Newport planning board certifies CDBG project list, schedules continuations for waterfront lots

The Newport Planning Board on Monday certified a list of projects the city will include in its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) competitive application, determining the proposed activities are not in conflict with the city’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

The action, taken by unanimous voice vote, clears a slate of community proposals for the competitive round that includes park improvements at the north end of town, operating support for the McKinney shelter, security upgrades at Newport Housing Authority properties, and a request for dental equipment by East Bay Community Action Program. The board also recorded that the Boys & Girls Club will not apply in this funding round.

Robert Plain, a consultant with Church Community Housing Corporation, told the board the city would seek $800,000 for improvements to the north-end park that would add a skate park, a basketball court, drinking fountains (bubblers), restrooms and shade structures. “The town would like to apply for $800,000 to add bubblers, bathrooms, and kind of like a shade awning to that park,” Plain said.

Plain described other submissions the city will sponsor as applicant: operating support for the McKinney shelter (presenter described this as approximately the amount that would cover staff costs for about one year), a security upgrade request for the Newport Housing Authority, and a $40,000 request for dental equipment for East Bay Community Action Program. At one point a board member and the presenter disagreed briefly over the Housing Authority figure—one document was read as $315,000 while others cited $500,000—before staff said the staff-report numbers were correct.

Board members confirmed that the Boys & Girls Club would not apply in this round and agreed that the home-repair program is handled under a separate, rolling application process; the planning board does not have to certify the rolling home-repair round at this time.

The board’s role in the vote was limited to determining whether the proposed CDBG activities conflict with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Planning staff reminded members that certification does not require the board to endorse projects as the best use of funds; it only asks whether the activities are consistent with the plan’s policies.

Votes at a glance - Approval of April 7 meeting minutes — approved by voice vote. - Motion to move agenda items B, C and D ahead of item A — approved by voice vote. - Continued public hearing/special meeting set for Waits Wharf North Lot to May 15 at 6:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers — approved by voice vote. - Continued public hearing/special meeting set for Waits Wharf Hotel Southlot to May 15 at 6:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers — approved by voice vote. - Petition of Aaron Flynn (7 Seaview Ave) to amend the Future Land Use Map — continued to June 2 planning board meeting — approved by voice vote. - Motion to adopt staff report as findings of fact — approved by voice vote. - Motion that the planning board certify the FY2024 (competitive round) proposed activities are not in conflict with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan — approved by unanimous voice vote.

What the board certified and next steps The certifications allow those project proposals to remain in the city’s competitive CDBG application packet. Staff said the city will serve as applicant for projects submitted by nonprofit and public partners and that a second public hearing is required at the City Council level before final submission. Projects in the competitive round face a May 20 application deadline; the home-repair program uses a separate rolling deadline.

Several board members commented during the review that the items listed in the staff report are not in conflict with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan’s goals and policies for open space, public services and affordable housing maintenance. The board adopted the staff report findings of fact before voting to certify.

The board did not make funding awards; certification is a procedural step required to confirm projects are consistent with local planning policy before they move forward in the state grant process.