TIVERTON — The massive Tiverton Glen project goes to back-to-back separate public hearings in front of the Tiverton Town Council on Tuesday, July 7 at 7 p.m. in the Tiverton High School Auditorium.

One hearing, separately noticed, is to consider amendments to the Tiverton Official Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) that would allow for a mixed-use development.

The Comp Plan amendments were proposed by the developer, the Carpionato Group, the notice of the meeting says, and amended by the town planning board.

The second hearing, likewise separately noticed, is to consider zoning map amendments and zoning ordinance changes.

The developer, says the notice, "seeks to change the zoning designation from R-40 to Mixed Use Development District."

Opponents of the development have announced they intend to file a formal protest at the hearings.

They contend they have filed an appeal to the town Zoning Board of Reveiw (ZBR) of the oplanning board's conditional approvbal of the Master Plan for the project, and that under state law (specifically RIGL 45-23-68) “An appeal stays all proceedings in furtherance of the action being appealed.”

They also contend that an independent law firm should be appointed to provide legal advice to the ZBR other than the firm (the DeSisto firm) that gave advice to the planning board and, at the board's request, helped write the decision being appealed.

Stephanie Federico, a lawyer with the DeSisto Firm, has said that the issues of the master plan appeal, the zoning, and the comprehensive plan are all separate from each other, and can proceed on separate tracks, so no stay of the public hearing is warranted.