Housing Authority's 10-Unit Complex Frustrates Neighbors

The East Greenwich Housing Authority plans to build 10 low-income apartments on South County Trail starting this winter, its first new construction since it built Marlborough Crossings in the 1990s. 

Abutters on Cononchet Trail and South County Trail have expressed their frustration with the project, saying they have had no input. In particular, residents of Cononchet Trail, which is behind the development, say the apartments are going to be too close to the eastern property line and there are too many units planned for the lot, which is just over half an acre.

"It's 12 feet off my property," said Mike Thibideau, who lives on Cononchet Trail. "And it's too big."

Zoning for commercial highway districts requires a 40-foot setback. A private developer in this situation would have to go before the EG Zoning Board for a setback variance. According to Town Planner Lisa Bourbonnais, that sort of request is not uncommon and she said some relief would probably be granted, although probably not to the extent of reducing it to a 12-foot setback.

The EGHA is not a private developer, however. As a government entity, it is exempt from the town's zoning regulations by state law, much as schools and government buildings are. Cole Middle School, for instance, was not required to conform to town zoning rules when it was built in 2010-11.

EGHA is not bound by zoning rules to notify abutters, but did so "out of courtesy," according to EGHA Director Marcia Sullivan. 

"The Town Council has no jurisdiction over that project," said Council President Michael Isaacs Monday night, in response to public comment from resident Renu Englehart, who voiced her objections over the project's density, lack of setback, and the cost of additional children in the schools should families move in.

"We can do nothing about it," said Isaacs. "Nevertheless … they are working with the abutters to do what they can to address their concerns." 

He said in addition the housing authority did say it would consider submitting plans to the Planning Board for an advisory ruling on any future projects. 

The EGHA bought the property in February 2011 for $160,000. At the time, there was a single-family house on the lot. While that house could have been turned into a low-income unit, this was the first time in more than a decade for the housing authority to add a number of low-income units at once. So the housing authority had the house demolished (for $5,000). 

"It's the first parcel I found that we could afford," said Sullivan. She noted the housing authority had been interested in the state-owned land at the corner of Post Road and Cedar Avenue, but at $400,000 it was too expensive. (That property was also eyed by the former EG Fire District, but a study found Native American burial ground remains.)

Getting an affordable piece of land was the first goal. Making the economics work to build units was the second. It's those economics, said Sullivan, that drove the number of units needed on the parcel. 

"Ten units is what it takes to manage and maintain the property well and support it over the 30-year deed restriction," Sullivan said. "Both [lenders] want to know that you're generating a bit of reserve so, as the building gets older, you'll be able to make repairs."

Money from three different "pots" made up the funding for the project: a $960,440 federally subsidized loan through BankNewport, a $400,000 federal grant, and $300,000 from the R.I. affordable housing bond program.

Plans call for two separate buildings with five units each. At the front of both buildings will be one single-story, handicapped-accessible unit, then four two-story units lining up behind it. The parking lot at the front of the property includes 18 spaces, more than the mandatory 1.5 spaces per unit. That was in response to resident complaints about possible overflow parking. EGHA added fencing to the plans, also in response to abutter concerns. 

Thibideau said he understands the need for affordable housing, but wished the development could be half the size. Whether it's 5 units or 10, even after this complex opens, East Greenwich will still be nearly 300 units short of the state-mandated 10 percent affordable housing. EG has 5,342 housing units, 232 of which were considered "affordable" in 2012, according to HousingWorks RI.

He said he's also worried about his property values. Sullivan said such worries are not borne out by studies, which generally show there is no impact on property values and crime rates when low-income housing is built. 

Henry Caniglia, who owns the empty parcel on South County Trail that abuts the project on the south (as well as Chef-a-Roni, a bit to the north), agreed with Thibideau that the project is too dense for the size of the land. 

"I didn't think it was logically a good thing. You're putting a residential area into a commercial highway setting," said Caniglia. "If there's going to be children there … they're going to be playing on a state highway." 

Still, he's sanguine. 

"I think my hands are tied," he said. "It's there and you accept it now."

Construction is due to begin this winter with occupancy planned for summer 2014. People interested in applying to live in one of the units must have a household income of no more than $71,000.