DENIED: Lodges at Phenix Glen Vote

The City Council tonight is expected to vote on the Lodges at Phenix Glen - a 192 unit high end residential apartment complex proposed off Phenix Avenue near the Cranston Animal Shelter and Route 37 and Interstate 295.

We're at the meeting and will give live updates throughout the meeting.

For some background on the project, which has faced stiff opposition from residents, click HERE for a previous article.

6:52 p.m.: The meeting has begun with a strong turnout from opponents and members of UNITE HERE Local 217 union.

A few speakers from the public so far have raised concerns about traffic. That has been the primary concern among many.

Ted Isabella, a contractor and Cranston resident, said this is going to be a major impact on his neighborhood. He said the developers, The Procaccianti Group, has not provided satisfactory data throughout the planning process.

Isabella said he's looked at satelite photos and the property itself and sees no signs of vehicular acc 

6:56 p.m.: Resident Fred Joslyn mentions traffic studies and despite efforts to mitigate traffic with traffic control devices, accidents have actually gone up. He suggests the $2,000 per month rent the developers hope to charge would be overpriced for the area, noting recent home sale prices nearby.

7:02 p.m. Vin Cullen just spoke against the project. "Tonight could be a true test if the Democratic process still works."

7:03 p.m.: Therese Demers said the Sherman Ave. sewer system remains a problem despite the developer's assertions. 

7:03 p.m.: Getting up to speed here, so apologies if I haven't quoted every speaker yet. I am recording this meeting for a more detailed story once this is all over.

7:04 p.m.: Gary Malloy notes how many speakers have come out to speak in opposition to the project, between 40 and 50 per meeting (and there have been a few).

But he's in support of the project, noting that the city as a whole isn't necessarily against the project. He said it is a way to expand the city's tax base in an area "that's right for it." 

The development is not wedged into a residential neighborhood. It's a "dog pound, salt barn, ice rink" area. It will add more cars to the street, but it will actually improve traffic flow, he said.

7:07 p.m.: (Missed name) speaker says Malloy's argument is "intellectually bankrupt."

People aren't going to pay $2,000 per month to rent next to the dog pound, the public works complex, the highway department.

7:08 p.m.: Joe Agresti urges council to vote no. He said this isn't the last development the city will see proposed. It's not the right development for this piece of land, he says, suggesting another developer could come along.

7:12 p.m.: Aram Garabedian said this project conforms to comprehensive plan. (He has supported this project all along). The developer is offering to pay about $350,000 more for traffic improvements, he said. So if accidents have increased since lights were put in, the city can use existing impact fees plus the extra money from TPG to make improvements.

7:15 p.m. Drake Patton said it has been two years "we've been having this conversation."

After the first one, the developers said they'd listen to the feedback from neighborhood.

Neighborhood wants something with a different impact.

When you turn right at the end of Route 37, there are homes there, she said. Homes that are on the historic register. Homes already affected by traffic and speeding cars.

7:18 p.m.: Speakers are still going. I'll have a full and detailed breakdown of all the arguments once this is over. TPG's lawyers will be speaking shortly.

7:26 p.m.: John DiBona, lawyer for TPG is up. He's going over the nuances of the planning/zoning process and how the project ended up here.

TPG is asking for a zone change from A12 to a mixed use development zone. The council's vote tonight merely OKs that zone change. That means the whole project would need to go through planning and zoning to get formal approval. So their vote tonight does NOT mean this project is not going to be underway.

7:33 p.m.: TPG official  gives what essentially is the developer's closing argument, highlighting the tax revenue increases, investment in the local economy. Project will pay for its own snow removal, rubbish removal, etc.

He asks what Cranston would be like without Garden City. He shows pictures of four-story, five-story buildings in Dean Estates.

A vote against would be a sign the city wants to reduce the tax base, to cut services. 

7:35 p.m.: Aceto makes motion to deny proposal. Seconded.

Discussion time. Aceto notes a yes vote will deny the project, so don't be confused, he warns other council members.

7:36 p.m.: Stycos said he's voting yes to deny. The reason - it's important we maintain neighboroods in our city. This would have damaging impact in neighborhood. Doesn't agree it's in compliance with comp plan. 

He took issue with TPG's characterization of the oppostion as a "small group of people," putting them off to the fringe.

The net tax revenue estimates are "artificially high" but in "mailing after mailing" saying half-million revenue gain when "best information we had was more maybe $300,000."

Stycos said he's also concerned about what's going on at Renaissance Hotel - union members begin clapping — pay has been cut and there is ongoing fight against unionization at that hotel, Stycos.

A company that fights those things in Providence is not presenting itself well in Cranston, Stycos said.

7:40 p.m.: Councilman Favicchio said that outside of this proposal, nobody has come screaming to the city about traffic or demanded traffic improvements. It seems they just come out when project is proposed.

"If traffic is really that bad then should be screaming at state reps. and Senators," Favicchio said.

Another thing — lot of misconceptions about the project, Favicchio said, a lot of the info was "not perfect," the only experts were developer's. The rest of it was hearsay.

He notes the sewer project would have to go through DEM and that's a monumental task and this is just a zone change request. 

"We need to send a message we want to encourage development, whether or not this is the project for that development, something is going to go there," Favicchio said.

Right now it's an ugly piece of land and something has to be done there.

Single family homes don't belong there and would create more students, he says.

7:44 p.m. Councilman Paul Archetto said six months ago when first introduced to project, he thought it was positive thing. But after all the hearings, he developed a number of concerns about this project. Traffic concerns, the height of the building, the Sherman Avenue pumping station. . . 

But major concern is direct influence by voters in Ward 3. In past three weeks receieved more than 50 contact cards - voters - people who have direct influence on my job performance, Archetto said. 

Archetto notes Garabedian (owner of Warwick Mall) has protested projects that would have competed against him, like the Providence Place Mall, Home Depot, etc. So it's surprising to him to see him here in support of this project.

7:48 p.m.: Councilman Don Botts said he, too, like Archetto, was originally for the project based on the idea that it would be an economic plus for the city. But in the meantime, a few things have occurred to change his mind.

What's come down to is net tax revenue for city and traffic issues, Botts said.

"I think the property has too many units for that parcel of land," he said, and a reduction of 2-bedroom and 2+ bedroom units would go a long way to reducing the impact on schools. 

7:52 p.m.: Councilwoman Sara Kales Lee said she too has flipped flopped after going through the process and talking to residents. The impacts would mitigate the benefits. The business component was weak. "Something better could come along. In these times we need to be careful of what we jump to allow in our communities."

7:54 p.m.: Councilman Aceto said the public expressed why this is a bad project "far better than I could as an elected official."

As soon as this budget cycle is done and the legislative session is over, there will be a community meeting to address the traffic issue, Aceto said. He has already contacted the local delegation.

"People elect us to make votes, all sorts of decisions they don't have time to consider, but there is a time for elected official to do the opposoite to listen to constiuents and let them dictate what his vote should be. This is one of those times," Aceto said.

7:56 p.m.: Council President John Lanni - the future of the city depends on economic development, not residential development. The budget was lean this year and next year, there is nothing left to cut.

"We want businesses coming into the city," Lanni said. 

But this project is the wrong place at the wrong time. On a windy day, it's like driving across the Sahara desert. He can picture luxury cars covered with dust. Dogs yapping with the windows open. Construction and city vehicles driving up and down Phenix Ave. 

"It's probably not a desirable place to live," Lanni said.

7:59 p.m. Vote is unanimous. DENIED.