North Smithfield Town Council - February 17, 2026
Meeting — February 17, 2026
Meeting overview
Agenda at a glance
| Agenda item | Summary | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Open Forum (opening) | One resident spoke (see Public Comments). | 1 speaker |
| Board of Licensing — Liquor License Transfer (Kung Fu Kitchen) | Transfer from Ichiroku Ramen and Fusion, 44 Dowling Village Boulevard. | Approved |
| Consent Agenda | Approved as amended. | Approved |
| Payment of Bills | Moved to the end of the meeting. | Deferred |
| HT Auto LLC (Leo's Auto Parts) — Junkyard License Revocation Evidence | Status update only; continued to March 2 along with a related environmental contract. | Continued |
| Salary and Wage Ordinance — Second Reading | Approved as amended. | Approved |
| Fire and Rescue Contract Addendum (July 2025–June 2028) | Funds two additional firefighter positions. | Approved |
| Utility Easement — Narragansett Electric and Verizon (0 Mattity Road) | Approved as amended. | Approved |
| Updated Zoning Ordinance — First Reading and Public Hearing | Comprehensive overhaul required by state law changes; hearing continued to March 16. | Continued |
| Payment of Bills (returned to) | Approved, $3,158,843.52. | Approved |
| Open Forum (closing) | Two residents spoke (see Public Comments). | 2 speakers |
Key issues and discussion
Police Station Project Oversight — Open Meetings Act Question
A resident asked why the town's police station building project has not been overseen by a formally constituted Building Committee, as prior town building projects have been, holding open meetings with published agendas and minutes. Council members responded that the informal group meeting on the project holds routine contractor-update calls where no decisions are made, with all actual decisions coming before the full Council. The resident asked whether the town had obtained a written legal opinion on whether the arrangement must comply with the Open Meetings Act; the Town Solicitor committed to research the question, including consultation with the Attorney General's office, and provide a written opinion.
Leo's Auto Parts — Junkyard License Revocation Proceeding
The Building/Zoning Official reported substantial progress on the property, including vehicle removal and fencing work covering roughly one-third of the property — the areas visible to abutting residents — with the remaining wooded portion subject to wetlands constraints limiting further work until spring plantings.
Council members raised concerns about visibility from the street, the lack of a clear site plan defining specific compliance requirements, and long-standing environmental concerns given the property's location above a shared regional aquifer. The applicant's attorney said he had prepared substantial demonstrative evidence but was uncertain what the Council wanted presented that evening, and agreed to submit materials in advance of the next hearing.
Environmental Consulting Contract — Extended Discussion, No Decision
The Council discussed a proposed environmental consulting contract to review the property's compliance with stormwater, groundwater, hazardous-material, wetlands, and zoning requirements. Council members expressed mixed views on the proposal's value and cost, and no vote was taken. Given the volume of open questions, the Council continued the entire matter to the March 2 meeting and asked the administration to arrange further legal guidance on fencing and non-conforming-use standards beforehand.
Updated Zoning Ordinance — First Reading and Public Hearing
The Town Planner and a planning consultant presented a comprehensive overhaul of the town's zoning ordinance, required to bring the town into compliance with sweeping 2023–2024 state land-use and zoning law changes. The process included two public workshops, an online survey with 170 responses, and public outreach at the 2024 Pumpkin Festival.
Eleven sections were updated to meet state requirements, covering development review procedures, adaptive reuse and comprehensive permit standards, dimensional variance and modification rules, special use permits, inclusionary zoning, and new statewide accessory dwelling unit standards. The town also proposed additional updates, including formally codifying recreational marijuana zoning consistent with a prior town referendum, removing provisions that conflicted with exclusive state regulatory authority, consolidating solar energy approval pathways, and correcting several internal inconsistencies in the existing code. The public hearing was continued to March 16, with the second reading and adoption vote scheduled for the same date.
Fire and Rescue Contract Addendum
The Council approved an addendum to the Fire and Rescue contract funding two additional firefighter positions to properly staff an additional rescue unit, given heavy reliance on mutual aid from neighboring communities.
Public comments
| Speaker | Summary |
|---|---|
| Mike Clifford Opening and Closing Open Forum |
Questioned why an informal group meeting regularly on the police station project has not been constituted as a formal Building Committee subject to the Open Meetings Act, and asked whether the town had obtained a written legal opinion on the question. |
| Stan Zuba During the Zoning Ordinance public hearing and closing forum |
Asked the Town Planner to confirm general zoning law principles regarding non-conforming uses, and separately raised concerns about the volume of pending items on the March 2 agenda and the difficulty of navigating state environmental compliance processes as a private citizen. |
| Christopher Zangieri (attorney for HT Auto LLC) | Said he had prepared substantial demonstrative evidence regarding the Leo's Auto Parts property and agreed to submit materials to the Town Clerk in advance of the next hearing. |