Planning board reviews Marshall Platt pre‑application, discusses reinstatement and town land swap

The North Smithfield Planning Board conducted a pre‑application concept review for the Marshall Platt subdivision at 55 Greenville Road, where the applicant proposed subdividing a parcel to create four new lots while retaining the majority of the original property.

Scott Partington, speaking for the applicant, said the current proposal is “essentially the same plan” as the one the board approved in February 2021 but that statutory changes now classify similar proposals as minor subdivisions. He told the board the only unresolved detail from the prior process was how the applicant would obtain a narrow strip of town‑owned land at the corner of Village Way and Greenville Road that the applicant previously planned to merge with an adjacent lot to achieve full frontage.

Mark Carrillo, the town planner, told the board a reinstatement of the earlier approval would not necessarily advance the application under the new statute because the development would now be reviewed as a minor subdivision at preliminary. The board discussed two routes: pursue a reinstatement and seek town council action to transfer or swap the small town‑owned parcel, or proceed under the new rules and request dimensional relief for a very small frontage deficiency if the council declines to transfer the strip.

Board members asked for clarification about the small town parcel identified in the discussion as Lot 173. Applicant representatives said the frontage shortfall for the proposed corner lot appeared to be “a very, very minor bit of frontage,” estimated in discussion at about three to four feet on the plan as presented. Partington and the applicant’s design consultant said acquiring the town parcel would make the proposed lot fully conforming; if the council would not relinquish the parcel, the applicant could seek a very minor dimensional variance or an administrative modification under town rules.

The board did not take formal action. Members asked the applicant and solicitor to confer with town staff and the town council to determine whether a reinstatement with a referral to the council is advisable or whether the applicant should submit a new preliminary application under the current statute. Planner Carrillo and the applicant’s attorney agreed to a conference call to resolve whether to file for reinstatement or a new application, and to return with a clearer procedural path.

If the applicant pursues reinstatement, the board noted, some findings and recommendations previously made would still be relevant, but any council decision about transferring the small town parcel could alter whether final subdivision approval requires minor dimensional relief or a new zoning determination.