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Council approves zone change to help North Providence Marketplace attract larger tenants with safeguards
Summary
The council approved a zoning map amendment for Lots 366, 367 and 434 (assessor's plat 6) to allow Commercial General uses at the North Providence Marketplace while adding a stipulation requiring council/planning notice if a big-box retailer is proposed.
The North Providence Town Council on Sept. 3 approved a zone change for parcels comprising the North Providence Marketplace to make it easier for the shopping center—s owner to lease and combine spaces.
Attorney Joe Shikachi, representing SO North Providence JV LLC, told the council the change from Commercial Village (CV) to Commercial General (CG) is intended to streamline tenant turnover and reduce time and costs for prospective lessees. He said the applicant—s goal is façade and landscaping improvements and to attract small and mid-size national tenants, not big-box retailers. "This is a way for him to attract tenants," Shikachi said, adding that the planning department and planning board gave a unanimous recommendation in favor of the application.
Neighbors raised questions about whether future owners could change the center—s character or increase traffic. Jack Ventimiglia, representing the applicant, said current plans call for interior reconfiguration and façade upgrades within the existing footprint and that some national tenants interested in combined 10,000-square-foot spaces would still be accommodated without new buildings. Kim Thompson and other residents pressed for restrictions to prevent future large-scale developments.
Council members responded by adding an explicit stipulation: if a future proposal would permit a big-box store, the owner must return to the council and planning board and notify neighbors. Councilman DiLorenzo moved to approve the amendment with that condition and the motion carried by voice vote.
The council—s action follows the planning board—s unanimous recommendation and aims to reduce regulatory delays cited by the applicant while preserving local control over any later, substantially different developments. The council did not specify a timeline for implementation beyond the map amendment.
The council recorded the vote by voice; the presiding officer announced that the ayes have it.
