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Residents press council over mulch piles after lawn‑beauticians fire; business says it holds DEM permit
Summary
Residents raised safety concerns about tall mulch and soil piles at a local landscaping site and asked for distance rules; the operator and several council members said the site holds a DEM composting permit and administration reported current compliance while agreeing to request reduced pile sizes.
Cranston — Several residents and council members pressed the council on Nov. 17 about safety risks from large mulch and soil piles at a lawn‑maintenance business following a fire about a year ago.
Carol Cooney (8 Eva Lane) told the council she photographed piles near a tree line and asked whether the city could adopt an ordinance to require a safe distance between such piles and vegetation. "My concern is... the safety issue is still present," Cooney said, and offered photos that the council entered into the record.
David Moyo, speaking for Lawn Beauticians/New England Mulching (460 Natick Ave.), said the site operates under a Department of Environmental Management composting permit, that piles are typically "only as high as the loader goes" (about 10–12 feet), and that compost operations and mulch are located toward the middle of the property rather than adjacent to residential property lines.
Several council members pressed for clarity on compliance. Councilwoman Graziano said aerial photos suggested operations had expanded and that some piles appeared higher than 12 feet; she urged the zoning and inspections offices to confirm permit status and compliance with DEM windrow/composting rules.
An administration representative reported that city inspections had visited the site multiple times and that, "as far as the city is concerned, Lawn Beauticians... is in compliance" with DEM; the administration said it would report back if compliance changed and that the company had agreed to reduce mulch pile sizes.
The council did not adopt new regulations at the meeting but asked for follow‑up from inspections and planning staff; council members said they expect the administration to report back with permit documentation and any recommended enforcement action if warranted.
