Coventry planners approve two‑lot subdivision at 225 Rice City Road with frontage variance

The Town of Coventry Planning Commission voted to approve a two‑lot minor subdivision for owners Donna and Cecil Moore at 225 Rice City Road and granted a dimensional variance for substandard frontage.

Commissioners heard from agent Sam Swarsa, who said the proposal splits a 21.88‑acre parcel into a 5.01‑acre lot that will retain the existing house and a new 16.87‑acre lot. Swarsa told the board Parcel B falls about 402 feet short of the 300‑foot frontage standard and the applicant therefore sought frontage relief; the applicant also requested waivers for sidewalks and curbs and offered a 50‑foot no‑cut buffer along the frontage in lieu of planting street trees. Swarsa said two soil evaluations were completed and meet state requirements.

The commission discussed the deeded 40‑foot right‑of‑way that provides access to a neighboring property and whether that easement contributes to usable frontage. Board members concluded the easement does not increase measured frontage for purposes of the zoning standard, and staff explained an abutter objection had prevented the application from qualifying for purely administrative approval even though the requested relief was modest (about 12.5 percent). Several commissioners suggested a modest redrawing of the lot line to reduce a pointed corner, but staff cautioned that altering lot geometry could require additional notice for setback relief unless it was framed as an administrative final‑plan adjustment.

After opening and closing the public hearing with no members of the public speaking, the commission voted to grant the dimensional variance and then approve the minor subdivision. Conditions of approval require strict adherence to the granted frontage variance, incorporation of the 50‑foot no‑cut buffer on final plans in lieu of street trees, and enforcement of the fair‑share development fee at the time a building permit is issued. Staff and the board indicated any minor plan redrawing should be handled administratively at final plan to avoid extra cost to the applicant.

The Planning Commission closed the item after carrying the motions.