A vacant Charles Street commercial building moved a step toward becoming 32 one-bedroom apartments. The 48-unit Baird Avenue proposal, which drew neighbor opposition over septic plans, soils, flooding and traffic, returns for more public hearing on October 14, along with a proposed new tree ordinance.
North Providence, R.I. — The North Providence Planning Board on Wednesday night approved master plan review for a 32-unit apartment conversion of a vacant commercial building on Charles Street, and continued to October 14 a heated public hearing on a 48-unit adaptive reuse project on Baird Avenue, according to the North Providence Planning Board’s published meeting recording.
The board also postponed a recommendation to the Town Council on a new tree ordinance to its October 14 meeting, and approved minutes from its June 10 and August 12 meetings by voice vote. An item docketed for Mineral Spring Avenue was continued without a date at the start of the meeting.
Charles Street: 32 apartments approved at master plan stage
The applicant’s attorney said the project would convert an existing two-story commercial building into three floors of one-bedroom apartments without extending the building. The plan was originally advertised at 29 units with commercial space in front; the attorney said the owner opted to drop the commercial space and go fully residential, raising the count to 32…