Bristol boards agree and narrowly approve taller Belvedere plan

Planning board changes direction and approves design for taller downtown Bristol building

Posted 7/13/18

The controversial plan to put 20 apartments and a pizza restaurant in a new downtown Bristol building cleared two major hurdles Thursday night, when both the Bristol Planning Board and Bristol …

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Bristol boards agree and narrowly approve taller Belvedere plan

Planning board changes direction and approves design for taller downtown Bristol building

Posted

The controversial plan to put 20 apartments and a pizza restaurant in a new downtown Bristol building cleared two major hurdles Thursday night, when both the Bristol Planning Board and Bristol Historic District Commission narrowly approved a master plan for the project.

Both boards had given preliminary approval to the plan for the corner of State and Thames streets three weeks ago, but at that time, they disagreed on which design to approve. The planning board favored a “flat roof” design because it was shorter — 41 feet high. The historic district commission favored a “pitched roof” design, because it looked better, even though it would be 47 feet, 9 inches high.

On Thursday night, after about an hour of discussion, the planning board changed direction. Led by board member Armand Billotti, who repeatedly said he was willing to approve the higher building in order to get the project approved, the planning board voted 3-1 in favor of the taller, pitched-roof design.

The historic district commission followed suit and confirmed its approval for the taller building, by the same 4-3 vote as it took three weeks ago.

Developer Jim Roiter’s proposal now moves to the Bristol Zoning Board of Review, which must review the project and the 15 variances being sought. Mr. Roiter needs zoning relief from the town’s height restriction (36 feet), as well as town codes for lot coverage, property setbacks, residential density, parking spaces and more.

Mr. Roiter, who has been largely praised for his renovation of the dilapidated Harriet Bradford Inn into luxury condos, has met with fierce opposition to this plan, which would replace an empty lot and garish steel parking deck, with this new, three-story building. The first level would include a Providence Coal-Fired Pizza restaurant, as well as parking spaces. The second and third floors would hold 20 apartments and more parking spaces. The rooftop would house a swimming pool and amenity deck.

A group of neighboring property owners hired an attorney to represent them in opposition to the proposal, and a large group of historic preservationists and mostly downtown residents ardently lobbied against it. Though they had been vocal throughout several public hearings leading up to Thursday night (criticizing the massing, scale, height, design and density of the plan), a small group of them attended but were kept silent during the one-hour meeting.

On the planning board, Chairman Jerome Squatrito, Anthony Murgo and Armand Billotti voted in favor of the plan; Charles “Chuck” Millard vehemently opposed it. Asked how he planned to vote, Mr. Millard made his intentions clear: “Pitched roof or flat roof, this is an abomination, and it makes a mockery of the Comprehensive Plan … There are 15 variances in this project; it’s outrageous.”

In announcing that he was willing to approve the taller building, Mr. Billotti said, “Something needs to be done down there. We need to move this forward … Getting something done is the right thing for the town.”

On the historic district commission, Chairwoman Oryann Lima, John Allen, Sonney Furtado and Victor Cabral voted in favor of it. Gerald Walsh, Chris Ponder and Mary Millard opposed it.

Mrs. Millard adamantly opposes the massing of the building, saying it will cast a shadow over the Thames Street waterfront. Regardless of design, she said, this project “is like a Playtex living girdle.” No matter how you design it, you’re shoving the same body into the same shape, she said.

Though the historic district commission approved the master plan for the building, Mr. Roiter will have to come back before that commission for approval of design materials, doors, windows, trim, hardscapes and more.

Before the final vote was taken, Marianne Bergenholtz, sitting in the audience and one of three from the opposition group who were filming the proceedings, interrupted to ask that they read their decision into the record. Town Solicitor Andy Teitz said the written decision is six pages long, single-spaced, and it had been made public on Tuesday morning. He also said that Ms. Bergenholtz's attorney had received a copy of it two days ago.

When board members objected to reading the full written decision out loud, Ms. Bergenholtz said, "You're hiding something if you don't read it into the record." They did not and went ahead with their votes.

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