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Very Important Meeting January 30, 2012!

We would like to make you all aware of the potential for development at The Brigg’s Farm property just west of The Hedley St. intersection in Portsmouth. Whether you approve or disapprove of this development, it is important that all residents, abutters and neighbors in the area know that this is proceeding to the next step.

Vincent Mesolella a former State Rep from Lincoln/ North Providence is lobbying to propose a change in zoning from Light Industrial to Commercial. This would allow for a Big Box development to go in at the location mentioned above. He would like to put in a 150,000 sq. ft. store as his anchor. Preserve Portsmouth fought hard for a size cap on all single use stores.

Anyone interested in more details may view the file at Town Hall and then attend the meeting on January 30, 2012 at 7:00pm, at Portsmouth Town Hall.

Below you will see the zoning notice in The Newport Daily News. This is not really a “meeting” as much as a Public Hearing and legal procedural step in the process that can be binding. The notice and preparation for a hearing requires a significant investment of time and money by the applicant. If attendance is light with approval resulting (and proper legal notice was given) there are then very limited rights to appeal the decision in most states.

This is not an informal step, this is moving forward and attendance by all who may be impacted, especially abutters, is critical at this juncture.

Note the following legal provisions:

1. Proposals shown thereon may be amended or altered prior to the close of the Public Hearing without further advertising as a result of fur there study or because of the views expressed at the Public Hearing.

2. Those persons wishing to be heard should attend and voice their concerns.

3. A copy of the matter under consideration may be obtained or examined at the Office of the Town Clerk. Note: ANYONE WITH INTEREST SHOULD GO DOWN TO GET COPY OR FILE WELL IN ADVANCE AND HAVE IN HAND AT MEETING.

4. NOTE: If you send a written communication that you want read into the record (advisable) follow the 3 days prior notice just to be safe.

We hope you can attend the meeting!

Preserve Portsmouth

Article Regarding the Potential Shopping Village in Portsmouth

Newport Daily News Article

Developer Hopes to Turn Farmland Into Commercial Land

The Portsmouth Town Council approved a request to advertise a zoning change for the Briggs property on West Main Road.

By Sandy McGee 7:00am

A well-known Rhode Island developer is seeking to purchase the longstanding Briggs property on West Main Road.

Derrick Mesolella, representing well-known developer and former state Rep. Vincent J. Mesolella, confirmed Monday evening that an offer has been made on the Briggs property.

“We are in negotiations to purchase,” Derrick Mesolella said. “There is a purchase and sale agreement conditional to this process.”

The developers are first seeking a zoning change for 905 West Main Road, which is known in town as the “Briggs property.”

Richard H. and Frederick D. Briggs own the land at 905 West Main Road, according to Vision Appraisal. The property is located directly across from the entrance to Hedly Street and on the corner of West Main Road and Cory’s Lane.

Vincent Mesolella, a member of CVDD III LLC in Providence, is seeking to rezone this land from light industrial to commercial.

Portsmouth town council members questioned the firm’s young respresentive about this company’s plans.

“There’s a lot of rumors going on around town about this,” Councilor Judi Staven said. “Are you the developer who wanted to put a Lowe’s at the old skating rink in Middletown?”

“We do own 1747 West Main Road. The Lowe’s was never the case,” Derrick Mesolella said. “Lowe’s never signed a release.”

“Is the plan to put a Lowe’s (in Portsmouth),” Staven asked.

“That is not the plan,” Mesolella said.

“So you have no plans?” Staven asked again.

“Not at the moment,” Mesolella said. “We don’t have tenants at this time.”

The 25-acre property currently houses a boarded-up farmhouse, which is surrounced by overgrown brush.

According to Vision Appraisal, the Briggs property dates back to 1925 when it was owned by Mervin C. and Marguerite Briggs.

Comments (2)

East side

8:06am on Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Portsmouth but a big box limitation when Target was coming to town so why stir the pot? there should be a test before these people become town reps.

Al Honnen

8:39am on Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Town involvement in this property goes back a few years when the council voted to allow for some residential developement of this farmland in exchange for a piece of land that would place a road between West Main Road and Corey’s Lane and would eliminate one of the lights at this location on West Main Road.
I would suggest that the council ask if this will (could) be done by the new developer. That is a very dangerous intersection where many accidents happen each year.

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