[Summit] Forthcoming Planning, Licensing and neighborhood meetings

[David Kolsky]

¶ A — Here are some upcoming City board meetings that may be of interest, specifically on Balton Road and Thayer Street:

● TOMORROW, Wednesday 10 August 

 (1). 1 p.m. — Providence City Board of Licenses:

Room 112, Providence City Hall (facing Kennedy Plaza)

http://sos.ri.gov/documents/publicinfo/omdocs/notices/4749/2016/202105.pdf

The College Hill Neighborhood Association is trying to get many neighbors to turn out against a request for 4 a.m. closing time for a new business, Insomnia Cookies, at 307 Thayer Street. (Item no. 16 at the bottom of page 4.)

CHNA's board of directors feel that, although the shop itself will not serve alcohol, a late closing time would set a bad precedent for Thayer Street, that Insomnia Cookies will attract drunken patrons after closing time at bars and restaurants (near and far), and that there will be an overall disturbance to the neighborhood's peace, quiet and sleep.

My own feelings are more mixed, since I used to hang out in the wee hours at a now-departed Dunkin' Donuts on Thayer Street without serious incident. However, it is only fair to add that I’ve never lived directly off Thayer Street (and now no longer even live on the East Side) and it’s only fair to give some deference to the local association’s views. I’d like to hear more of the arguments pro and con, but unfortunately have conflicting appointments tomorrow afternoon.

(2) . 5:30 p.m. — The regular meeting of the Providence Zoning Board of Review on Wednesday evening has been cancelled for want of a quorum.

● Next Tuesday 16 August 

4 p.m. — Providence City Plan Commission

Joseph Doorley Municipal Building, 
444 Westminster Street, (across Empire Street from AS 220 and the Celtic Lounge/Finnegan’s Wake)
1st floor meeting Room, 
Providence, RI 02903

http://sos.ri.gov/documents/publicinfo/omdocs/notices/4752/2016/202256.pdf

Several items in other parts of the city, including revisions of RISD’s Institutional Master Plan,

followed by:

MINOR SUBDIVISION

6. Case No. 16-042 MI – 25 Balton Road

The applicant is proposing to subdivide a lot
in the R-1A zone measuring 40,750 SF (square feet) into five lots. 

Two of the lots will measure approximately 8,750 SF. 
The other lots will approximately measure 7,727 SF, 8,024 SF and 7,500 SF

– for action 
(AP93 Lot 47, Blackstone)

The atlas tells me that Balton Road runs for one block from Rochambeau to Intervale between the northernmost legs of Elmgrove and Cole Avenues. It’s near Swan Point Cemetery and the Butler Hospital/Laurelmead campus.

¶ B — some forthcoming open meetings of your local neighborhood groups (plus Gallery Night)

● TONIGHT (Tuesday 9 August)

(1). 6:45 to 8 p.m. — Fox Point Neighborhood Association board of directors (moved from their regular Monday by Victory Day holiday) 

Meeting room underneath the Vartan Gregorian School library on Wickenden and Ives Streets (near the top of the hill).

Special guest: Lambri Zervi of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT)

(2). 7 to 8 p.m. — Waterman Street Dog Park Committee

Children’s section in the rear of Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street at Elmgrove, next to CVS.

This session will be devoted mainly to organizing and assigning various tasks, such as fund-raising and recruiting volunteers. 

The City had had to postpone the park's long-anticipated opening once again, this time into the autumn (hopefully the early fall).

● Next Monday 15 August

7 p.m. — Summit Neighborhood Association board of directors

Main floor café of Summit Commons (formerly Hillside Nursing Home and the Jewish Home for the Agèd), 99 Hillside Avenue (near the top, halfway between Gregg's on North Main and Three Sisters at the ends of Hope, East and Blackstone)

● Thursday 18 August 

5 to 9 p.m. — Gallery Night Providence (various locations around the city, such as Gallery Z and the Providence Art Club) includes free admission to the RISD Museum of Art. A free trolley will run between the various sites.

● Wednesday 24 August

7 to 8:45 p.m. — Neighborhood Discussion Group at Books on the Square, 

Front of the store at 407 Angell (see Waterman St. Dog Pk above for location)

Since there are no local primary elections or other pressing outside matters, this meeting will concentrate on gathering enough ideas and volunteers to continue or expand the group’s activities after the summer and into future years.