Planning board denies artificial turf application for Burrillville high school field; town council weighing next steps

The Burrillville School Committee on May 13 received an update that the planning board did not approve the application to install an artificial field at Burrillville High School, and that the town council met in executive session to discuss next steps, including possible legal action or resubmission to the planning board.

A committee member described the planning board decision as a denial of the application and said the town council met in executive session last week to consider legal options or resubmission. Committee members said the status of the project remains unclear pending additional information from the planning board and town council.

During the discussion some committee members noted uncertainty about whether the proposal originally required planning-board review because the artificial surface was proposed to replace an existing field. One committee member said their understanding was that the project was taken to the planning board after a court restraining order was lifted; they said the planning board then denied the application. No detailed reasons for the planning-board denial were provided in the committee discussion.

The committee asked administration to seek clarity from the planning board and report back. Until the planning board provides formal reasons for denial or the town council decides a course of action, committee members said, the artificial-field project remains on hold.