Bristol zoning board unanimously rejects Belvedere proposal

By Kristen Ray
Posted 8/5/19

To the applause of several sitting in the audience, the Bristol Zoning Board of Review informally voted Monday night to unanimously deny the controversial “Belvedere at Thames St.” …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Bristol zoning board unanimously rejects Belvedere proposal

Posted

To the applause of several sitting in the audience, the Bristol Zoning Board of Review informally voted Monday night to unanimously deny the controversial “Belvedere at Thames St.” development proposal.

After listening to hours of testimony over the course of several hearings from both supporters and objectors of Jim Roiter’s plans to construct a mixed-use, commercial and residential building at the corner of State and Thames streets, board members found they were unable to grant the 14 variances he was requesting.

From the lack of evidence supporting a financial hardship; to concerns that the new construction would negatively impact the surrounding area; to beliefs that there was an insufficient amount of first-floor commercial space use along Thames Street, board members instead found the project required an excessive amount of relief.

“It appears, speaking for me, that this is close to the most relief possible, not the least,” said board member Charlie Burke.

The other board members ultimately agreed, voting unanimously to instruct town solicitor Andy Teitz to draft them a decision to deny. Board members will formally vote on that decision at their upcoming meeting on Monday, Sept. 9.

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.