Planning Commission Questions Creation of a New Zoning District

North Kingstown residents will have to wait another two weeks to potentially receive updates from the Planning Commission on the proposed Rolling Greens project—a plan to build a commercial and residential village center off Ten Rod Road. 

Titled "The Preserve at Rolling Greens," the proposed development would feature 92 units divided into 36 duplexes, 10 single-family homes and more than 35,000 sq. ft. of commercial space.

At two acres per dwelling, the proposed location for the village—west of Route 4 at the Route 2 and Route 102 intersection—isn't zoned to adequately accommodate commercial-level development. 

To lawfully accommodate the Rolling Greens proposal, members of the Planning Commission would have to approve amendments to the town's comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances.

During Tuesday's meeting at the Cold Spring Community Center, members of the Planning Commission discussed potential changes to Section 21-325 (17) of the North Kingstown Zoning Ordinance which lists the qualifications for "Compact village development" or "CVD"—a mixture of residential and limited commercial development.

The proposed amendment under discussion Tuesday night suggests creating an entirely new zoning district titled "Compact Village Development, Section 21-95," according to the meeting's agenda.

And though the commission didn't have time to directly address the Rolling Greens application, Gardner "Chip" Palmer said any changes made to the zoning ordinance would require due diligence and could affect the outcome of the Rolling Greens project.  

"I think it's difficult to make zones without a lot of work or without a lot of study to make sure that we've vetted out all the different pros and cons and the 'what ifs,'" said Palmer.

"I don't know that I'm going to feel comfortable enough to get this thing into the shape that it would have to be in to satisfy other projects that might want to take advantage of it," added Palmer, alluding to the Rolling Greens application.

Jeffrey Michaelson, also a member of the Planning Commission, expressed concern for those apprehensive about the potential effects of a new zoning district—namely, the addition of commercial property in areas that have been strictly residential.

"Are we tailoring the ordinance to the application?" asked Michaelson.

Find out what the Planning Commission's next move is Thursday, July 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Cold Spring Community Center.