[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6466121,"mediaKeyId","5825747-192e49058744581d41ce8ac1f8f22455","parentId",5825747,"title","Council approves zone change for 220‑unit Center of New England project after stormwater and affordable‑housing debate","audioSeconds",1442,"startMs",1770000,"endMs",3212000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825747-192e49058744581d41ce8ac1f8f22455&start=1770&end=3212","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825747-192e49058744581d41ce8ac1f8f22455/thumbnail_1770000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6466121/Rhode-Island/Council-approves-zone-change-for-220unit-Center-of-New-England-project-after-stormwater-and-affordablehousing-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466121-933b6e58154867eacd310d39c4512121/orig.mp4?Expires=1775630489&Signature=bckxvuheqWS2fVd0hva2s95z-lGJJOV4wY4xpz3ae3ur155EWaTBMXEXbknwoytPNu8DuEFMLrW9otXqPUrS4NKJ2FThx69S6Rncgo-szpJtsgEfNKkq-loXecFjcCpJ1sCDWgm7QSPX28zr3IQ5Cx4iAbwfXETyTN5URGK1rmCDRBhpzuLC2NHKLPghe311-eBomhpaHNjl~dWAIFEysnjXL1QyWvhGu4gpLtbjsLvg~krKuGrRtCuB4nPkzW4b4241qYnJKWWB2GFiIDiu8GGzpSXDbOStzB1-DT7TCSqCLNI02knVCo-jV3RrZY~qLlUeP2-EVHHahsPtMVgcwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Coventry Rhode Island","date","2025-09-24T17:01:54.893Z","article","The Coventry Town Council voted unanimously 6-0 to approve a conditional zone change for a planned 220‑unit apartment development and separately adopted a local ordinance enabling tax‑stabilization agreements as a tool for economic development.

The zoning action follows a planning process in which the developer received a conditional master-plan approval from the Planning Board and sought a council zoning change to advance to preliminary and final engineering. Attorney Kelly Maris Salvatore, representing the applicant, told the council the project had been through an expanded master-plan review that included extra traffic and some stormwater data and that full stormwater design would be completed at preliminary plan stage before construction. She said the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the planning board would scrutinize final designs and that the zoning change is conditional on subsequent approvals.

Concerns from the Lake Tioga watershed community were raised at the public hearing. Jerry Norkowitz, representing the Lake Tioga Association, asked the council to delay any zoning variance or approval until hydrological and drainage studies are produced and reviewed by the conservation commission, citing historical \"brownout\" events and fish kills in the early 2000s. Several council members urged the applicant to work closely with the conservation commission and the town's watershed stakeholders during the next design stages.

Developer representatives and the town manager explained the statutory precedence of approvals under state law: planning‑board advisory recommendation and conditional planning approval first, then a conditional zoning change by the council, and then return to the planning board for preliminary and final approvals. Planning commision members said the conditional zone change is intended to allow the developer to proceed to the costly engineering phase; if subsequent approvals are not met, the zoning would not vest.

On affordable housing, the council approved a developer request to set the low/moderate‑income (LMI) allocation at 15% rather than 18%. The applicant's consultant presented a pro‑forma estimating that moving from 15% to 18% would reduce project feasibility by roughly $5.5 million. Some council members, while sympathetic to watershed concerns, said the town also needs development and that the planning board and DEM will hold the project to engineering standards.

The council also approved an ordinance to adopt tax‑stabilization authority for the town; the solicitor described the local ordinance as the mechanism that lets the town enter into tax‑stabilization agreements authorized by state enabling legislation.

A separate public hearing led the council to approve, pending completion of town and fire‑department checklists, a transfer of a Class B liquor license and a victualing license for a proposed tavern at a property whose buyer said he has secured DEM approval for a septic system and will close purchase only after town approvals. The council passed that motion 6-0 with the license transfers explicitly conditioned on receipt of the required town and fire approvals.

