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Board requires environmental screening, grants limited waivers for Eagleville tradesman center
Summary
The board heard a proposal for an 18,000 sq ft tradesman center at 222 Eagleville Road and approved a conditional waiver strategy: OWTS permit deferred until final plan, fire‑department water adequacy waiver granted (4–1), and the board required an environmental screening in place of a full Phase I/II ESA before final decision.
Bo Acres, counsel for ECC Eagleville LLC, presented a major‑land‑development application for an 18,000‑square‑foot tradesman center at 222 Eagleville Road in the industrial zone. The applicant proposed up to 60 parking spaces and a mixed use of small offices and trade bays. The board questioned potential future uses, and the applicant emphasized municipal and state permitting (building, fire, DEM freshwater wetlands, OWTS) as additional checks on uses and public safety.
Traffic consultant Herman Peralta (Park) testified that the highest‑intensity scenario would generate approximately 35 peak‑hour trips and that sight lines and intersection geometry exceed minimum requirements; he concluded the project would not trigger RIDOT thresholds for a full traffic study.
Civil engineer Lynn Small described subsurface, lined stormwater treatment, septic design and truck‑turning exhibits and said the site will provide paved fire circulation. The applicant requested several waivers including an OWTS determination prior to master plan, a pre‑master‑plan fire‑department confirmation of water adequacy, and waivers of Phase I/II environmental site assessments (ESAs). The planning board voted on the waiver requests as follows:
- OWTS checklist waiver: board granted the waiver and required the OWTS permit at final plan (unanimous vote). - Fire‑department water adequacy checklist waiver: board granted the waiver with the requirement the water adequacy be confirmed at final plan; the vote passed 4–1. - Environmental site assessment (Phase I/II) waiver: the board declined to fully waive ESAs. Instead it required an "environmental screening" (a focused desktop/site history review) to be completed and reviewed by Weston & Samson; should the screening indicate potential contamination, the board specified that additional studies must follow. The applicant agreed to provide the screening in a short timetable so the board can take up decision at a July hearing.
The board continued the matter to the July 7 meeting and extended the statutory time clock to July 30 to accommodate the environmental screening and DEM coordination.
What happens next: Applicant will submit the environmental screening and outstanding technical memos (fire memo, updated site plans) for review by Weston & Samson and the planning office. The board will consider the screening results and any required follow‑up studies before final approval.
