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Planning board advances National Grid parking expansion to public hearing, approves combining master and preliminary review
Summary
The board voted to combine master and preliminary plan review and to send a parking expansion proposal for the Narragansett Electric/National Grid facility on George Washington Highway to a public hearing. Staff said the project will add roughly 193 parking spaces, stormwater controls and landscaping; required DEM and physical alteration permits remain outstanding.
The Lincoln Planning Board voted Jan. 28 to combine master and preliminary review and to send a proposal by the Narragansett Electric Company (National Grid) for a parking expansion at its George Washington Highway facility to a public hearing.
Planning staff described the project as a major land development to reconfigure existing stalls and add roughly 193 parking spaces (plus five handicap spaces) across four lots (642, 644, 646 and 648 George Washington Highway), add perimeter fencing and gates, install lighting and landscaping, and construct stormwater management features. Staff said no increase in personnel or regular traffic is expected and that some work has already received a freshwater wetlands permit; the applicant will need a DEM stormwater permit, a RIOT physical alteration permit for work in the right of way, soil erosion and sediment control approval, and a remediation bond for one front lot where contamination was identified.
Applicant counsel George Watson said the 642 property is a longstanding service and storm‑response facility and that the plan is intended to improve circulation and equipment storage; he emphasized the proposal is not intended to add employees. Board members questioned tree clearing, screening along the highway, lighting orientation and stormwater impacts; the applicant said a proposed tree line will provide screening and that lighting will be dimmed between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., with motion activation for some fixtures. Staff and the TRC requested spot grading and stormwater details to ensure runoff to adjacent properties is not worsened.
On a motion by Mr. London, seconded by Mr. Seymour, the board voted to combine master and preliminary review; the vote passed by voice. The board then voted to move the consolidated application to a public hearing at the next planning meeting. Staff said outstanding permit submissions (DEM, DOT, and other state approvals) can be filed at final plan and that construction will not proceed without those permits.
The board asked the applicant to preserve significant trees where practical and to provide the requested stormwater detail as part of the public‑hearing package. The applicant acknowledged remediation work on one front lot and said paving can serve as an acceptable cover once remediation is complete.
Next steps: the application will be placed on the agenda for the next planning board meeting as a public hearing and the applicant must submit the outstanding state permits and the TRC‑requested stormwater grading information.
