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Planning board unanimously approves variances and special‑use permit for Gerard Avenue addition
Summary
The Newport Planning Board granted dimensional variances, a category‑1 special‑use permit and preliminary development‑plan approval for a four‑unit addition at 102–108 Gerard Avenue, subject to staff conditions including stormwater review, accessible sidewalks, bike racks and EV conduit.
The Newport Planning Board unanimously approved dimensional variances, a category‑1 special‑use permit and preliminary development‑plan approval for an addition at 102–108 Gerard Avenue that will add four long‑term rental units, one of which will be ADA‑compliant.
The board opened the unified development review hearing after the applicant’s attorney, Jay Lynch, summarized the request. "We are asking to put an addition onto the westernmost building that will house 4 additional rental units," Lynch said, adding that one unit will be senior/ADA compliant and the project includes an elevator. Lynch reviewed the project's approvals and changes dating to 2017 and told the board the project had received a favorable TRC (technical review committee) recommendation for stormwater measures and utilities coordination.
Board members focused questions on sidewalks, a crosswalk to the public sidewalk across Girard Avenue, parking layout, and accessible parking for senior or ADA units. A committee member urged that "any housing designated for seniors should have a parking space designated close by for them." Lynch said the applicant would ensure accessible parking “immediately adjacent to the building” and agreed to work with traffic engineering on the crosswalk location.
Staff and the board also discussed parking, bike racks and EV readiness. The TRC memo required bike racks within 100 feet of building entrances; the applicant agreed to include racks on the final plan. The board added a condition that conduit for EV charging be provided in the final plan and that the building be verified as compliant with the 2024 energy code by the building official.
The staff report recommended conditional approval. The board first voted to adopt the staff report as findings of fact and then unanimously approved the three dimensional variances (setback to 6 feet from the south property line, lot coverage increase to 22 percent, and parking relief tied to the site’s prior configuration), subject to the staff conditions and final administrative review. The board then voted unanimously to grant the category‑1 special‑use permit for multifamily housing in the R‑10 district, also contingent on meeting the staff conditions.
In granting preliminary development‑plan approval, the board included conditions that final plans be approved by the administrative officer, that no leases be shorter than 12 months with an exception for active‑duty or reserve military service, and that final stormwater plans receive utilities department approval. The board’s actions leave technical details to staff review and require the applicant to file final development plans that incorporate the agreed conditions.
Next steps: the applicant must submit final development plans and obtain administrative approval; staff will coordinate stormwater, traffic/crosswalk placement and final energy/code verifications.
