At a meeting of the Town Council holden in and for the Town of Glocester on January 5, 2012 I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. II. Roll Call Members Present: Walter M. O. Steere, III, President; George O. (Buster) Steere; Vice- President; Edward C. Burlingame; Jamie A. Hainsworth; and William E. Reichert Also present: Jean Fecteau, Town Clerk; Tim Kane, Assistant Town Solicitor; Thomas Mainville, Finance Director; Gary Treml, Director of Public Works; Joseph DelPrete, Chief of Police; Ray Goff, Planner; Susan Harris, Deputy Town Clerk; Jane Steere, Tax Collector; Viviane Valentine, Tax Assessor; Walter Steere, Jr. & Anne Ejnes, School Committee members; and Judith Branch, Director of Human Services. III. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Susan Harris, Deputy Town Clerk. IV. Open Forum for Agenda Items None. V. Public Hearing - Discussion and/or Action A. CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC HEARING from Dec. 15, 2011 Glocester Code of Ordinance - Proposed Amendment - Discussion and/or Action 1. Chapter 350 - Zoning a. Proposed addition of Article XIII,“Village Overlay District” b. AMEND Art. II, Zoning District Use Regulations c. ADDITION Chapter 350, Attachment #5 d. AMEND Zoning Map Councilor W. Steere stated that this Public Hearing was opened on December 15, 2011, all were heard and the hearing was continued to tonight to allow for advertising and notice corrections. Discussion: 1. Anne D’Errico-Smith, 1214 Putnam Pike, stated that she is an attorney and serves on the Historic District Commission. A. Smith further stated that she is the president of the Glocester Business Association. A. Smith noted that she is present tonight in the capacity of a homeowner in Town. A. Smith stated that she is very much in favor of business, adding that she operates her law practice from her home. A. Smith stated that she would love to see more business come into the Town because we need it, but stated that she has two problems with the proposed amendment. Ms. Smith stated the first issue is that the overlay would extend into the agricultural- January 5, 2012 1 of 20 residential district heading out on Route 44 west, which is currently houses and farmland. A. Smith commented that her biggest problem with the proposal is the allowance of a drive-thru. A. Smith noted that we already have three of these in Town; a bank, Dunkin Donuts and a pharmacy. A. Smith stated that she is concerned about a drive-thru restaurant. A. Smith stated that she and her husband have lived in their house for thirteen years and already one of the houses next to them has been removed for the Senior Center. A. Smith stated that when Bess Eaton Donuts wanted to purchase the property, she attended the Planning Board, Zoning Board and Town Council meetings to oppose the special permit application. A. Smith recommended that the wording of the ordinance be tweaked to allow a drive-thru at another bank or pharmacy, but a fast-food restaurant would be prohibited. A. Smith stated that commercial use has already extended to the east, asking how far west will it go before we cease to be the quaint little village of Chepachet and become more like Greenville or North Providence. 2. Charlie Wilson, resident of the Village & Chairman of the Historic District Commission, stated that he has read the proposal and feels that a few things need to be tweaked. C. Wilson stated that in the Center District, there is listed a mortuary or funeral home. C. Wilson expressed his opinion that this may cause a problem with regard to traffic and parking. C. Wilson further suggested that the district be extended down Routes 100 and 102 toward Burrillville and east on Route 44 as far as Pinewood Park, stating that there are already businesses in these areas. C. Wilson stated that this extension could be instead of going further west on Route 44, as this is mostly residential. Other than these points, C. Wilson stated that he is in favor of the amendment. 