Zoning Board Zenga-less For First Time In Decades

Joe Zenga, who sat on the Zoning Board of Review for 26 years, had to step down because of new term limits.

Joe Zenga was a fixture on the East Greenwich Zoning Board of Review for 26 years. He'd be there still if new term limits hadn't forced him to step off the board for at least two years. "I miss my compadres," said Zenga recently. "And I miss the girls in the Planning Department." One of those "girls," EG Planning Department head Lisa Bourbonnais, had this to say about Zenga: "He was a very consistent decision-maker. He made every effort as a voting member to keep the board user-friendly and pro-business. He was also always interested in putting the best foot forward for the Town. He was interested in how things looked, how they were maintained and how they functioned. He was definitely motivated by seeing East Greenwich maintain its …

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Planning Board OKs 40-Unit Greenwich Boulevard Development [VIDEO]

Before shoves hit the ground, however, many more approvals are needed.

After hours of testimony over three separate Planning Board meetings, members finally voted Wednesday night, granting master plan approval to Joe Zenga’s 40-unit Greenwich Boulevard development by a vote of 6-0. “I didn’t think you guys would be so thorough,” said Zenga after the vote. The longtime East Greenwich resident had remained largely silent over the course of the meetings, letting his team - led by lawyer David Igliozzi – do the talking. The original plan, unveiled in April 2011, called for 62 housing units. By the time it came before the Planning Board in March, the number had been reduced to 40, with one commercial building where the Sunnybrook Farms now stands. The development would extend from Main Street (Sunnybrook Farms) …

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Planning Board Reviews Greenwich Blvd. 40-Unit Proposal; Vote June 6

A few abutters voice concerns on traffic flow and snow removal, while members of the EG Housing Authority applaud the inclusion of 10 affordable housing units.

Joe Zenga’s plans to put 40 housing units on roughly 4.5 acres of land abutting American Legion Post 15 were methodically vetted last week during a four-hour-long Planning Board meeting at Town Hall. Testimony and public comment were halted at 11 p.m. May 23, with plans to take up the issue again – and vote – at a meeting on June 6. Zenga is looking for "master plan" approval to build 40 residential units, 10 of which would be deed-restricted as affordable. Also part of the plan is a commercial/retail building where the Sunnybrook Farms is now. Because a court reporter did not show up, the proceedings were taped. Lawyers from both sides agreed to abide by a transcript of the tape, which they could review. Engineers for the developer took …

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5 Things You Need To Know Today

Sex, Jazz, The Internet & More

Five things you need to know about East Greenwich today, March 7.

Affordable Housing Task Force meeting: The panel will discuss its ongoing publicity campaign, with an upcoming presentation to the EG Rotary Club. They will also get an update on the town’s Comprehensive Plan overhaul. The meeting starts at 3 p.m. in Conference Room B at Town Hall. Planning Board meeting: The major agenda item is a master plan conference on a proposal by property owner Joe Zenga to build a development on Greenwich Boulevard that would include 40 residences as well as a commercial/retail building at 1002 Main St., on the site of Sunnybrook Farms. Architect Don Powers, who designed the smaller Greene Street Cottages, has designed the project. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at Town Hall. Everything You Need…

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