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Planning board continues Pound Hill Realty zone-change hearing to June 10
Summary
The North Smithfield Planning Board voted to continue the Pound Hill Realty LLC zone-change application to June 10 after the town requested a peer review of the applicant's consultant reports; the board also agreed to accept limited public comment and asked the applicant to provide resumes and supporting data.
The North Smithfield Planning Board voted unanimously to continue the zone-change application from Pound Hill Realty LLC to the June 10 planning-board meeting after the town council requested and the applicant agreed to fund a peer review of consultant materials.
The continuance will allow the planning office and third-party experts identified by the town to review studies and reports submitted by the applicant before the planning board makes a recommendation to the town council. "We're simply requesting a ... continuance to the June planning board meeting," said Charles Redaghan, speaking on behalf of the applicant.
Why this matters: the board's recommendation on consistency with the town's comprehensive plan is advisory to the council and often shapes conditions attached to any zone change. The council asked that the applicant pay for a peer review; the planning office said it will solicit qualified experts once the applicant provides resumes.
Planning staff said the application has been before the board at two prior meetings and that the requested peer review prompted the continuance recommendation. Planner Mark advised the board to continue to June so experts could submit findings and, if needed, present testimony; he also said the applicant had previously submitted a comprehensive plan consistency review and that the original expert who testified should be expected back to present to the board.
Public comment at the reopened hearing included concerns about quarry operations that some speakers connected to the application. Richard Grove, who identified himself as a North Smithfield resident, asked whether the quarry was operating early in the morning and raised questions about truck volumes and tax benefits to the town. "I became interested in what's going on with the quarry," Grove said, and noted he had received a video he said showed early-morning noise from the site. Planning staff said they had not received written responses from the applicant on several specific questions and that they would re-send the board's request for clarification. Staff also recommended that residents concerned about potential ordinance violations contact the police department for enforcement.
Formal action: the board approved the continuance by roll call. The chair, Dr. Roberts, Mr. Porter, Ms. Menard and Ms. Dozier all voted yes; the motion to continue to a date certain of June 10 carried.
Next steps: the planning office will expect the applicant to provide expert resumes and any presentation materials in advance so peer reviewers and the public can review them before the June meeting. The board noted it may limit the scope of public comment during the continuation to ensure questions are appropriate for the hearing and to reserve substantive replies for future meetings when experts are present.
No final decision on the zone-change application was made; the continuance preserves the record and schedules further review ahead of a future public hearing.
