Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning board grants preliminary approval for 525 Broadway workforce-housing project with conditions
Summary
The Newport Planning Board approved variances, a category‑1 special‑use permit and preliminary development plan review for a proposed 38‑unit workforce housing project at 525 Broadway, conditioning approval on TRC/staff final review and measures including 12‑month leases, deeded guest parking, transit improvements and TRC recommendations.
The Newport Planning Board voted to grant preliminary approval for a 38‑unit workforce housing development at 525 Broadway, finding the applicant addressed the standards for zoning relief and special‑use review. Attorney Matt Lees, representing the applicant, told the board the project responds to a citywide shortage of workforce housing and noted the technical review committee and the city engineer recommended the plan.
"The city has a workforce housing crisis," Lees said in his closing remarks, arguing the proposal would provide 1‑bedroom units targeted to workers "who can't find housing now." The board's approval is contingent on final TRC and staff review and several conditions the board adopted during deliberations.
Key conditions attached to approval require the applicant to restrict leases to a minimum of 12 months and prohibit subleasing; provide at least five deeded guest parking spaces on the abutting church lot and make reasonable efforts to secure five guest spaces at the Cranston Calvert property; continue coordination with the city engineer on stormwater and traffic details; pursue reasonable efforts with Middletown to add parking on the parcel that lies in that jurisdiction; and meet all recommendations in the TRC memorandum. The board also asked the applicant to pursue transit improvements and EV charging options.
Traffic engineer Todd Brayton testified for the applicant that sketches and field observations show sufficient room for southbound vehicles to bypass a car making a left into the driveway and that proposed signing and lane‑marking changes would improve safety. Brayton recommended three measures: a speed‑feedback sign near 1‑Mile Corner, clearer lane‑drop pavement markings, and shifting an edge line/removing cross‑hatch striping to increase passing space. The board included coordination on those improvements as a condition to be finalized with the city engineer and TRC.
The board voted orally (voice vote) to approve the variances, the special‑use permit and preliminary development plan review; the motions passed with the board indicating "the ayes have it." The approvals are administrative contingent on positive TRC recommendation and final administrative plan approval. The applicant and staff will return with final plan sets reflecting the conditions for administrative sign‑off.
