City of Woonsocket

The board conducted an election for the positions of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. Key business included an update on the potential sale and redevelopment of 162 Main Street into a boutique hotel, a presentation on the blight calculator tool and plans for its expansion using public safety and tax data, and a discussion regarding the Fiscal Year 2026 budget allocations. Furthermore, the agency approved amendments to the Family Behavioral Solutions decision document and initiated an investigation into compliance concerns regarding Greenwood Industries' use of the former Liddell property. Updates were also provided on the redevelopment progress of the Longley Building and inquiries from other prospective commercial tenants.

The board discussed potential amendments to zoning regulations regarding parking, loading, and Live/Work standards, opting to table both items for further review. The primary agenda item was a public hearing for a major land development project involving a proposed 3-story charter high school at 120 Spring Street. Following extensive testimony from applicant representatives, expert witnesses, and members of the public, the board debated the request for a use variance and dimensional variance. The board ultimately denied the use variance, citing that the applicant failed to prove the hardship was unique to the land rather than self-created by neglect, and that the project scale would alter the neighborhood's residential character. A dimensional variance concerning loading space requirements was approved.

The board discussed the Rise Prep Academy project, which was continued to a later date due to the absence of the applicant's planning expert. Additionally, the board conducted a hearing for the Ballou Townhomes adaptive reuse project, reviewing proposals for a sixteen-unit residential apartment complex. Conditions for the approval of the Ballou Townhomes master plan were established, including requirements for parking signage, snow removal plans, dark sky-compliant lighting, and specific building footprint restrictions.

The board discussed and received bank statements for the agency. A primary focus was the review and approval of Family Behavioral Solutions as a permitted use within the Highland Corporate Park, with deliberations on zoning and covenant requirements. The agency also received an update on the status of the 162 Main Street property, discussed positive feedback received from the City Council regarding the semi-annual report, and explored an expanded vision for a city-wide blight management system that integrates data across multiple municipal departments to better track and prioritize code enforcement and property blight.

The board reviewed several development projects, including a proposal for a truck port canopy with solar panels at 500 Park East Drive, which was approved. A request for a minor subdivision at 0 Laflamme Avenue was also approved, contingent upon meeting fire marshal requirements for access. Additionally, the Master Plan review for the Ballou Townhomes project at 129 Ballou Street was continued to a future meeting.