Zoning Board postpones Dunkin' decision; hearing still scheduled

The Bristol Zoning Board of Review has postponed a decision on a controversial proposal to build a new, free-standing Dunkin' Donuts in Gooding Plaza on Hope Street, but will still hold a hearing on the matter at 7 p.m. Monday.

An amended agenda for Monday's meeting includes a notation on the Dunkin' Donuts proposal that "Due to a lack of quorum, this petition will be continued ... this continuance date to be determined at December 12, 2016 meeting."

That is not to say that the Zoning Board won't hold a hearing. The item is still on the agenda, and interested residents are still welcome to attend to voice their concerns. The attorney representing the Dunkin' Donuts owner is scheduled to appear before the board and present the case, according to the Bristol Community Development office.

Christopher Prazeres, a Seekonk, Mass., resident who owns the existing Dunkin’ Donuts in the Hope Street plaza, asked the Bristol Zoning Board to give him a hearing on his proposal after the previous hearing was postponed indefinitely in September. Mr. Prazeres proposes building a new restaurant with a drive-thru between the Defiance Fire Company and BankNewport on Hope Street, directly in front of the existing restaurant. Dozens of area residents had packed Town Hall for that meeting to protest the drive-thru they say will further exacerbate and already untenable traffic situation around the Hope Street - Gooding Avenue intersection. 

The Bristol Town Council requested an additional traffic study be conducted that takes into account increased traffic during summer months when more tourists are in town, increasing traffic. The previous traffic study, which indicated the drive-thru would not significantly affect traffic in the area, was conducted on a Thursday morning in December.

Police Chief Josue Canario wrote to the state Traffic Commission in October requesting the study.

"The area of Hope St. at Gooding Ave. is a busy intersection carrying traffic from many businesses situated on Gooding Ave, along with day to day traffic traveling Hope Street," Chief Canario wrote. "A spike in traffic on Hope St at Asylum Rd occurs during the warmer seasonal months ... There are many days, from mid to late afternoon, when north bound traffic on Hope St is bumper to bumper, stop and go. Seasonal traffic during the warmer months increases on this stretch of Hope St, adding to the traffic congestion."

The traffic commission has not yet responded to the request, according to Town Council Chairman Nathan Calouro. Still, Mr. Prazeres, through his attorney, William Dennis, requested his proposal be put back on the Zoning Board docket.

“My client, as a courtesy, continued indefinitely his application based on the Town Council (traffic study), which we believed would be promptly conducted by the town of Bristol,” Mr. Dennis wrote to the Zoning Board. “As it turned out, the minutes of that Town Council meeting revealed no intention by the town to conduct a study. Rather, the intention expressed was to make a request of the RI State Traffic Commission. Of course, there is no way to determine if the state will agree to conduct such a study or when such a study of the entire corridor may occur.”

The Zoning Board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday.