is kind of going to be virtually blocked for for the most part, which I think is um has its pros and cons for sure, but that that that sign that I referenced earlier is is a little bit in front of those street trees. So there is visibility along Victory Highway that I think is a unique circumstance here u because of the orientation and shape of the lot. But they're all native species that are proposed. I did speak with Mr. Alverson um regarding this easterly slope along the driveway. Um he is proposing kind of like a nomo mix which will basically flourish that close to the wetlands. Um and we did discuss this preliminarily with our IDEM as well. Um yeah, we can go to the next slide. We submitted a proposed lighting plan and phototrics plan. Um we are proposing several uh 25 ft 25 foot tall light poles. They're 22 foot poles and three-foot bases. All of the lights proposed are LED full cutff dark sky compliant fixtures. Um and and there are uh several wall packs and um canopy lights as well. um all dark sky led compliant as well. Go to the next slide. Um so the zoning relief requested I know it is in the uh the packet that was provided um and the agenda as well but we are proposing a a retail facility that is greater than the allowable um square footage. Um, so it is a a that's the 20,000 to 40,000 cumulatively between the the building and the FOD. We we exceed 40,000 square feet. Um, so that that's where we're going there. And then the the the second relief is the pylon sign. As I mentioned, we are proposing a 15 foot high sign and 12 foot wide by 4 foot. So it's 48 square feet. Um, as been previously mentioned tonight, the the allowable is 12 square feet.

We're proposing 48 square feet. The allowable height is 8 feet. We're proposing uh 15 in total. I think this this might be a typo on the the agenda. Um, but we go to the next slide. That kind of concludes my highle presentation of um this project. I'd be happy to answer further questions. Um, as you guys know, this is a preliminary application. So, we do still have many steps um involved with this this this project. Um, this is virtually one of the first ones. So, um, I'd be happy to answer any questions or comments you guys may have. Any questions for the board?

You're proposing a gravity sewer line. How high are you building up the back of that? So, um I I think the tallest point is is six feet and that's something that we're still the tallest point of fill is roughly six feet above grade existing grade. The the in current conditions the site slopes from north to south, right?

Um so we're proposing I think in the like I said in the thickest part of the fill I'll call it about six feet. That is still something that we are um working through as well with DEM. Um this is going to be reviewed um from a state level with a lot of eyes um because of the contamination of the site um the wetlands on site storm water management. So so I expect as we progress that permitting that there might be some changes with the storm water management. Um truthfully um this the sand filter is a great design for water quality. It's not the state's preferred method. uh infiltration is um but with with the contamination on site that that was our proposed and and and recommended design practice. So,

thank you. And I will add to that as well um one thing that I see it's somewhat unique to this site is is this basin is is is very large. Um and it's it's almost oversized. Um we have plenty of room to to do so. Like I said, it's only a 5.7 acre disturbance across a 13 acre property. So, it's there there's certainly some room here. Um, and we've provided significant buffers between this this rear property line and all the property lines really. So, anyone else,

Mr. Porter? Um, just knowing the history of the site, I know we've heard at times past that there is pretty substantial runoff to the south into neighbors uh property. So, could could you talk a little bit more of a or just, you know, talk to us about how that's going to be mitigated so that you're really keeping all of the the water on site?

Yeah, if you could go to um it's one of the after slides. Uh you can keep going uh right here. Go back. Yep. So this is the existing drainage area map that was submitted um with the storm water report. So in existing conditions and I' I've actually heard directly from a couple of butterers prior to this meeting. Um I'm well aware of the the flooding issues that has occurred. I know there was a engineering study done years back. Um there is some sort of swale like feature um towards the south of lot 46 which is lot 46 is about 160 ft in width. Um so we're we're staying entirely on lot 45. I want make that clear.

Um so in existing conditions our drainage report calls this existing drainage area three. We call it EDA3. There's about just under nine acres of of ground cover um flowing towards that rear property line. Um and that is a significant area especially due to the the cover of the existing soil. It's it was kind of left when the agricultural use stopped. It was kind of left bare and and barren. And now for for a couple years now it's it's kind of create gained some uh undergrowth and there's some brush in there and stuff which is great because the way storm water is evaluated is the use of CN values which is curve numbers. Um for woods for example has a like woods with some understory growth has a very low curve number. Pavement has a very high curve number. So this this area it although it's vegetated it it doesn't act as like a wooded lot because it it it's very cultivated and and it has been previously disturbed significantly. Um so if you can go to the next slide. In proposed conditions, we're we're reducing that direct um sheet flow going to the southerntherly property line by 2 and a half acres um of of area. Now all of this is exterior to our proposed development. So this is just going to be maintained as it is today, but the area is significantly reduced. We're we're it's 8.7 to 6.2 we'll call it. Now the entire paved area and and developed area we are proposing is going to be captured by this L-shaped storm water management basin and and I high level went over this but there is a a swale proposed grassline swale on the left side of the fenced outdoor display there's a sediment forbay and then overflow from that will flow into this

this sand filter now what the sand filter will do is it will attenuate and detain storm water so it's I a good example is very much like a bathtub. Bathtub fills up and it has a very small drain and it it it allows it controls the rate that is leaving the bathtub, right? That's basically what this detention basin is going to going to be. Um it's going to control the rate of runoff, the volume of runoff. And instead of diverting it to the south, which we did consider um in our storm water analysis, we actually could have done that. The the peak flows allow for that. Um, but we chose hearing some of the concerns that are historic concerns in the area, we chose to actually divert this to I guess the east in sense there is a large wetland area over here. Um, it still is to the rear of the adjoining properties. Um, but it it is definitely a better discharge location as we discharge here and then there's about 75 or 80 feet of overland distance before it enters the wetland and and the farm pond and then flows on its way through natural hydrarology. I will say this was designed entirely in compliance with our IDEM um both volume peak flow um we looked at the 100red-year storm um the one-year storm the 1.2 inch storm. So, so it is a a reduction in peak flows for all discharge locations and design points which was like I said to the south here there's like that little swale if anyone's familiar with the property and then there there is the the wetland over to the east which is the farm pond.

Okay.

And my my other comment and I I'm I'm I know you folks were here a couple months ago. I made this comment that I wish that um the elevate the architectural elevations did not fall in line with your prototypical tractor supply co. Slaterville is a pretty unique village. We got a lot of masonry buildings. We got a lot of stone. So to see a CMU block building kind of dropped in a old historic orchard um causes me for concern and and I I would would hope that when you come back for uh the next round that there could be some consideration taken into the local aesthetic of the architecture of of Slaterville because Slaterville really isn't a corporate prototype. It was a prototype mill village, the first of its kind, but it it pains me to see it like next to Slaterville Plaza, which is all brickmasonry, and just to see a concrete block, it's it needs more work on on my end. And I and I hope that you can take that and really for it to really truly fit into the aesthetic of the town. look at some of the local materials that we're using throughout. You know, you're abuing residential areas, you're abuing uh the plaza. So, take a little bit more consideration on on what the building's actually going to look at like

if you look I I would just say look across the street at Navigant Credit Union and the other building that was built uh to be like a orthodontist office or something like that. I mean, they they much more capture the, you know, the the aesthetic that Mr. Porter is, you know, so you have examples right there and they're right across the street.

Yeah, I I can certainly speak with the applicant and and tenant on that. One thing that I I do want to reiterate and um if we could go to one of the one of the site plans that that one's fine. I do want to iterate and the the trees here shown on this rendering are not what the landscape plan this is just for visual representation but I do think one thing that's unique with this property I I completely understand the architectural intent of the area but mind you just how tucked away this property is and and the frontage and the lock shape really requires that that I mean it's a 13acre parcel but the the the frontage is a couple hundred feet um so there there will be street trees virtually minimizing the the impact or the visual impact from Victory Highway as well as kind of the exist existing vegetation. I mean this will be virtually unseeable traveling eastbound on Victory Highway until until you see the sign about here and then it is tucked behind this this building. So, it is heard about the the architectural elements, but um the lot shape and the the proposed landscaping, it really does tuck it kind of away off the off the roadway,

but it is heard. Other major retail chains have figured out how to differentiate between their stores that are put into big shopping plazas

and small towns. So, it's just a matter of coming up with more than one look. I I say just it's obviously work but because sure you'll plant some trees. Are they are they evergreens or are they deciduous? Okay, if they're deciduous then six months of the year they're not blocking any view and someday that other property can be developed in which case it's not providing this big buffer of forest. So and yet your building is going to be there for a long time. I'm sure that's the intent. So I think Mr. Porter's comment and and I think Dr. Roberts mentioned at the first meeting. Uh we all have concerns about that and we've seen lots of businesses uh take the right steps to to prevent to present to present the look that fits with uh Slaterville in particular. Yeah.

Dr. Benoy, did you have something to add? Yes. I'm not in total agreement with the architectural aspects uh because of the unique offset nature of their driveway and because there will be plantings and trees. Besides that, if I go to Cumberland Farms, I expect it to look like a Cumberland Farms. If I go to Tractor Supply, I expect it to look like Tractor Supply, not a dressed up version of wall effects. That's my personal opinion. Okay. Other stuff from the board before I Dr. Roberts, could you please remind us how many parking spots there are? Yeah, for sure.

So there there's 74 total. 67 10 ft by 20 ft normal passenger parking spots. There's four ADA parking spots which are located right out front. And then there are three um truck trailer parking spots. So what? 74 in total. Thank you. And could you please tell me other than arsenic what the other contaminant was? Dildren. Could you say it one more time? It's D I E L D R U N I. Okay. Or EN. Thank you. Like I said, I'm not uh I'm not an expert in in contamination or an LSP. So if there's any significant comments on that, um I'd have to defer and take notes and get back to you guys.

If nobody else has anything, I have a few questions. Okay. In our in our first meeting, um, one of the things we brought up was a concern about, uh, emergency vehicle route. Um, and it was explained to us that an emergency vehicle could come around to the back of the building, but then their way of egress is through the area, the outdoor display area that there'd be big gates and apparently all the employees would be told, please go clear a spa space for the ambulance to get out. And that didn't make a lot of sense to us. And but you know time is of the essence depending on what happened, right? So for a ve emergency vehicle to be able to come back then have to back up and then go out the same way. It seems like, and this is what was suggested in the first meeting, that you could extend the pavement around and just have a loop around even if it's only for emergency vehicles to to mitigate that concern because otherwise they I mean, this is what we were told that people have to clear out whatever is on display to clear a path for it.

So, I'm not sure where that I I I did watch the pre-application meeting. I didn't hear that, but I I may have missed it. Um, so in general, this site this site's designed for the delivery vehicle, which is WB65. It's a tractor trailer. Um, so they receive deliveries uh one time per week only when the store is open and the store manager is there.

This store does receive deliveries more frequently from UPS, FedEx, as anyone anyone's house does as well. But for large delivery vehicles, um, enter the site, pull down here, they use this kind of hammerhead turning circle, um, dead end, excuse me, and they pull in here and back up to the loading dock. Now, emergency vehicles, firet trucks, ambulances, they have much tighter turning radiuses than delivery vehicles. They can maneuver very tightly. Um, this this drive aisle, like I said, was designed for such. Um I I guess what you what you were referencing is if an ambulance was to come here all the way back here.

Well, if they if they however they came back to get it, we were told that the point of egress for them so they wouldn't have to back up, which takes more time, is to go through the area on the left. Yeah, they're here. So, which means you'd also have to clear out No. So, a path for them. There is a designated um and if you could switch back to the the colorful plan. It's it's one of the earlier slides.

Yeah. Keep going. Keep going. So right there. So as you can see here there this striping. So the fenced outdoor display is actually it's designed so vehicles can pull through. There won't be there's designated tra there's a designated travel way um painted striped on the on the concrete with two gates, one in the front, one in the rear. Um during operations, those are open for people to Yeah. for people to pick up seed or whatever they are gathering in the in the display area. Um

but it's a 20 foot wide travel way that the the gates are I believe 28 feet if I'm not mistaken. um more than enough for a truck with a trailer and it's always clear the travel way is Yeah. So So they're So you're saying their only challenge will be making sure that that there's no people in the way, right? Just the same as if you were crossing the road or something like that. Yes. And I I do think that the scenario you're speaking on is um it's just for fast egress when they need it. Yeah. Rare and unique though. I I don't know how many times a ambulance would be all the way and then I think the one time it's I think the one time it's needed is what matters, right? So, and for that there there are two ways. So, they could pull through the FOD,

right? Easily access our 26 foot wide drive aisles around the parking areas and then exit the site or they could back up and past us. Okay. Yeah. Um, another uh concern that was raised and talked about at some length is the visibility uh I'll say visibility uh light pollution and sound pollution for the people that live on Edward Avenue. So, I understand you have the the buffer and I believe Mr. Krillo um suggested that there be like an additional 40 feet. So the 160 really becomes 200 effectively of of buffer. Um yeah, I can speak to that if you'd like.

Well, and then but there are the three things, right? So obviously you could put up fencing. Fencing has is limited in height. You could put up evergreen fencing which will grow much higher. Um but also you're going to have rear lights back, you know, on your loading docks, all that stuff. Um, and so what can be done because obviously they can't they're not going to point just straight. What can you do to make sure that the light that they need is there for safety, but that it's not going to be, you know, in the back windows for everybody who lives on that street. I can I can speak to that if you'd like. Yep.

So the I think this plan provides a a decent representation. There's other plans in the plan set that I could speak to as well. So the existing tree line uh is shown here with this kind of like uh jagged line. Um so that along the southerntherly parcel line of lot 45 that will be largely maintained. Um I mean there's going to be minimal clearing in in this area. Um I believe just a regrade for the basin, but the entirety of lot 46 is is going to be maintained. It's 160 ft. our loading dock or or movable loading dock from from the rear parcel line is over 350 feet. We're talking about a football field. Um so I don't really I I did see the the the concerns and I I hear the concerns. Um this will operate very similarly to to any any business in in with residential neighbors. I mean, they're going to be mindful of neighbors. Like I said, this operation receives one delivery a week from a tractor trailer. They don't use they don't use um speaker phones. Everything is earpiece.

Um but I'm thinking of in the evening like look when the store is closed, frankly. Could you? Yeah.

Yeah. Uh for the record, Matt Darling, I I own Palm Calls Capital. Um all parking lot lights turn off an hour after the store closes. The only lights that remain on are a few wall packs on the building itself and of course it's the the sign. Um but that's it. So an hour after closing and then an hour before opening the lights will will be on or off. And so you know in those small wall packs there's no bleed out. You won't you you'll always see light from a distance. You'll see that something is on but the light won't bleed onto any of the neighborhood properties at all. The if they are they wall are they essentially wall wash

so wall wash lights like shining down as opposed to shining out? They are full cut off. Yes, they are. Yep. Fully dark sky compliant everything. They they they shine down the building to illuminate the perimeter of the building itself for safety reasons. Okay.

Mr. Krillo, if you could um there was the part about the additional 40 40 feet and um some sort of ether natural or other fencing. So, and I did speak with the engineer earlier today. We we we had a discussion. I I spoke with some of the residents and you know through through some recollection and in hearsay and I think the engineer brought up the stop and shop plan there there's an assumption or an understanding by the residents that there would be a 200 foot buffer setback right uh related to the property. Um so in those discussions and looking at the plan the setback from the building to the property line is close to 400 ft. It's like 395.8 something like that. Um so when I was looking at it in in discussing with the residents and then you know reaching out to the engineer earlier today um I was going to include an additional stipulation. So the so the buffer lot that's actually restricted as a as a no cut lot or or a open space lot um is 160 ft. So my recommendation which is a little bit superfluous but I think to give the residents a comfort level I was going to include it would be to have a minimum 40 foot setback from the property line of that additional lot. That'll bring you partially into that wooded area and adjacent to the um storm water retention basin for no constru no building no building and and what I'm authorizing in there is landscaping and you know drainage structures

right they already meet that that's that's already being met by the plan but to give the residents a comfort level and that should you know tractor supply ever go away and someone want to take over the building and want to put an addition on that restriction will be there. The setback currently is 30 ft. So basically we're asking for an additional 10- ft building setback over the standard 30 ft that's required but in combination it would be the 200 ft that I believe some of the residents had the understanding that they would have that protection but with the addition of of planting.

Yeah. So, so the second the second issue that I discussed with some of the residents was light, you know, light bleeding into the property and I did have a we have do have a schematic for the for the light and it doesn't actually bleed into the property and and noise associated with the business whether it you know and and some of the things that I was concerned about were were loudspeakers and we're addressing that but you know just normal noise associated with a business people you know being there, cars starting up, whatever. So, one of the one of the things was you could attenuate some of that noise with a barrier, whether it be a solid fence or a hedgeh.

Um, in this I I would leave that up to the to the developer what they would prefer. But, you know, my suggesting is that we include a buffer, the additional 40 ft, and either a fence or a solid hedge back there to attenuate some of the noise that could be included within that setback because sure, it's basically a noise barrier. So, those are the two additional stipulations that I was going to propose later on and I'm addressing those now, I guess. Okay.

If I could uh so just for reference, I think myself and the planner spoke this morning and there is a burm proposed kind of on the the south side of the storm water basin to to create some sort of lowlying area. Um I think some additional plantings along that burm is what were discussed. Um okay or on top of the burm or whatever. Yeah. Right. So just so they're even a little bit higher too. So kind of in line with the pavement elevation. Beautiful. As opposed to putting them downgraded because downgradient of this parcel line it is it's a couple feet lower. So it probably makes sense from a sound standpoint to have them higher. Agreed. Yeah. Okay. So, thank you.

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Cor. Anything else from the board? We do have a I'm just going to take a time check here. We have about 20 minutes and uh we have a public hearing to go. Can I have a show of hands for anyone who's going to be interested in speaking for that? We got a few people. Um, do you think you can be brief? Was he? Huh? He He doesn't have a restriction. I I've never used the timer.

Okay. And I don't want to have to, but you know, keep it. The main thing The main thing I'll say, as I've said before, is if the person speaking before you says something that you agree with, don't repeat it. Just say, "And by the way, I I'm putting my vote on that, too." Okay? say just be succinct, factual, and we should be able to get it done. All right, I need a motion to open the public hearing. So move. Second. Second. Those in favor? I Okay, public hearing is open at 9:41. Who's up first? Go ahead. You didn't raise your hand, but that's okay.

Oh, you did. Okay. All right. Please go introduce yourself and raise your hand. Hi, my name is Al Bowers. I live on 11 Edward Avenue. I moved into uh Northmith Field in 1993. And over the years, I've experienced flooding in my basement up to the point where I actually had to strip out my uh cellar, put in a triple uh safe sump pump system with battery backup, and I have a generator beside it just in case.

And over the years, uh I've been up at night because my sump pump just goes whoosh whoosh whoosh for one or two days at a time. So, what I really wanted to accomplish here today is I want a better understanding of the uh the uh grading and drainage plan. And I mean, they're proposing a new I don't know if it's new, but they're proposing a a type of drainage system that's going to divert out into that right

u that area. You know, I don't know if that's I don't know if that's going to be uh sufficient enough to uh stop the flooding that I was getting

um due to the way it's config figured now. And part of the area is still going to be the growth and the underbush and the trees and the and the the finished part is going to be the cement finish. So, I don't know. I don't know how uh if I don't know how that's going to work. I don't know if they have any type of formalized type of uh I don't know what the correct word is um monitoring doing testing you doing any software testing flows Mr. well testing type of stuff. Yeah, just keep talking this way.

Oh, sorry. Sorry. So, I don't know if this is a a standard type of way of uh fixing a flooding problem. I don't know if this has been scientifically proven. I don't know if this is like a gut type of feeling that you guys Yeah. So, I I would like a comfortable feeling. We'll get we'll get a better to know that this is going to work. You know what I mean? Okay. So, I don't know if if you if the planning board they can provide that but so how do they go about providing that they're going to show uh certain type of tests results from tests that

I I think the question is do they run models I think the engineer can direct to answer that directly they did provide a drainage report um okay

yeah I just I'll be quick and succinct but uh So this is standard engineering practices when you do a development. It it we run a hydrocad model which is a computer software. It evaluates the drainage area which I briefly went into earlier. Um but it evaluates existing conditions and proposed conditions. Now, the the goal of this development is not to necessarily fix the entire flooding issue of the area, but this development and the the analysis provided is not going to to it's going to help the we're reducing the peak flows from this site, reducing the volume from this site. We're actually diverting it easterly easterly instead of southerntherly. Um, another thing with the groundwater is we we did an extensive geotech um evaluation. Groundwater in this area is extremely high. We hit groundwater at at 24 inches below the the the top surface. Wow.

Um granted when we did it, it was in March. It had rained the week prior, but still I think a lot of the flooding issue is is existing conditions that really has nothing to do with with the the the site in general. It's kind of the the topography of the area, the the subsurface conditions of the entire area. I will say that and our geological evaluation kind of confirmed that. So, right.

May I ask a question, Mr. Mr. Chairman? So I I did meet with some of the residents and and that was the concern. So you know question for the engineer and I think he addressed a little bit of it in his presentation earlier is that currently the majority of the flow on that property and I don't remember the the the the acres is heading in in I guess that's a southerntherly direction. So when there's a storm, a standard storm, it rains, it runs off, and it heads down toward that neighborhood. Post development, that whole area there that's being developed will be captured and contained. That will be removed in the future in future storm events from the from the the volume that is currently now heading in a southerntherly direction on that property. It will be removed, captured, and retained within that basin and then metered out. And I think it was was it an 8 in pipe coming out of there? I don't remember the size of the pipe coming out of there. And and slowly percolated back in a northerly direction into that wetland. One of the standards is zero net increase in the rate of runoff. That means whatever's coming off the property today, it can't come off more and quicker tomorrow. This is actually reducing the rate of runoff and the volume of runoff especially in a first flush for the storm.

If I could add to that, our peak flows, we have a a greater than 20% reduction from existing to proposed conditions in all storm events, which is the one-year storm, the 1.2 inch storm, all the way through the hundred-year storm, which are fairly frequent nowadays, it feels like, right? Um but but our our analysis shows that. What is a 100year storm? What's it mean? It's the the depth and frequency of volume that has a one in 100th chance of occurring yearly. Yeah. In other words, not you know, it's a storm that you would experience once in a 100 years basically. But you can't relate it to you're going to have 10 inches of rain. No, I can inches of rain. I can.

It depends on the region. Yeah, it is. It is regional. Um used 100. So you're using a maximum. You're using a good figure. So the the the 100year storm event in this area is a rainfall of 8 in over a 24-h hour period, right? Um but like I said recently, we've we've had some three or four inch storm events just I think this summer we did um which over the course of a 24-h hour period that would be greater than a 100red-year storm, right? Um, but this is this analysis was performed in in accordance with all state and federal requirements and analysis. Past I've had two feet of two two and a half feet of snow in my backyard and then we've had like a week a week of rain. I don't doubt it. Yeah. So that's what I've kind of

Yeah. But if we heard correctly, you're saying under all conditions your plan reduces the amount of runoff by 20%. greater than 20%. greater than 20%. Yeah. Okay. So, it actually it eliminates that much. And like I said, I'm not gonna I'm not going to stand here and and say we're going to this is going to resolve your the flooding issue. No. But I I this our analysis shows that this is not going to impact and and it really will only help. Yeah. It will only help realistically. All right. All right. Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Bowers.

Mr. Mackey, he had his hand Do I want to extend the meeting so we're not interrupting anybody? Yeah, why don't we do that? All right, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to extend our meeting to 10:15. Make a motion to extend the meeting to 10:15. We have a second. Second. We have a second. Those in favor? I I We have a no. But the The eyes have it. We're we're extended to 10:15. [Music]

Did is this what you hang on? in yesterday.

No, we we didn't get I think the uh Yeah, the planner got it and it was probably pretty late yesterday. Go ahead, Mr. Solicitor. I believe our regulations state that unless there's a unanimous decision to extend, we are not able to extend. Can you clarify for me? Well, I know that was the rule on the the council rule and they amended that. I don't know if your the rule applies to the planning board. I'd have to check. I apologize, but I'd have to check. You got 10 minutes. You got 10 minutes to check. There you go. Okay.

Introduce yourself, please. Yep. Hello. My name is Dylan Mackey. I live at 19 Edward Avenue in Slaterville. Um, I wouldn't say I'm 100% like opposed to the tractor supply. Um, I do have some concerns about the current plans at the old orchard site. Obviously, he said the soil is contaminated. Um, I would like to know the actual contamination amount. Um, Mr. Mackey, address all your questions here. We're making notes still. Yep. I would like to know the actual contamination amounts and then the DEM procedures to handle them.

Okay. And then uh flooding, that's something we've been going into alongside of our house. We're actually lot 46. Um we get severe flooding to the point where FEMA's been involved. I believe they've been involved on other addresses on our street. Um, so one question I have for them as well is basically upgrading the brook and the actual covert pipe that drains the section of field he's talking about. Is this a Is this a pipe that's on that property? So it's a pipe at Edward Avenue. Oh, I know which one you're talking about.

Yeah. Yep. Okay. It often floods. it'll flood over the road, right? Um, wetlands, if you scroll to the pictures before the last page, um, I know this is more of a DEM issue, which I'll be contacting them. Um, but basically the wetlands on their map, it's very small. It's very tucked away in the corner. If you actually walk the property and um feel it out, there are a lot of seasonal wetlands. Um

going up in the middle of property directly behind our house where the field drains, if you follow it up, it it's completely saturated. You can see in the photos. Um I I think you are right to take that up with dem though. See if you get somebody No, it's just something I wanted to bring up with you. Yep.

And then one idea I had for them because of the contamination in the soil and um how far it's set back. I find it kind of odd for visibility for them and also for us the lots up above there, the two lots, that triangular shaped lot, um those are available for lease. So, I almost feel like it would be a good solution for them to actually move the project up onto those two lots. And when it comes to the Dunkin Donuts intersection, I mean, go there in the morning, you you can't get by. There's so many cars.

I will add that in the first meeting, um, we did make that suggestion that if that property could be incorporated, it would solve all kinds of problems because you could have two curb cuts, you could just do all kinds of things. But it is a separate owner, separate thing. So I don't know if that was looked at as a possibility. But I got to think I think the civil engineer, you give him give him a big box instead of this piece, he goes, "Oh, this is going to be fun." So, and then with the arsenic in the soil, some of us on the street have wells. I would like testing before the site is done as a baseline, during and after. Mhm.

Um yeah, it's really just about health, safety, and visibility. Okay, great. Thank you. Um Sure. to his question if he wants. Okay. Who maintains the apron? Is it the town or Why don't you come up and address that? But so okay,

we have a submitted in our storm water report is an operation and maintenance plan. Uh it's a very detailed um kind of yearly bianually. Um some of the structures the water quality units are by annually when leaves after you know what I mean there there's a whole slew of operation and maintenance for every structure proposed. So yeah. All right. If is there anybody else who's coming up? You got four minutes. I just want to ask questions but I think we answered a lot of them. Thank you. Aubra Bowers. I live with that guy over there on 11 Avenue.

The noise concerns me. Can you see hear me at all? The noise does concern me from a health perspective. I've worked in health for a long long time. You know, people need sleeping. Can't stand the light, the noise and whatever. So, I was thinking about I was listening to him and I understand he they're going to put the trees and you're going to try to keep as much noise down as but does your company like Miss Powers? Oh, I'm sorry. loudspeakers all day long. I don't I don't know anything about the company in this big It sounds like a big big building. Like is it going to be loudspeakers all day long? I I don't know what to expect from this company. I really don't I uh there is probably Go ahead. Yeah, go ahead.

Probably not the best example, but there is a there's one in Waket uh by the state job that was an old Walmart. Not not it's not their prototypical location, but you can see there there's no PA system. and they don't have a PA system there. And if you want to put a condition in that says no PA system, that's fine because they don't use one, right? Um, you know, so they I didn't know because you have the outside spaces, you know, they call the earpieces now. They they have they have earpieces. I'm sorry. Direct the board. I apologize. But uh yeah, they they have earpieces and little little headphones in their in their their heads. So yeah, there's no attention shoppers things going on. Great. Thank you. Their their forklift doesn't even have the beeping thing that goes on this. It's going. So,

last quick quick quick thing. Do you guys like run generators and compactors and all that stuff? No. No. There there there is one uh balor. It's inside the building. Okay. Is that Thank you. Thank you. All right. Be quick. Mr. Kru and Mr. Igliosi, do we have to prepare to continue this public hearing to a date certain? Mr. Vice President, I I I I'm familiar with that rule on the council. I didn't know there was a rule for the planning board. I'm looking for it. I have not found it. Can you get it done in two minutes? Okay, it has been maybe the planning board. I just didn't I just didn't want to cut anybody off. So, if we needed to make the formal