3. Jim Thompson, of 100 Money Hill Road, stated that he operates a business at 1182 Putnam Pike. J. Thompson expressed agreement with comments made by Charlie Wilson, adding that at some point in the future he may wish to work from his home. 4. Rose LaVoie, 31 Wilmarth Road, stated that she owns rental and commercial property in the zone and is in favor of the overlay district. R. LaVoie commented that many commercial properties in the Village are empty and this amendment will be beneficial to the Town. 5. Lori Blanchflower, 30 Douglas Hook Road, asked for clarification with regard to the Table of Use Regulations, stating that it says that an orchard or nursery is allowed in the A-4, A-3 and R-2 zones, but not in the Village Overlay District or Central District. L. Blanchflower stated that she is in an R-2 zone where a lunch room, restaurant, tavern, etc. are not allowed; however, if this amendment is passed, these businesses would be allowed next door to her property. January 5, 2012 2 of 20 L. Blanchflower stated that she lives in a residential area and would like it to remain as such. L. Blanchflower agreed that the district should be extended to the Burrillville line and toward Greenville because there are already businesses in those areas. L. Blanchflower pointed out that there is plenty of room there for businesses with a drive- thru. L. Blanchflower commented that she is not opposed to a fast-food restaurant, stating that these businesses are good taxpayers. Councilor Burlingame stated that he is uncomfortable regarding expanding into these residential areas. L. Blanchflower stated that we need business in this Town because our taxes are too high, but we should be expanding the areas that are already commercial and not the residential neighborhoods. 6. Mark Rechter, 1218 Putnam Pike, stated that his property is located in the A-4 zone, but previously there was a law office and a tea room in his home. M. Rechter stated that these uses are already allowed, but he wishes to preserve the area going west on Route 44. M. Rechter noted that two new businesses, Dunkin Donuts and CVS, have put a local family-owned business out of business. M. Rechter stated that he would like to see the overlay district extend toward the Adler property and the motel there, as there are already businesses in that area. M. Rechter stated that the Adler Brothers had approached the Town Council with regard to light industrial businesses and office buildings on their property and were turned down. M. Rechter stated that maybe it is time to reconsider this plan. With regard to night clubs in an A-4 district, M. Rechter stated that we seem to already have problems with the existing night clubs in Town. M. Rechter stated that these businesses put a stress on our Police force. M. Rechter also stated that he is opposed to the inclusion of the Glocester Memorial Park ball field in the proposed overlay district. Councilor W. Steere asked if anybody else wished to be heard regarding this subject. Hearing none, Councilor W. Steere asked Tim Kane, Assistant Town Solicitor, what are the Council’s options. T. Kane replied that, procedurally, if the Council wishes to change the proposed amendment by removing some of the properties from the overlay district, the Public Hearing must be continued. T. Kane further stated that if any properties will be added to the district, the process must start over. This would require that the matter be tabled and again advertised for Public Hearing. Councilor W. Steere asked if “start over” means sending the proposal back to the Planning Board. T. Kane replied that if substantial amounts of property are added to the proposed district, such as extending to the Burrillville line, it must go back to the Planning Board. Councilor Burlingame stated that the comments made have been good and he would be inclined to remove some of the proposed properties and to expand to other properties which have not been proposed. Councilor Burlingame also expressed concern regarding expanding the overlay district beyond the Historic District. January 5, 2012 3 of 20 Councilor Burlingame recommended that the Public Hearing be continued and the Council consider expanding the district in a north/south direction, but not east/west. Councilor Burlingame stated that if necessary, the Council could send it back to the Planning Board. Councilor G. Steere agreed, adding that by continuing the Public Hearing, we can avoid additional advertising fees. Councilor G. Steere stated that if the Council decides to add properties to the district, it can be advertised one more time. Tim Kane concurred, stating that once the Council reaches a consensus, the matter can be sent back to the Planning Board and tabled on the Council level. Councilor G. Steere stated this would allow the Council to evaluate all input and to do it once and do it right. Councilor Hainsworth recommended that the Council hold a workshop with the Planning Board to discuss the issues brought up at the Public Hearing. Councilor W. Steere stated that no final decision will be made until everyone has had a chance to speak, either for or against the proposed amendment. Rose LaVoie stated that she wonders how many people have read the entire proposal from the Planning Board. R. LaVoie commented that the Planning Board put a lot of work into it and tried to keep everyone happy. R.