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Coventry review raises drainage, traffic concerns for proposed Arnold Road commercial pre‑application
Summary
At its Jan. 8 meeting the Coventry Conservation Commission reviewed a commercial pre‑application for property at Arnold Road/New London Turnpike near Lake Tioga, flagged potential stormwater, grading and traffic impacts and noted the project goes to a technical review on Jan. 18; public comments must be submitted in writing.
At its Jan. 8 meeting, the Coventry Conservation Commission reviewed a developer pre‑application for two parcels at Arnold Road and New London Turnpike near Lake Tioga and raised multiple technical concerns about stormwater, grading and traffic.
Commission members said the proposal — shown on the pre‑application as commercial uses including restaurants and a coffee shop across from a Cumberland Farms — covers about 17 acres and appears heavily paved, which would produce large runoff volumes in design storms. "If this is all paved, that means…every bit of runoff," a commission member said during the meeting.
Commissioners and staff pressed several technical points. They noted the site plan includes detention basins but questioned whether the basins and proposed drainage would handle runoff from an assumed design storm (commission discussion referenced a 6‑inch, 24‑hour design standard used by contemporary designers). Members also pointed to steep topography on the site (a roughly 15‑foot differential in places), large anticipated cut or fill operations, and the proximity of existing drainage paths that ultimately feed toward Lake Tioga. One participant said a full traffic study will be required because the development abuts a state roadway.
The pre‑application is being routed to the town's technical review committee for comment on Jan. 18. Commission members explained that the technical review meeting is a departmental review (heads of planning, engineering, public works, fire and police) and that the planning commission chair has conflict restrictions and does not attend technical review sessions. The meeting reminder states public comment is not taken in person at the technical review; written comments are accepted in advance. Staff gave an email contact for written comments (dudmcclain@coventryri.gov) and said the planning office can forward submissions to the reviewer list.
Commissioners discussed the procedural path ahead: the project will also require additional permits and code actions beyond technical review. The group noted the developer is pursuing changes that will require town council action (code changes/variances) in addition to planning commission review; the commission said a state DOT permit may also be needed depending on whether the roadway is a state highway.
Members urged careful review of runoff calculations, detention sizing and whether percolation (dry wells) or direct discharge plans are proposed, and emphasized uncertainty about where runoff will ultimately drain. A commission member suggested drafting written comments; another recommended filing comments from individuals rather than the conservation commission because the technical review step does not accept in‑person public testimony.
Next steps: the commission will monitor the Jan. 18 technical review and members said they would consider submitting written comments to the planning staff in advance of that meeting. No formal commission endorsement of a position on the pre‑application was recorded at the Jan. 8 meeting.
