Planning board continues 60 Pulaski Street redevelopment amid DPW questions; traffic, sewer, pole relocations raised

The Providence Planning Board on Feb. 20 continued the site-plan review for 60 Pulaski Street after Department of Public Services (DPS) raised outstanding technical questions about sewer loading, whether grease or MDC traps would be required for future tenants, the need for a traffic peer review at the applicant’s expense, and other infrastructure constraints including pump-station capacity and utility pole relocations.

John Kelsey, attorney for the applicant, told the board that because no tenants have yet been identified the project team cannot yet determine exact sewer loading or whether grease traps will be required. Kelsey said the applicant will pay for a traffic study if DPS requires one but that a contract for the peer review had not yet been received.

DPS reviewers noted they could not determine sewer loading or I&I (inflow/infiltration) fees without additional tenant information and flagged that without a grease trap or MDC trap shown the buildings cannot host food-processing or indoor truck parking uses. Board members and staff also raised system-capacity concerns tied to a pump station on Dobbs Road and flagged two utility poles on Pulaski Street that may need relocation at the applicant’s expense to fully utilize entrances.

Several board members expressed the view that more coordination with DPS was necessary before the board should act. The applicant requested a continuance to the March 6 planning board meeting, which the board granted by motion and second.

The file now includes a DPS memorandum listing outstanding items and the applicant’s statement that it will return with traffic documentation, MDC/grease-trap designs if needed, sewer-loading calculations, and any required easement or pole-relocation plans.