Planning Board grants developer’s request to postpone hearing until 2009

By JOSEPH FITZGERALD

NORTH SMITHFIELD — The Planning Board Thursday voted to continue a public hearing on the second and third phase of the proposed Dowling Village until after the start of the new year.

The hearing was scheduled to be held Thursday night, but the planners agreed to support a request by lawyers representing Dowling Village developer Bucci Development, Inc. to continue the hearing on Jan. 8.
Attorney Michael Kelly, who made that request in a letter to the planners, cited several reasons for the continuance, including the fact that a few members of the board were absent from last night's meeting and that newly elected members of the Town Council will be taking their seats on the board on Dec. 15 and will need to be brought up to speed on the proposal.
A second reason, Kelly stated, is that developers are still awaiting approval from the Department of Environmental Management on an underground infiltration system permit, which is part of the project.
Developers of the proposed Dowling Village say they are prepared to move forward and secure final local approval for the project now that they have cleared their biggest hurdle —Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management approval of a permit for the last three phases of the project.
Several months ago, the DEM approved a permit for phases two, three and four of the project, which signals the last state regulatory approval needed in order for Bucci Development to move forward to secure final local approval from Planning Board. Phase One of Dowling Village, off Route 146A and abutting Woonsocket, is nearing completion with the opening of an 18,000-square-foot CVS pharmacy in July.
The later phases will bring the construction of more than 600,000 square feet of commercial space as well as additional construction in office space, restaurants, and residential uses.
First proposed four years ago, Dowling Village is a 133-acre, $85 million mixed use development consisting of 75,000 square feet of office space; 21,442 square feet of restaurants; 573,255 square feet of retail space; and 76 townhomes.
According to the developer, the DEM and Army Corp of Engineers for over a year scrutinized the project for any environmental impacts. During that time, state, federal and private sector engineers, biologists and scientist studied the proposed development and suggested design revisions.