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Seasons Corner Market prepares for contested Sept. 15 hearing after lengthy approvals history
Summary
Seasons Corner Market representatives briefed the board on a multi-year approval history, state permits and recent revisions to signage and sidewalk plans; the board scheduled a special public hearing for Sept. 15 to allow time for review and expected heavy public interest and possible appeals.
Attorney for the applicant provided a detailed recap of Seasons Corner Market's regulatory path and said the project now seeks preliminary-plan approvals following master-plan approval and multiple special-use-permit hearings.
Counsel summarized the project's long review history, which included an initial master plan, a series of planning-board hearings, an appeal to the zoning board of appeals and subsequent court rulings. He said state agencies (RIDOT, DEM) have issued relevant permits and that the applicant has added signage and sidewalk plans to the preliminary submission. "The project has been around the block a little bit," counsel said, walking members through earlier hearings, appeals and the special-use proceedings. He asked for a special meeting in September to present the full preliminary package; the board scheduled a Sept. 15 special public hearing and said it would provide members with paper binders and digital files to review ahead of that meeting.
Several public commenters said they were frustrated by ongoing appeals and said they might apply for a stay in court; the planning office reiterated that in the absence of a court stay the applicant may proceed with administrative hearings. The board agreed to set a single, well-publicized special hearing to accommodate high public interest and to give members time to digest the voluminous record.