Ending

The zone change was approved as a conditional, precedent‑of‑approvals action; final engineering, stormwater, and state permits must be obtained at the planning stage for the project to proceed. The council's votes add the project to the town's development pipeline while preserving review steps for environmental protections and construction details.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council - 23 Sep 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Town Council approved a conditional zoning change for a 220‑unit Center of New England development, approved a tax‑stabilization ordinance, and heard concerns from conservation groups about stormwater impacts to Lake Tioga.","taxTitle","Coventry, Kent County, Rhode Island","taxId",79575,"location","Rhode Island","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6466126,"Coventry council restores public comment, dockets removal of president and solicitor, and seeks forensic audit of invoices",1189,261000,1450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825747-192e49058744581d41ce8ac1f8f22455&start=261&end=1450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825747-192e49058744581d41ce8ac1f8f22455/thumbnail_261000.jpg","/articles/6466126/Rhode-Island/Coventry-council-restores-public-comment-dockets-removal-of-president-and-solicitor-and-seeks-forensic-audit-of-invoices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466126-40fcfe3a577ae24de3eeb0550ea06fe1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775630489&Signature=ihP9ApSVYyAidjHWaZjdvx-WqtJWE-TLinWxnLKtG1of130UHcGjiEa4gPMqqF-BwkK60dfsGM--1ZZWgythP62UIftEDmn3ayZoHng5Sbr0jEPHRROt6Yu8gM32cbC0Iv9UXa~-NXeXjwKzRaN5eeWEWJuvDLjxYF0d0Gawwm-Alxu-u9zqpx5WG8SwTtTtJPIhlMmKghX-~6BEb5-RrNUrdU40Fx98LWEQ~i3XtPTz9iGqqfHo10y3z3zG4sTTjgx759y1XKaOlwFNTC13MAgwx~5Mnlo7Llshd8N~jU8e~bkXEde-s5y~vTp~kuRV294OCGG56oMLnQ3m73A-jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Vice President J.P. Verducci presided over a packed Coventry Town Council meeting where members voted to restore public comment, docket motions to consider termination of the town solicitor's contract and the removal of Council President Hillary Lima, and asked for a forensic audit of legal invoices once the unredacted documents are available.

The council unanimously voted 6-0 to suspend council rules and return public comment on undocketed items to the end of the agenda, after several council members said removing those comments had upset residents and councilors. Councilwoman Alisa Capaldi said the action was necessary because \"there is never an appropriate time to silence the public, whether we agree with them or we don't.\" Councilman Brown added that councilors themselves were upset by the prior removal.

The meeting then focused on invoices and the town solicitor's role. Council members repeatedly criticized limitations on access to the solicitor's unredacted billing. Councilman Who (name not specified in the record) said the council had been blocked from seeing invoices and that \"if you have nothing to hide, show the invoices.\" The council voted 6-0 to add to the next meeting agenda a motion to terminate the solicitor's contract and to open discussion of the contract at that future meeting. The council also voted 6-0 to add a separate agenda item to consider removing the council president from her leadership role.

Council members also voted to add, for consideration at the next meeting, a motion calling for a forensic audit of every unredacted invoice from the law firm of Stephen J. Angel, contingent on receipt of those invoices. That motion was seconded and passed 6-0.

Public commenters urged transparency. Resident Scott Guthrie submitted documents to the clerk that he said show the council president and solicitor relied on outside model rules and suggested bills and records had been removed from public custody; the council voted 6-0 to add his submitted documents to the record. Multiple residents warned against removing public access to records and urged protection of any invoices and related materials so they remain available for review.

Town Manager Perillo confirmed that recent invoices already produced to the town had been paid after approval by the council president. Council members said they want full unredacted invoices returned to the town so the council can consider them and, if necessary, authorize an audit.

The council followed procedure discussed in the meeting: as Vice President Verducci noted, items added to an agenda by majority vote may be informational only and cannot be voted on at the same meeting except in specific emergency circumstances referenced to a statute cited in the meeting. Several councilors emphasized that the docketed motions are intended to bring the matters to a properly noticed vote at the next meeting.

The council took no immediate action to remove any official at the meeting; all actions were to add the matters to the next meeting's agenda for formal votes. The motions to suspend rules, restore public comment, docket termination of the solicitor's contract, docket removal of the council president, request a forensic audit, and add public documents to the record all passed unanimously among the six members present.

The council also set expectations about process: members said they want the unredacted invoices in town custody before commissioning any outside review and requested that staff provide estimates and cost guidance for a forensic audit so the council can consider funding options at the next meeting.