moving to a uh a date certain, then that way we have the time to do it appropriately. That's we have a commitment for two minutes or less. Hi, my name is Jeff Baler. I live at 56 Ridge Road. I'm gonna ask a question because my brother lives down the hill from where this is proposed. Um, you're going to keep the the driveway of the scene clean in the winter time, right? And keep I'm sorry. Keep you going to keep the driveway clear in the winter time of any salt and sand and snow. My question is with runoff, what happens with the dems and the uh Gotcha. piece to the uh to the east, I believe it is. Okay. So, so I'm just asking because he he asked the same question at some point earlier on another project about the water and the salt

and you're going to clear the parking lot with the plows and sanders and salt is and I just wondered if there was a runoff let's uh problem of any kind with the DEM. Let's see if we can get that answered.

So, there's several measures that kind of in addition to street sweeping and and yearly maintenance, it it's for the benefit of the tenant to keep this this facility looking aesthetically pleasing. um and to maintain their structures. We have deep sump catch basins which have a three-foot sump below the invert. So a lot of the TSS, the total suspended solids will actually settle in that. There's hooded outlets on all the inverts proposed. Um so oils and and greases and fats and and salts, leaves, debris, trash will be blocked by that. That's the first step of of a catch basin. This is simple storm water management that every state basically in in the Northeast at least has these measures in place. Um, MS4 federally regulates it as well. In addition, we have a a a sediment for bay which will attenuate the the additional TSS that surpasses the hooded outlets and the steep sumps. And then we do have that that sand filter which allows water to infiltrate through the sand into a perforated pipe and then discharge. So, so there's multiple layers of of water quality. Um, I I will say a development like this, the regulations that are in place statewide and and regionally um far exceed any of the the culverts and catch basins that are probably located on your roadway. Um, just for reference. So,

it if that makes it more comfortable, [Music] well, it is 10 o'clock. Mr. Leoi, what are we doing? I I would I would proceed, if I may. Yeah. Can I reverse my vote? I would ask you to, Doc, if you I'm volunteering. Thank you. Thank you. In that case, Mr. Mackey, you wanted to come back up and ask a question because you can just come on up.

Address it this way. So the question is again um the actual contamination levels and if we can get visibility on the phase one the public visibility on what the phase one conducted phase one environmental he he's looking for a copy of the report Mr. Oh the environmental I requested that from the engineer I assume it'll be forthcoming. Yes. All right. Perfect. Thank you. I could speak to that.

Yeah. So this site will be um constructed and and developed in compliance with RIM. So we will be submitting the phase one and through our RM permit. I don't believe it's a it's a requirement to submit it to the planning board. Um so that will be all submitted through the state level permitting process, but it I'm I believe all those applications are publicly available once submitted. Okay. So and Mr. The other thing that was requested was um water well our snake level and the other sorry testing prior to to set a baseline and then after I can I can speak to that if you'd like. Okay.

So um that's part of the phase one. Um our LSP has recommended that we virtually cap the site. there's going to be minimal excavation beyond existing condition. We're we're bringing fill into the site and placing it on top of the the existing ground and building it up. And that's the that's the cap recommendation from the licensed site professional on on on how to remediate and and cap this site. Um so I I I don't feel it's really just for the planning board to condition something like that. that I mean that's a large expense we're talking about that he's requesting um that it it it really is going to be regulated state on a state level.

It's a D it's a DEM issue is what you're saying. Exactly. So we'd appreciate if that was okay left at as a state issue. Okay. And the levels that we know are fairly low. They are. Yeah. The arsenic levels um they're they're mostly on near the farm pond really. Um and they're slightly above this the state regulatory levels. um our our phase one indicates like I said I'm not a site professional so this is third third party but um that's what we've been told and and the remediation method is basically capping it minimizing public um access to to areas off off site and not capped. So that's what we're doing basically.

All right. Thank you. Yep. Anyone else? Yes. Oh, name is Mark Carson, 15 Edward Avenue. Um, back in 1999, I moved into that address and we were fighting the proposal for stop and shop. Mhm. And uh we hired an attorney and the three or four other rebutters with us and we fought for our 200 foot buffer zone. Tonight I'm hearing 160 foot plus another 40. I don't know where that 160 came from when we settled on the 200 foot buffer zone.

The the I think I think I can answer the one the 160 is that separate lot. It is 160 ft wide. Okay. And then Mr. Carillo is going to submit an additional stipulation for an additional 40T. Okay. That'll bring it back to the 200. Okay. My next question would be since you're going to be putting a main line in and you're going to be you're going to be using that much more water. We have no water pressure whatsoever on Edward Avenue. Is that going to affect the water pressure? That's sir.

So that's a that's a question for the water division. However, I know that the engineer and has done water models uh at the intersection of 102 and East Maine. Um maybe you can address that, but I'm not sure how they're linked. Okay, if you could. I'm not uh entirely familiar with the entire water network. I believe Edward A comes off the North Main Street main a little further south of the the plaza the the existing commercial plaza with the marketplace.

