Planning Board approves modified Whipple Woods preliminary plan with conditions

The Smithfield Planning Board approved a modified preliminary plan for the Whipple Woods project (Plat 43, Lot 63) on Sept. 19, 2024, permitting two 15,000‑square‑foot mixed‑use buildings with retail frontage and rear flex/trade space.

Joe Casale, a registered professional engineer for the applicant, told the board the revised design replaces a previously approved larger mixed‑use building and reduces site infrastructure costs by alleviating retaining walls. Casale said each new building would contain roughly 12 flex units of about 1,250 square feet each, and that the plan provides 48 parking spaces where code requires 30, including required ADA spaces. He said drainage would push stormwater west and that final approvals would be contingent on required permits from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (DOT), and any sewer or other state permits.

Board members asked about elevations, driveway location, fire access and retaining walls; Casale said the new layout reduces retaining‑wall needs and that fire access will meet town standards. After a brief public comment period with no objections, a motion to approve the modified preliminary plan passed and the board authorized the town planner to prepare a written decision consistent with the board’s findings and to handle final plan approval administratively.

The decision includes conditions that the applicant obtain required state permits and satisfy engineering review before final plan sign‑off. The board recorded its approval by voice vote; the motion was moved, seconded and carried (ayes).

Next steps: the applicant must secure DEM and DOT permits and complete any town administrative final‑plan steps before construction work may proceed.