The council adjourned after handling these governance items; the docketing votes mean several formal votes and a potential contract termination or personnel action will be considered at the next publicly noticed meeting.

Ending

The council's actions at this meeting were procedural steps to bring questions about legal billing, records access and leadership to formal votes at a subsequent meeting. No personnel were removed or contracts terminated at this session; members voted to schedule those matters for future hearings once required documents and fiscal details are available.","After reversing a prior change, the Coventry Town Council voted to restore public comment, add items to the next agenda to consider terminating the town solicitor's contract and removing the council president, and requested a forensic audit of unredacted invoices once produced.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6466116,"Votes at a glance: Coventry council meeting — key motions and outcomes",2976,473000,3449000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825747-192e49058744581d41ce8ac1f8f22455&start=473&end=3449","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825747-192e49058744581d41ce8ac1f8f22455/thumbnail_473000.jpg","/articles/6466116/Rhode-Island/Votes-at-a-glance-Coventry-council-meeting-key-motions-and-outcomes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466116-9a505c5079fae8f309f479a91e974c9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775630489&Signature=dGec3KNzRloWecCkntG2plY8HifQxk6xgO~mwQIIlQZLlSZwEny7wFI-ucSUeOByrBiXVcORUzakyRBEQmV6foXh6XCUHbTx1880Wg288LF3umX6fForlkmEI1Jc--Ge2iCfVkZqLGoRV8CoqCyCg9zAsfN0N6HUu94RR8wWixauJzfsian4odwCPbmA-IWN6C25JvGjZomBNQSDanEfnj7aRZX38fQD53cTVJ-RaByPkQnyWK8eKbdeiMnLWc812d8PyIKPZ5gFIqUnM9U-jktAhNzWOjIOkGWve~knRyeXAbnnwonIaZSWb~10QsWMQ8KBAke-wCsOI6jiGlIONQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","This summary lists formal actions and recorded outcomes from the Coventry Town Council meeting. Where vote tallies were announced, they are noted; where a full roll call was read, names correspond to the meeting transcript. All items below are motions recorded by the council at the meeting.

Votes (selection):

- Suspend council rules to restore public comment on docketed items: Passed 6–0.

- Add public comment for undocketed items back onto the end of the agenda: Passed 6–0.

- Docket termination of the town solicitor’s contract for consideration at the next council meeting: Passed 6–0.

- Docket removal of the council president for consideration at the next council meeting: Passed 6–0.

- Docket motion to commission a forensic audit of unredacted invoices from Stephen J. Angel law firm (once invoices are returned to town custody): Passed 6–0; council requested cost information before any award.

- Approve transfer of Class B liquor license and victualing license (conditional on completion of town and fire department requirements and state approvals): Passed 6–0.

- Approve substitute ordinance for tax stabilization (Ordinance 2025‑20): Passed 6–0.

- Approve substitute A and conditional zone change for Ordinance 2025‑19 (Center of New England, amended to add walk‑in/urgent care language): Passed 6–0.

- Release bond for Cedar Creek Phase 2 in the amount of $18,373.43 (developer payment): Passed 6–0.

- Approve September 9 executive session minutes: Passed 6–0.

- Accept documents submitted by a resident (Scott Guthrie) into the public record: Passed 6–0.

- Motion to add certain documents (submitted from outside jurisdictions) to the clerk's record for comparison: Passed 6–0.

Not passed / no final action taken at this meeting:

- Approval of July open‑session meeting minutes: Roll call showed 3 in favor and 3 abstentions; the motion did not carry as recorded.

Ending

Council members emphasized that several of the approved items were procedural (docketing for future consideration) and that actual personnel actions and appropriations would require formal votes at future noticed meetings.","A compact reference to motions and final outcomes recorded during the Coventry Town Council meeting, including votes on rules, personnel docketing, licenses, ordinances and resolutions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves zone change for 220‑unit Center of New England project after stormwater and affordable‑housing debate

Coventry council restores public comment, dockets removal of president and solicitor, and seeks forensic audit of invoices

Votes at a glance: Coventry council meeting — key motions and outcomes