Um I'm not sure. I I believe the intent of the the Slater's Village originally was to basically kind of loop the water man if I'm not mistaken which is the purpose of it is to alleviate pressure issues. So I think the intent of this development is to to help the pressure issues um that exist. So, I'm not saying that if the Slater's Village was never developed, obviously that water man might never continue. Um, but there's several parcels of land that probably will eventually extend that water man further, I would assume. So, will we look into that though? What is it we're looking at?

Maybe a pumping station or because I know I only have like maybe 40 pounds of pressure. That's You got 40. Hold up, Mr. Krillo. Yeah, I sounds like this development is not related to the neighborhood's water pressure issue. I think that that conversation should take place with the town water division, right? And if there if if there I don't know what the resolution is, but I you know, if there needs to be a pressurized line, that's Can we facilitate that?

I can certainly pass that message on to the uh to the water superintendent. Absolutely. Yeah, I think that's that's the right place to get the answer, but we'll help help get it answered. Okay, anybody else? Okay, I'll be quick. I appreciate your extra time. Um, I like it. I'm for track to supply. However, it feels like it should be at the road. You know, should be what? Can you can you please state your name and address, please? Adam 21 Ed 21 Edward Avenue.

Adam B. It just feels like this kind of building, this kind it's it's a 300 foot road to put it in our backyard. They can get more visibility, better traffic with Dunkin Donuts across the street to push this thing up and see if they can acquire, you know, the parcel of land in the front. And it just it makes more sense to get it out of our neighborhood on the front away from the arson water runoff. That's not their problem. And uh it would improve traffic flow and you know, a lot of the the gripe would end. So, I don't know. A big company like Tractor Display Supply, I think they could afford a little bit extra on a lease, you know. That's that's Dude, there's a financial guy want

I wish all that was true. I think you're doing all right. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, the lots in the front, it's a separate seller. It's a whole different transaction element that just doesn't make Yeah. And I think part of it too is keep in mind that tractor trailer is leasing this land. If they were acquiring, I think it might be a different story. Yeah. I've acquired the property. I'm building it. Right. So local. So all you have to do is acquire the other one. Oh yeah. If I had a tenant for it, that'd be a different story. But

no, I appreciate you guys, you know, honored setbacks and I just don't want my kids to be on the swing set looking at a tractor. I built a road in the town I grew up in on a dead end because it was private. anything. I I think when we see the landscaping plan um that will make sure that it mitigates that opinion of of I mean do you prefer the trees on the BM or you guys want a fence? Want a six foot fence? 30 foot trees. Well, they will be eventually put Sorry. Sorry.

Yeah. Sorry. But I I I mean and I mean I'm not a huge fan of arborites, but they have their place in life and that's one of them and they will grow to 25 ft pretty quickly, too. I I actually uh I had a conversation with Mr. Godren this afternoon and and um he referenced me to look at the credit union across the street. Um, navigate there's some there's some shrubs that were conditioned I believe as part of that approval that have grown in pretty pretty thickly um over a short amount of time relatively. So I think something like that that creates that buffer is and it's year round. Yeah. So Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a motion to close the public hearing. Okay.

No offense, folks. We have a motion to close. Do we have a second? Those in favor? I. The public hearing is closed at 10:09. Thank you. Um and with that with that I think we can adjourn. We're going to Oh, no. I'm sorry. We What about the variant? You're going to make a motion on the variance or the project. Can I Can I Can I say one thing real quick? I'm really I'm really sorry. That back strip of land 160 ft. I'll make a deal to everybody here tonight. Do you want a piece of that behind your house? It's yours. All right. Call me. Call Sam. That's fine. All right.

All right. Extend your property. They can have it. I don't want it. There might there might be some conveyance fees and some engineering things like that, but yeah, there you go. Okay. Fair enough. He just offered them land. Um, so we need to uh we need to quickly act on this. Is that correct? But I still Oh. Oh, that's right. That's right. Do you want to continue? I would say we continue. Go ahead. Make a motion.

Mr. uh Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a motion to continue to a date certain for this uh the public hearing, item 10 on the agenda, and then also item 11 to our next regularly scheduled meeting. which is on well it's yeah a little over a month from today October 9th. Okay, we have a motion to continue to October the October 9th meeting to accommodate a couple of the items left on it. I am now. So we have we have a motion. We need a second. Second.

We have a second. Um that's a roll call. Just to be clear, the public meeting has been portion has been closed. So any extension will be for deliberation only and no new information. Okay. Yep. Correct. Okay. So we have the motion. We have the second. Dr. Bono. Yes. Right. Second. Yes. So now now I'm voting. Dr. Roberts. Mr. Porter. Yes. Mr. Manard. Yes. Cherry votes yes. I have a motion to second. All in favor? I see you guys. Thank you, chair.