Rolling Greens Discussion Pushed Back to Nov. 26

The North Kingstown Town Council will not be discussing The Preserve at Rolling Greens tonight as it awaits a recommendation from the Planning Commission. Per state law, the commission must send a recommendation to the council before it can act. The North Kingstown Planning Commission is expected to make a decision on the application for the controversial village center at its Tuesday night meeting.

The project, called The Preserve at Rolling Greens and located right on Ten Rod Road, is a mixed-use housing and commercial village center with 50,000 sq. ft. of commercial development and 106 housing units  -  of the project’s master plan. (View the full master plan here.) 

The Planning Commission delayed a decision as members awaited a consensus from the that included Rolling Greens, Corner Tavern, Oatley's Restaurant and a plot of land owned by Richard Schartner. The area abutts several residential neighborhoods.

"The planning commission and council did not want to make any changes until the stakeholder group came to a decision," said North Kingstown Plannning Director Jon Reiner.

Reiner expects the commission to have a recommendation at its Tuesday  night meeting, allowing the Town Council to hold a public hearing on the development and proposed changes (including a comprehensive plan amendment and zoning ordinance changes) at its next meeting on Monday, Nov. 26. At that meeting, the council will hear a presentation from the applicant and hold a public comment.

The council will either act on the proposal or continue it to its Thursday, Nov. 29 meeting, where council members will deliberate on the proposed changes to the Route 2/102 intersection from the stakeholder group. Time permitting, the council could make a decision on Rolling Greens that night. If not, the council has scheduled another meeting for Friday, Nov. 30.

Though the council is facing deadlines per state law to come to a decision on the project, Reiner said that this council is hoping to wrap things up on Rolling Greens before the new council is inducted in December. Come December, only Republicans Elizabeth Dolan and Carol Hueston will remain on the council.

"This council has said they've been the ones that spent the time and researched this development," said Reiner. "They don't want to pass it along to the next council. It's something they've been dealing with for a long time."

Below are dates of the upcoming meetings regarding Rolling Greens and Route 2/102.

• Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall – North Kingstown Planning Commission is expected to make a recommendation on the master plan application for The Preserve at Rolling Greens.
• Monday, Nov. 26 – NK Town Council will hold a public hearing on The Preserve at Rolling Greens. The applicant is expected to make a presentation and public comment will be included. The council may or may not make a decision on the matter.
• Thursday, Nov. 29  – The NK Town Council will discuss and make a decision on the consensus from the Route 2/102 Stakeholder Group, including zoning changes for several parcels at the intersection. Time permitting, the council may make a decision on Rolling Greens.
• Friday, Nov. 30 – If no decision is made on Rolling Greens, the council will take action on Rolling Greens.