Planning & Development
The Wrong Foot for Cranston's Transit Oriented District
As the steel rises on a former Hostess Bakery site, our curiosity rises as well. Because this new project falls within the boundaries of the area targeted for a Transit-Oriented District, I’ve gotten some emails asking whether this project is the first phase of a commuter rail station. One commenter did some sleuthing and discovered that the new structure is just a self-storage facility. Jason Pezzullo, Principal Planner for the city, has confirmed our fears. The new structure at 604 Park Avenue is a three story self-storage facility.
Self-storage is an incompatible use in Transit-Oriented Districts. In fact, Massachusetts puts self-storage in its list of TOD prohibited uses as suggested in its TOD toolkit, along with auto sales, gasoline sales, golf courses, cemeteries, and warehouses among other things.
While Pezzullo didn’t sound pleased about location of the self-storage facility, he noted that the approval of the plan was given during a time when the land in question was slated for industrial use under the comprehensive plan.
Here’s an excerpt from the minutes of the Planning Commission Meeting minutes of May 6, 2008: 
Comment
Thursday April 14, 2011
The Convoluted Spiral That Is Cranston Planning
There was an Ordinance Committee meeting preceded by an Finance Committee meeting at Cranston City Hall last night. I know, why the hell would anyone go to that double-header? The masochists turned out in droves.
moreMonday March 28, 2011
Why Build High-Speed Rail in the Northeast?
This video makes a compelling case for the introduction of true high-speed rail to the Northeast Corridor. The Corridor’s $3 trillion economy, which is 20% of the nation’s total, is relying on infrastructure that’s hundreds of years old.
moreMonday October 11, 2010
The Warwick Commuter Rail Station Set To Open October 27
The commuter rail station at T.F. Green airport in Warwick is set to open on October 27. The building, called the InterLink, includes a parking garage, car rental facilities, a RIPTA bus stop and moving walkways that connect the station to the airport terminal. The tentative schedule calls for 3 commuter trains from Warwick in the morning, and 3 return trains. The details of the schedule are being finalized by RIDOT and the MBTA.
moreSunday July 18, 2010
Pontiac Bridge Closes
RIDOT will shut down the Pontiac Bridge on Monday. Yes, there actually is a bridge somewhere on Pontiac Avenue.
moreWednesday May 12, 2010
Thee Euston-Fairweather Registry of Hyper Links: Trashing the New Comp Plan Edition
Comp Planicide Amazing. After the years of work and workshops put into the city’s first true comprehensive plan by the Planning Department, the City Council has already changed it. Ward 2 Councilman Emilio Navarro amended the plan so that 75 acres owned by Albert Scaralia along Pippin Orchard Road could allow... more