Notes from 07/26/06 Planning Commission Meeting Regarding Centre of New England Phases 2 and 3

Here are my notes from the 07/26/06 Planning commission meeting regarding the discussion of CONE Phases 2 and 3:

• Attorney spoke on behalf of developer.
• Photos of what has been constructed on Phase 1 shown to PC members.
• Number of units proposed – 350 for Phase 2, 350 for Phase 3, total units 700.
• Mix of one and two story dwellings. One and two bedrooms, three bedroom units were not mentioned.
• Will contain a certain percentage of affordable units, the rest would be market priced. Exact percentage of affordable units to be determined.
• Coventry Housing Authority interested in partnering with developer.
• RI Hhousing may help 1st time buyers. Proposed to use their "Buy More" mortgage product. 40-year term, first 5 years would have interest-only payments.
• One map on display. Showed three wetlands crossings from other CONE phases to Phases 2 and 3. Map also showed connections to Tulip Rd. and to Lydia Rd. The end of Lydia was abandoned about two years ago. Attorney for developer said that their preferred means of access is the proposed wetlands crossings. If the developer is unable to obtain crossing permits from RI DEM then they would have to use the stub connections to Tulip and Lydia as these would be their only means of accessing their land. No access through Hopkins Hill School property was shown on the map.
• Passive recreation facilities are a possibility.
• Community impact analysis will be updated.
• Not requesting any additional waivers/exceptions to zoning laws at this time.
• Developer expects very few school-age children to move to Phases 2 and 3. Said that about six school-age children are moving in to Phase 1.
• The Planning Commission said they can't see any reason why there would not be public hearings on these development phases.
  
  The residents of our neighborhood do not want any connections to these phases to come through our neighborhoods; it would destroy the quality of life we currently enjoy.
  
  We hope that our town officials and state delegation will work with DEM and the developer to address the issues concerning the wetlands crossing permits so the developer can access their property from other parts of CONE.

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