Warren council refers 51 Cole Street rezoning request to planning board, schedules June public hearing

The Warren Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday to refer a petition to rezone 51 Cole Street from Manufacturing to Village Business to the town planning board and to schedule a public hearing in June.

Michael Monti of Sayreid & Thayer, representing applicant Whip LLC, told the council the property is “less than a tenth of a mile west” of the town center and that the town’s comprehensive land use plan already identifies the parcel for mixed-use. He asked the council to refer the petition so the planning board can determine whether the rezoning is consistent with the plan.

The council’s referral motion and a separate motion to place the matter on the June agenda for a public hearing both passed after brief discussion. Vice President Carrie Cronin and other members supported sending the petition to the planning board; the council asked the applicant to provide required public-notice costs. One council member stated they did not support requiring the applicant to pay the notice costs.

If the planning board issues a recommendation supportive of rezoning, the council will receive that recommendation and hold the June public hearing. The applicant is responsible for arranging and funding required public notice and advertising, per the council’s direction.

The planning board review is a procedural step; no zoning change was enacted by Tuesday’s vote. The council advised the town clerk to coordinate proper notice and the planning board schedule so the item can return for the public hearing in June.