Council Postpones Decision on NBX

Following about two hours of testimony Monday night, the Narragansett Town Council deferred on making a decision on whether would be allowed to move to a new location on Boston Neck Road.

Donald Packer, a lawyer representing NBX owner Matt Bodziony, asked the council to consider a zone change from residential to commercial for property his client had a sales agreement for. The property is across from and at 922 and 929 Boston Neck Road.

However, despite a 4-1 vote from the Planning Board in support of NBX’s request, the council voted 5-0 to request that the board more carefully define how the town’s comprehensive plan and the Bonnet Special Planning District overlap.

According to online property records, the combined area of the lots is about 60,000 square feet. Raymond J. Giusti has owned the property since the 1950s.

Packer noted that according to his client and town officials, a change seemed to be appropriate for the site.

“You’ll note that this property is surrounded by commercial zones,” he said. “The comp plan, in my opinion and in the opinion of the planning board and the town planner, encourages this type of change … What we have here is a spot in the middle of a heavily developed area.”

Councilor Alisa Trainor Fleet said that she couldn’t support the proposal.

“I really can’t support this,” she said. “Why wouldn’t you buy a piece of commercial property across the street from the Shell gas station that’s already for sale?”

Bodziony said he had examined that site as well.

“I’ve looked at the Shell station lot, it’s too small for my business,” he said, adding that he was not getting a discount just because the property was currently zoned residential.

“I’m not getting it very cheap,” he said.

Councilor Christopher Wilkens pushed for the council to vote, noting that regardless of what they thought of development in the area, there were only two options – commercial property, or three or more houses.

“There is a fundamental fairness thing going on here, and I think we need an up or down vote,” he said. “It’s not going to stay the same. There is no way as time goes on that it’s not going to change.”

Community Development Director Michael DeLuca confirmed that as the property is currently zoned, up to three houses could be fit in without any variances. With special use or affordable housing permits, anywhere from three to 30 units could be on the property.

“Do you want one single building with a parking lot, or three houses or 12 condos or six houses?” Wilkens said. “I see a nice looking commercial building going in on that one lot.”

Wilkens added that he didn’t want the project to be delayed so long with additional hearings that it wouldn’t be economically feasible.

He said he didn’t want “to put this man and his family through this for three, six or nine months,” but before he could complete his sentence, he was drowned out by applause.

The crowd of about 50 came out strongly in favor of the project, with council president Glenna Hagopian cutting off comments for the zone change after about an hour, noting that the opposition also needed to be heard.

Speaking for the proposal were several friends and business colleagues of Bodziony, including Deb Kelso of the Narragansett Chamber of Commerce, business owner John Carter of Boston Neck Road, and Ray Roche.

Carter, speaking as a 41-year resident of the North End, said he didn’t think the project would have an impact on the area.

“I own a business that is four building lots to the north of this site, on the corner of Old Pine Trail,” he said. “You have two choices – that it’s either going to be residential or commercial. How hard do you need to look at it?”

Carter, referring to Bodziony, said, “He’s in a position where he needs to make a decision [about purchasing the property], and he doesn’t need to be the person behind the whole revamping of the North End of Narragansett.”

Kelso joined the chorus asking for a quick decision on the zone change.

“I am in favor of the zone change for NBX Bikes,” she said. “However, I can see the handwriting on the wall here with the council … I implore you to handle this in a timely fashion. Please do not leave Mr. Bodziony hanging.”

Speaking against the proposal were attorney Elizabeth Noonan, hired to speak on behalf of abutters Peter and Trish Aldrich, and the Aldriches themselves.

Noonan said she was not here to debate the merits of NBX Bikes, and instead cautioned the council about what would happen if the business ever left.

“What you have now is a 60,000 foot intrusion into a residential zone,” she said. “You are essentially creating a new type of zoning.”

Peter Aldrich claimed that having a bicycle shop across the street from an ice cream parlor – Brickley’s – would cause issues with pedestrian safety, specifically children.

In response, Wilkens said, “Has your attorney brought that up before with the planning board as far as that being a child magnet?”

Councilor David Crook pushed for the postponement.

“Can we just have a bit more time? Because I think if it went before the council tonight it would get shot down.”

Hagopian and councilor Susan Cicilline-Buonanno also voiced support for a postponement. The motion passed 5-0.

As a result, the zoning change will be on the council’s agenda for Jan. 17. Planning Board chairman Terence Fleming said his board would attempt to hold a special meeting before that council meeting in order to provide an opinion on whether the zone change would conform with the Bonnet Special Planning District.

We’ll have more from the council meeting later today and tomorrow.

Note: An original version of this article left some of Councilor Crook's remarks vague, and incorrectly spelled Aldrich. We apologize for the error, and corrections have been made.