Council delays approval of proposed pole placements, asks town planner to convene Rhode Island Energy and Green Development

The council took up an unfinished-business item involving a petition (WR30991383) by Rhode Island Energy and related parties to install joint pole sets along Shannock Hill Road and Chinook Hill Road. Town planner/solicitor Talia (speaker 11) told the council that some poles proposed by applicants differed from the locations and utility method shown on the plans that were reviewed for wetlands permitting and zoning approvals. That discrepancy raised questions about whether a new special-use permit or zoning-board review would be required.

Denise Giuchimo, project manager for Rhode Island Energy (speaker 12), joined remotely and said the permits she has seen show the three additional pole sets as overhead and that the permits for Chinook Hill Road have not changed since July. Attorney George Watson (speaker 13), representing Rhode Island Energy, said replacement poles often are not part of wetlands permits when they replace existing poles, and he urged the town to engage with the parties to sort the record.

Several council members said poles installed by third parties (Green Development) and changes in pole placement warrant a face-to-face review of engineering plans. The council voted to withhold approval of the pole positions until the town planner meets with Rhode Island Energy and Green Development and the parties resolve differences. The planner and Rhode Island Energy agreed to follow up; the council said it would not approve poll positions until the town planner confirms resolution.