Request for more units in same space to be decided by Zoning Board of Review
by Ted Rao
[This article first appeared in The Agenda
#16, March 2006]
On Tuesday, February 21st, representatives of Premier Land Development, led by Dan Corsetti and represented by their lawyer, former Lieutenant Governor Richard Licht, appeared before the Zoning Board of Review to request further modifications in their proposed 150-foot residential development on 434 Atwells Avenue, in Providence's Federal Hill neighborhood. The mammoth project, dubbed by some concerned community members as “the tower of terror,” would occupy the space neighboring Lili Marlene's and the Holy Ghost Church leading into Eagle Square.
Premier Land Development had previously appeared before the Zoning Board of Review, an appointed, independent panel, in 2004, and had applied for a variance which would allow for a 150-foot, 10-story development, allowing for a total of 43 residential units. Under normal regulations, the development occupies a C-1 zone, under which the normal maximum height allowed for a project is 45 feet, or three stories. Within that framework, the maximum amount of units would be 28, calculated by people per square inch.
At the meeting on the 21st, Premier asked for further changes to their variance, described as “a variance on top of a variance,” said an anonymous community member. Corsetti asked to increase the development to hold a new total of 64 units in the same space, without modifications in building size or parking units. This represents a 52% increase in size on top of what had originally been previously approved by the Zoning Board.
At the Zoning Board meeting of the 21st, which met at the 5th floor of City Hall, Premier requested that the Zoning Board continue the vote at a later date, tentatively scheduled for April. This improves Corsetti's chances slightly, since a no vote would have meant that Premier would be unable to bring any business concerning this particular development before the Zoning Board for a year and a half. It is thought that Premier, possibly recognizing that their new proposal might not be approved, requested an extension to reach a compromise offer. Reportedly, Licht and Corsetti returned from a private discussion to recommend a compromise of 55 units. After a few minutes of described “haggling” between zoning officials and Premier, Ray Dettore, the Zoning Board's legal consultant, informed members that debate must be limited to the original proposal at hand.
As reported by
The Providence Phoenix in 2004, the project has had the support of the Mayor Cicilline's office, who had cited an overall increase in development since the mayor's taking office in 2003.
As required by law, any proposal that goes before the zoning board must first be submitted to The City Planning Department, who is required to weigh in and write a written recommendation either in support or opposition to the project. According to City Planner Bonnie Lloyd, the board in 2004 recommended denial of the proposed variance, but stated that were it to be approved, it should include a provision for inclusionary zoning, which would mandate affordable rental units. It should be noted that the Zoning Board is in no way beholden to the Planning Department's recommendations. At the more recent hearing, the planning department recommended adhering to the boards previous allowance of 43 units. “In our minds there was no need to offer further approval for even more units,” Lloyd stated in a recent interview.
Representatives from Premier Land Development did not return calls for comment.
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