Planning board approves Camp Rocky Farm renovations with limits on large outside events

The City of Newport Planning Board voted to grant a Category 2 special-use permit and approve the development plan for Camp Rocky Farm, the Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England property on Carroll Avenue, subject to six conditions submitted by the applicant.

Michael Monti, counsel for the applicant, told the board the conditions were intended to "ameliorate any concern of a very large function taking place on the property" and to keep the camp's core mission intact. Dana Varelli Marie, chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England, described the site as "an absolute gem" that the organization wants to preserve for youth programming and to expand capacity so three troops can use it at once rather than only one.

The approved plan retains the existing lodge footprint (about 3,800 square feet) while reconfiguring interior spaces, adds a new Mariner cabin and a welcome pavilion, replaces a deteriorated pavilion, establishes an archery pavilion with safety netting, widens a fire-access driveway to meet the 20-foot standard and creates 10 off-street parking spaces, the project's engineer said. Mike Russell, the project engineer, told the board the plan includes underground chambered stormwater systems "to mitigate any new impervious area" and avoid increasing runoff to Almi Pond.

The six applicant-proposed conditions read into the record include: (1) requiring special-event permits when the city code mandates it; (2) requiring a special-event permit for non-applicant-hosted events with more than 75 expected attendees; (3) allowing weddings only for alumni or current Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England; (4) ending any outdoor event activities by 9 p.m.; (5) ensuring adequate off-site, off-street parking for larger events; and (6) requiring a new special-use permit if ownership transfers to an entity not affiliated with the Girl Scouts. The board attached those conditions to its development-plan approval.

Board members discussed the ten standards for a Category 2 permit and the four development-plan standards and found that the project met requirements for parking and loading, stormwater management, buffering, and protection of public health and safety. The Chair called for a motion to adopt the findings; the motion passed by voice vote and the board directed staff to file the approvals with the conditions.

The decision does not authorize any single large-scale commercial events without separate permitting and off-site parking arrangements; the conditions and the board's discussion emphasize continuing the property's primary use for Girl Scout programming while allowing limited accessory rentals consistent with other charitable institutions in the city.