The town council, at its May 13 meeting, approved taking advantage of a grant opportunity through Rhode Island Commerce in the amount of $155,000 from its site readiness program for an infrastructure capacity study on a Metacom Avenue plat.

The monies would be used specifically to determine the feasibility of potentially to allow the rezoning of the 601 Metacom Ave. parcel, where Ocean State Job is located, into mixed-use from commercial.

Town Manager Brian Sullivan presented the council with the offer to assess the location, which has often been pre-supposed as being an ideal location to construct affordable housing units.

Sullivan said there is no required match on the part of the town, but the funding must be allocated locally with commerce reimbursing any expenditure.

According to the literature provided by the manager to the council, the study "would evaluate existing sewer and water infrastructure to determine its capacity to support higher-density, mixed-use development. Infrastructure assessment is identified in the Town's planning documents as an important step toward understanding the corridor's future redevelopment potential.

"The 2024 Comprehensive Plan identifies increased density along Metacom Avenue as a strategy to help advance several community goals, including expanding housing opportunities, supporting economic development, and enhancing the Town's taxable real estate base."

The council engaged in a spirited back-and-forth on the item, wondering if the study was necessary as so many similar efforts have been conducted in recent years.

Councilor Keri Cronin clarified, saying, "I don't think we know what lies beneath and what those infrastructure capabilities and capacities are...That wasn't part of the initial 'Market-to-Metacom' plan," referring to the more overarching study performed by the town on the area as a whole.

"This could be a little more concrete," she added.

The broader body also dispelled the notion of the town purchasing the property, which Councilor Louis Rego believed was a possibility.

"No. Absolutely not," Council President Joseph DePasquale said in response to a statement as such by Rego.

He elaborated further, "This would give developers in the town the opportunity to know capacities, infrastructure, location, minuses and negatives in regards to what's there and what's not. So down the road, if, like the Tourister (development), if a developer comes in, they're going to know what is there or what is their burden, because it's not there."

Rego again asserted the town is considering buying the land, to which DePasquale once more said, "No, that's never been discussed. The property owners have been contacted by a previous planner (Herb Durfee), and we were told by his word that they were interested in a potential reuse."

Asked by Councilor John Hanley how long it would take to receive the expenditures back, Sullivan said, "RI Commerce, we've had some pretty good experience with Burr's Hill Park, with Parks and Rec, as far as getting reimbursed, but I can't commit to a timeline. I really couldn't commit."

Town Solicitor Anthony DeSisto joined in to caution the council it was near running afoul of open meeting laws if it continued to delve deeper into the matter as aspects of it were not included on the meeting agenda.

The item was listed on the docket as "Discussion and action regarding a R.I. Commerce Grant for $155,000.00 for site Readiness Program/Infrastructure Capacity Study for Metacom Ave."

DeSisto said, "I've got a concern because this is not what this topic is about...because it's not something that's posted. It's an important issue. I think what you need to do here is to decide whether this is, by the way, this is a reimbursement plan, so you get a front the money.

"There's no match, but you do it get back when you make your study. The key to getting the money back, and I understand Rhode Island Commerce is good about repayments...they're going to take a look at what you've done. and then they'll make the decision as to whether or not it's reimbursable."

DeSisto concluded his remarks by telling the council, "This is the subject on (the agenda), and I think you just need to take a vote."

Which the council then did, backing the measure on a 4-1 tally with Rego the dissenter.