Commission Considers Multiple Designs For Rolling Greens

Developers for a controversial project at Rolling Greens Golf Course presented various layout designs to the North Kingstown Planning Commission on Tuesday night. Architect Don Powers presented five designs to the commission showing different configurations of the project's entrance and retail area. 

The project, put forth by developer Mark Hawkins, would bring up to 50,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and 106 housing units to the Route 2 and 102 intersection. Of the designs, the amount of retail in the development would vary between 32,000 and 50,000 sq. ft. 

Powers, however, favored one design in particular that would bring the maximum retail amount. In this design (marked as the "Main Street" design in the images above), the main strip would be set perpendicular to Route 102 and feature the two largest stores – the pharmacy (15,000 sq. ft.) and the bank (3,800 sq. ft.) – at the entrance of the development. The remaining retail would fall behind those two anchors and then transition into the live-work units, followed by the residential component of the development.

"Not all retail is going to be autocentric or car-based that needs to be visible from Route 102," said Powers. "The two that need to be visible would be the pharmacy and the bank."

Some residents, including Town Councilor Kevin Maloney, questioned the need for the two largest buildings to be at the mouth of the development. Maloney pointed out that putting them at the back may help draw people deeper into the development and boost the other businesses. Powers stated that doing this could lead to congestion within the development. Additionally, Power said that not being visible from the road may be a big turnoff to some businesses looking at the space.

Another design presented by Powers had the main strip perpendicular to Route 102 while another portrayed more of a "cluster" layout.

View all the designs in the pictures above.