Planning Board defers decision on Payne Road home; staff to review infrastructure and return next month

An application by David Russa to replace an older house on Payne Road with a new timber-frame single-family dwelling was discussed in detail by the New Shoreham Planning Board on July 9. Board members did not vote on the proposal and instructed town planning staff to review the project and report back at the next meeting.

The project team presented that the existing house, occupied by Russa since the early 1960s, has significant mold and water damage. The proposed home is a two-story timber-frame design of roughly the same footprint as the existing house and would contain three bedrooms (the existing house has five bedrooms). The design work was presented by Sarah Heights, architect and project manager for South County Post & Beam; civil-engineering and site-infrastructure details were presented by Seth Lemoine of Principia Engineering. Cole Bruce was present representing the applicant.

Key technical details presented to the board included: the house will move slightly north on the lot to meet current zoning setbacks; the site has Category A (gravel) soils and a proposed underground infiltration stormwater system designed to exceed local and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management standards; the design is expected to reduce runoff from current conditions; sewer service will connect to public sewer via a pressure force system with an E/1 grinder pump outside the structure; and a one-inch water service will connect to an existing service lateral at Payne Road. The plans show a walkout basement and limited grading, with two small retaining walls. Estimated retaining-wall heights near the foundation were described as up to 5 feet, tapering to zero toward the setback line.

Board members flagged items for further review: a landscaping plan was not provided (applicants said landscape planting would be minimal and the rear yard left largely as-is); the town’s forthcoming lighting ordinance may affect proposed exterior lighting; and the board asked the engineer to review final grading to potentially reduce retaining-wall height. Town planner Peter was asked to provide a written assessment of the project’s pluses and minuses within two weeks, and the board indicated the matter would return for a vote at the next meeting. The applicants said they are scheduled before the Zoning Board in August, which the applicant expects will proceed in the normal course.

No formal approvals were granted on July 9; the board treated the item as a discussion with direction to staff to perform additional review.