Planning board reviews Rainforest Realty concept for 48-unit affordable housing on Douglas Pike

The Smithfield Talent Planning Board held a concept-plan review in July 2025 for Rainforest Realty LLC’s proposal to build 48 units across 24 duplex buildings on a roughly 14.6-acre site at 435–445 Douglas Pike. The developer said 12 of the 48 units (25%) would be designated low- and moderate-income (80–120% area median income) under comprehensive permit procedures.

Attorney Michael Monti of Segregan & Fayer presented the concept and said the property contains significant wetlands on the southern portion of the parcel, limiting developable area. Monti said the site could theoretically support as many as 73 units under a full-density calculation, but wetlands and steep slopes constrain the workable footprint to the north where the project is concentrated. “We would actually be entitled to 73 units, if the site could allow for it. But because so much of the southern site is wetland, we're actually constrained,” Monti said.

Engineer Lynn Small of Northeast Engineers told the board the team has completed boundary and topographic surveys, wetland flagging and soils work; she said the concept shows a 24-foot-wide internal loop road, community septic systems (three or four community leach fields under consideration), and parking distributed throughout the site. Small said septic sizing and groundwater conditions were limiting factors and described plans for stormwater treatment and mitigation before discharge to adjacent wetlands.

Landscape architect Pamela Rogers said the design aims to retain the site’s rural character, preserve a mature linden tree identified for protection, and add a walking path and modest entry landscaping. Board members urged the team to prioritize single-story units hidden from the state highway, increase planting and buffering between buildings, and consider limiting units to two bedrooms because the proposed septic sizing and the anticipated school enrollments were concerns for several members.

Public commenters raised drainage, flooding and school-capacity concerns. Jen Schafer, a nearby resident, said her neighborhood already experiences repeated yard and basement flooding and asked how additional development could affect neighbors’ groundwater and stormwater. Another commenter noted a small historic cemetery on the north side of the site that should be preserved. Several residents asked about sidewalks and pedestrian access; the applicant said a walking path internal to the site is planned and sidewalk/crossing connections are under discussion.

Board members’ feedback focused on three areas: (1) the project’s constrained developable acreage and community septic approach, (2) the need for clearer engineering data on developable acreage, unit footprints and septic sizing, and (3) design details to preserve the rural character (single-story units, tree buffering and preserved open space). The applicant said it will obtain a letter of eligibility from Rhode Island Housing on the affordable-housing component and expects to return for a preliminary-plan application after incorporating board feedback.

No vote was taken on the concept plan; the session was a pre-application review and public comment opportunity. The board asked the team to provide additional engineering details, septic sizing and precise developable-acreage calculations at the next submission.