Planning Commission OKs New Schartner Development
A proposed development at Slocum Farm would bring a small "farming village" to the corner of Exeter and Dry Bridge Roads.
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In a 5-1 vote, the North Kingstown Planning Commission gave a positive recommendation to the town’s zoning board for a proposed development at Schartner-owned Slocum Farm. All members, except Paul Dion, approved the project’s master plan.
Richard Schartner, owner of Schartner Farms, is looking to develop the 26-acre parcel at the corner of Dry Bridge Road and Exeter Road, preserving 14 acres for farming and allocating the rest to 21 residential units – including six one-bedroom, seven two-bedroom and eight three-bedroom residential units that would line Dry Bridge Road. Spanning two phases, the proposal would also renovate the greenhouses currently on site and add a commercial space to sell farm products.
“This could be a nice little farming village that could be developed,” said Jack Revens, attorney for the Schartners.
Once a dairy farm, the property now houses a former barracks, several greenhouses and nurseries and a gravel pit. The plan would also convert the barracks building (which formerly housed 20 “immigrant laborers” according to a 1968 letter from the North Kingstown Zoning Board’s secretary) into apartments and office space. The three-bedroom house that is also currently on the property would remain.
Though Schartner could develop a maximum of 11 four-bedroom houses on the property without the master plan approval, the new Slocum Farm plan would preserve 14 acres of land and minimize the amount of children added to the school system due to the lower bedroom count per unit.
Linda Tucker of neighboring business Sodco praised Schartner as “always having a very exciting way of looking at things,” calling the plans “very innovative.” According to commission member Harriet Powell, who spoke to Schartner prior to Tuesday’s meeting, Schartner felt the town’s regulations were too “binding” and were “stifling” development. During the meeting, Schartner suggested that the town should consider “agricultural exemptions” on a “case-by-case basis.”
“You would encourage a lot more people to do this sort of thing and have a much nicer town,” said Schartner.
Although commission members raised concerns over the development’s location in a groundwater overlay district and the amount of units proposed, Paul Dion was the only dissenting vote in the plan’s approval.
Tucker also expressed concern over flooding in the Dry Bridge Road area during public comment. According to Schartner, he would look to alleviate the problem by possibly constructing artificial waterfalls that would channel the water to ponds he plans to create on the property.
In August, Schartner announced plans to sell two-thirds of his property in South County, including the Slocum Farm property, seeking to focus his efforts on 205 acres in New Hampshire. According to the longtime farmer, the sale of more than 400 acres was the only way to cut losses after a development deal for a 140-acre lot off Ten Rod Road failed to come to fruition.
Govstench
8:13 am on Friday, December 9, 2011
Dion is in the Halley camp of the GOP. That group has been fighting Shartner over development right for properties for years. He is also in the state - Revenue analyst who endorses a toll both on 95. This guy is anti-development.
Samantha Turner
12:25 pm on Friday, December 9, 2011
I was contacted by Paul Dion and he would like to acknowledge that Govstench's statement about the tollbooth on Route 95 is inaccurate and that he has never endorsed the measure.
Govstench
10:59 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011
Samantha, contrary to what Mr. Dion said to you, he stated it directly to me. Perhaps Mr. Dion has a short memory.
Ed Renehan
11:41 am on Friday, December 9, 2011
I like this plan. Very elegant thinking, serving many diverse needs/priorities.
Kevin M
5:22 pm on Friday, December 9, 2011
I think Mr. Dion is one of the better planners we have. I don't think he is anti-development; but believes in adhering to plans in place, real planning. Lately we create new ordinances to fit developers, whether wind turbines or CVD's. Every developer that walks in is looking to push the limits, maximize, and over-develop their projects beyond what the town allows, this project is no exception and Mr. Dion sees that. Mr. Dion strives for more bright lines or clear distinctions within the town ordinances, rather than leaving direction completely open to the current PC panel discretion and taste. Mr. Dion has also stood up for those who live and are settled in to these areas, rather than allowing developers to freely walk in and uproot established communities. I think he's more about staying on target and not bending to each developers whims. No free passes, that all.
NKGOP Watch
9:00 pm on Friday, December 9, 2011
Another "Halley factioneer" Harriet Powell at her finest!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLK2mhJQ7Zo
Tired of NK antics
12:42 am on Saturday, December 10, 2011
And here comes NKGOP watch, digging up crap from the past... desperately trying to prove his relevance...Come on man! What on earth does your "blast from the past" have to do with this article? Let me answer that..Aboslutely nothing.
NKGOP Watch
4:07 am on Sunday, December 11, 2011
Cause that nut is still on Planning, AND the TC keeps stuffing her in there. ITS ABOUT VALUES.
Tired of NK antics
1:18 am on Saturday, December 10, 2011
Mr. Dion too much of snob to actually post a rebuttle...he had to whine to the editor...gimme a break.
Samantha Turner
1:21 am on Saturday, December 10, 2011
Actually, Mr. Dion was not available to post his statement this afternoon so I offered to do it for him.
Tired of NK antics
2:47 am on Saturday, December 10, 2011
Not enough time to post, but enough time to call you about it...sorry not buying.
NKGOP Watch
4:10 am on Sunday, December 11, 2011
Samantha you're terrific, but there IS a "Halley Faction" in the NKGOP, and they DO have an agenda, and it is NOT good for the people. Dion is a member of that group within NKGOP. There is plenty of history here. Govstench (I really dont like the nickname) stands for some really sensible ideas. When I read what he writes, I believe it and usually like it. Paul L Dion, on the other hand, thinks he is way slicker than he really is. And his loyalties are to those with some of the worst values in and for NK that there are. I am as sure of this as I am of anything.
NKGOP Watch
4:29 am on Sunday, December 11, 2011
And... that being said, Dion's 'stated' position that the rules should be applied uniformly rather than tailoring special exceptions for each developer and project here and there makes sense to me. But then it occurs to me that the old old oh so old NKGOP trick of having someone say something like that while the actual opposite result gets passed. Their only true master plan is to 1) maintain power at all costs 2) use that position of control to help their allies.
NKGOP Watch
4:50 am on Sunday, December 11, 2011
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.........................................RT 95N.......................................
............................Welcome to Rhode Island........................
.................The Dr. Paul L. Dion, PHD! Toll Booth................
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