Cranston planners approve variance and waivers for 1016 Park Avenue event venue; preliminary plan vote continued

The Cranston City Plan Commission approved relief to allow a change of use at 1016 Park Avenue from a dance studio to an event venue, granting a variance for one off‑street parking space and waivers for sidewalks, curbing and landscaping; the commission continued a final preliminary‑plan vote to the June 2 meeting so the item can be properly advertised.

Planning staff presented the proposal and staff findings, telling the commission the request is “minimal in nature” because the site provides most necessary parking onsite and benefits from proximate public parking. Staff explained the proposal includes 35 seats, which under the parking standard would normally require 12 spaces; staff counted existing and nearby on‑site spaces and noted an overflow agreement with the adjacent property at 1020 Park Avenue. The presentation also noted ADA access via a platform lift and that fire and other code items would be confirmed at building permit review.

Applicants Jenny Alcantara (representing Latino Tax) and owner Katherine Gomez addressed the commission and provided a letter from neighboring owner Matt Fornier granting indefinite permission to use overflow parking on the adjacent lot. Planning staff confirmed they had the letter in the file.

Commissioners voted in two voice votes to (1) grant the variance for one off‑street parking space based on the staff findings and (2) approve the requested waivers for sidewalks, curbing and landscaping under Unified Development Review. After debate about filing classification and notice, the solicitor advised that the preliminary‑plan vote had not been explicitly posted for tonight; the commission voted to continue the preliminary‑plan action to the June 2 meeting so the posting can be corrected. Commissioner Carrero recorded an abstention from the continuance vote, citing absence for part of the discussion.

The commission and staff described the file as a Development Plan Review (DPR) application that required a variance; a memorandum typo that labeled the filing a “minor subdivision” was acknowledged and corrected on the record. Staff emphasized that technical code items such as fire alarm specifications would be addressed at the building‑permit stage rather than as conditions of the UDR approval.

Next step: the applicant may proceed with building permit submittals for building and fire code compliance, and the commission will consider the advertised preliminary‑plan vote at its June 2 meeting.