The Smithfield Planning Board approved the preliminary major land development plan for the Windsor Apartments at its Oct. 23 special meeting, with a stipulation that town planning staff participate in any Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) discussions or meetings on traffic and pedestrian safety at the Route 44 and Pleasant View intersection.

The board advanced the application so the applicant could proceed with state funding applications, including a state housing bond and low-income housing tax credit submissions. Kelly Morris Salvatore, counsel for the applicant, told the board: "The applicant has nothing else to add." Barbara (application preparer, So Close Associates, Providence, R.I.) said the team will apply for low-income housing tax credits and that "the rest will be, state funds for the most part, many of which come through the federal government."

Board members and members of the public raised traffic and pedestrian safety concerns tied to the project site on Route 44, including how pedestrians would cross to reach the nearby library. Town staff and the applicant discussed a series of traffic reviews: the applicant's traffic counts were taken while school was in session (the applicant said the study was completed around June); a peer review was completed in September; and a final peer-review letter was submitted the week before the Oct. 23 meeting. The planning board's motion requires the planning department to participate, if possible, either by letter or in-person at any RIDOT meeting about the Windsor/Route 44/Pleasant View traffic issues.

A planning board member said for informational purposes that the member and a senator would contact RIDOT to ask about installing a crosswalk on Route 44. Town planning staff said they would include pedestrian and traffic concerns in the town's letter for the physical alteration permit application and that the town engineer would participate if RIDOT convenes a meeting.

The board's approval occurred after the chair confirmed public comment had been closed at earlier hearings in August, September and in the week before the decision meeting. The matter was heard as a decision-only item; public testimony had been taken during prior hearings. No formal roll-call vote tally was recorded in the meeting transcript; the chair announced, "All in favor The the ayes have it," and the motion was carried.

What happens next: the applicant may file for state funding rounds and a physical alteration permit with RIDOT. The planning board stipulated staff involvement in any RIDOT discussions but did not require specific design changes; RIDOT will determine whether changes — including a left-turn prohibition on the side street or pedestrian-crossing improvements — are appropriate.

The planning board also noted the project's funding timeline influenced the decision; the applicant said the state housing bond application timeline requires an early-December submission and so requested a decision at the Oct. 23 meeting.