Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Conservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Block Island Land Trust seeks pre‑application clearance for Ball Farm minor subdivision; board outlines application steps
Summary
The Block Island Land Trust presented a pre‑application to subdivide a 24‑acre farm into a 3‑acre lot with the existing house and a remaining conserved parcel; the planning board advised the trust to file formal zoning and planning applications addressing frontage and access relief.
NEW SHOREHAM — The Block Island Land Trust presented a minor‑subdivision pre‑application April 9 to divide the approximately 24‑acre Ball Farm into a roughly 3‑acre lot containing the existing house and a remaining approximately 20‑acre parcel to be conserved.
Joseph Priestley, representing the land trust, told the board about existing conservation easements that cover approximately half the property and said the subdivision is required to complete the purchase agreement between the land trust and the property owners. The property currently has approximately 20 feet of frontage on Mansion Road with vehicular access provided by a long driveway; the trust proposed continuing the existing driveway as the shared access for both lots and asked the board to accept the application as a pre‑application to identify necessary zoning relief.
Planning staff and board members advised that the trust must file a formal zoning application requesting relief from frontage requirements and a planning‑board application for access/roadway modifications under the unified development review procedure. The board noted that if the larger parcel were ever developed in the future it would have to resolve frontage and site‑access matters at that time; at present the trust does not propose construction and intends to preserve the remainder of the property.
The board did not set a hearing at the pre‑application stage; staff advised the trust to prepare full application materials (zoning relief requests and planning application) and return for formal review and public hearings when the trust files the completed package.
