Planning board approves master plan for proposed Greenville Road gas station after public hearing; signage variance withdrawn

The North Smithfield Planning Board on Thursday approved a master plan and associated variances for a proposed gas station and convenience store at 3 Greenville Road, but the applicant withdrew a request for larger freestanding and canopy signage to return with more detail.

Applicant Elizabeth Noonan, an attorney for the owner, and project engineer Philip Henry told the board the site is under an acre and the plan calls for a 3,400-square-foot convenience store, four fuel dispensers (eight fueling positions), 23 parking spaces and a drive-through coffee window. Henry said the design reduces impervious area compared with existing conditions and includes a rebuilt retaining wall, pedestrian access and sidewalk improvements at the intersection.

Traffic and public-safety concerns dominated much of the hearing. Traffic consultant Robert Michaud said the project would generate a modest number of new trips because many customers are "pass-by" drivers already using the intersection, and RIDOT had not recommended restricting left turns from the driveway. He told the board the signalized intersection currently operates at acceptable levels of service and that the proposed site would be similar to an existing nearby gas station in overall traffic generation.

Local residents and nearby business representatives urged caution. Claire O'Hara, a nearby resident who said she was born in the neighborhood, called the intersection "the most dangerous area in North Smithfield" and urged more pedestrian improvements and safety measures. A representative of CT Gas, the existing station across Smithfield Road, told the board the intersection already has "countless accidents" and raised concerns about contamination risks from underground storage tanks and the local market's capacity for another gas station.

Board action and conditions: The applicant requested multiple zoning variances included in the UDR package. The board voted to adopt the planning department's recommendations and grant the zoning relief requested except for the sign variance, which the applicant later withdrew without prejudice and said the team would return with a revised sign package. The board then approved the master plan with the planner's recommended stipulations, including: - All state permits issued prior to final approval (RIDEM, RIPDES, RIDOT permits as applicable). - Water and sewer approvals from the town and Woonsocket Water prior to final approval. - Installation of adequate fire protection (hydrants/FDC) subject to Fire Department review. - Dark-sky-compliant exterior lighting and a site-specific landscape plan by a RI-registered landscape architect. - Soil and sediment control and an excavation/construction plan addressing dust, vibration and construction hours. - Sidewalks and concrete curbing along Greenville Road (Route 104) and Smithfield Road (Route 146A) except at required curb cuts.

Why it matters: The project sits at a busy intersection and would alter site circulation, driveway geometry and pedestrian access; board members and residents pressed the applicant for additional analysis and design detail on sight lines, snow storage, stormwater controls and landscaping.

Next steps: The applicant will revise the signage proposal and move forward through preliminary and final plan stages after securing required state permits and utility approvals. The board recorded roll-call votes on variances, the signage withdrawal and master-plan approval.