Narragansett council holds work session to interview five candidates for zoning board seats

The Narragansett Town Council held a work session to interview five candidates for one full member seat and two alternate seats on the town zoning board. Candidates interviewed included incumbent alternate John Ball and alternate Alban “Al” Keimer, and new applicants Karen Catuno, Brenda D—Orio Holder and David Trentisso. Councilors questioned applicants about streamlining local rules, the town—s relationship with state agencies and how they would weigh neighborhood character against homeowners— needs.

Candidates stressed that zoning decisions must follow the law while remaining mindful of residents— circumstances. John Ball, who said he was appointed as an alternate about a year ago and has had perfect attendance, said ``the council and the planning board are setting policy. The zoning board is really just making sure that those policies are complied with,'' and that variances should meet ``the strict letter of the law.''

Why it matters: the zoning board decides appeals and variance requests that directly affect property owners— ability to renovate or expand. Councilors and applicants discussed repeated themes: updating town ordinances to reflect state law, reducing unnecessary procedural hurdles that add time and cost, clarifying overlap with state agencies that regulate wetlands and coastal resources, and whether changes to floor-area-ratio and bulk zoning could help make housing more affordable.

Discussion highlights - Alignment with state oversight: Multiple councilors and applicants referred to the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) as the state entities that oversee coastal and freshwater-wetland rules. Applicants and councilors discussed updating local ordinances so town requirements do not duplicate or conflict with state jurisdiction. Keimer described serving as a neighbor witness for a CRMC enforcement matter that reached the state courts and said he worked with CRMC during that process. - Streamlining process and access: Several candidates recommended faster, clearer procedures and more online access to applications and records so homeowners and builders can assess permitting needs earlier. Keimer noted that some other states put applications online, making it easier for residents and applicants to see what others on a street have done. - Bulk zoning and floor-area-ratio (FAR): Councilors repeatedly raised concerns that current FAR and bulk rules can make modest home additions costly or impossible for homeowners, leading to expensive legal or design work. Candidates generally favored reviewing these rules to reduce unnecessary obstacles while preserving neighborhood character. - Affordable housing: Applicants agreed Narragansett needs more affordable options but said zoning changes alone may not be sufficient. Karen Catuno, a commercial real estate broker, said aligning ordinances with state law is "mandatory," but that developers respond to market and cost pressures; she recommended pursuing state and federal grants, tax credits and town-owned properties as tools to produce affordable housing. - Community character and enforcement: Longtime residents and applicants emphasized preserving neighborhood scale. Brenda D—Orio Holder said common-sense application of rules is important and expressed concern about investors building houses that she said do not fit existing neighborhoods.

Applicants— backgrounds and commitments - John Ball (alternate 2) — Citizen. Appointed as an alternate about one year earlier; said he has attended all meetings and voted in several cases. Committed to site visits and continuing training. - Alban "Al" Keimer (alternate 1) — Citizen. On the zoning board since May 2024 as alternate 1; described prior subcontracting work and neighborhood involvement with a CRMC enforcement matter. - Karen Catuno — Business (commercial real estate broker). Former vice chair of the Historic District Commission, law background (litigation), and recent real-estate practice addressing zoning questions for clients. - Brenda D—Orio Holder — Citizen/business (property manager). Longtime resident who emphasized common-sense decisions and concern about investor-driven projects. - David Trentisso — Citizen. Former Lincoln planning board member and school committee member; experience with site planning and multi-year permitting processes.

Process and next steps: Councilors reminded candidates that the council would not make appointments during the work session; the council planned to consider the open positions later in the evening during its regular meeting. No formal votes or motions on appointments were recorded in the interview transcript.

The interviews underscored several recurring issues the council may address if it moves to update zoning rules: reconciling local ordinances with state coastal and wetlands oversight, clarifying bulk and FAR standards in neighborhoods with small lots, improving online access to permit materials, and identifying funding pathways for affordable housing.