EFFORTS FROM NORTH PROVIDENCE TO PRESERVE LAND THWARTED BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY

While Lombardi said he can only speculate as to why the bill — which had the support of the Town Council, the mayor and the North Providence delegation in the General Assembly — was sent back to committee, some have pointed out that the developer’s son, Rep. Peter Petrarca, D-Lincoln, sits on the Corporations Committee.

Though Petrarca recused himself from the vote, he sat next to the committee chairman for much of the hearing.

NORTH PROVIDENCE MAYOR READY TO TAKE LAND BY EMINENT DOMAIN

In order to preserve the 15 acres of Camp Meehan that is located on North Providence, Mayor Charles Lombardi has vowed to take the land by eminent domain, if necessary.  The town council supports this plan as well.

ZONING BOARD TO MEET DECEMBER 20 TO DECIDE IF AMUSEMENT PARK TO BE BUILT ON SHORES OF THE LAKE

Now Generation Realty is proposing to build an amusement park on the shores of Camp Meehan (the North Providence portion) and the zoning board will hear their proposal at the North Providence meeting Dec 20.  Stay tuned for more details.

NORTH PROVIDENCE RESIDENTS FURIOUS OVER LAWSUIT

Developer Generation Realty LLC, headed by John Petrarca from Lincoln, has brought a lawsuit against the town, stating the zoning does allow for his condo project since it was zoned residential at one time.

As far as concern about developing the last parcel of open space left in North Providence, Vincent Mesolella, a consultant to Generation Realty, has said

"Open space is a term of art.  Open space, for just the sake of open space doesn't benefit anybody."

View of the shore line of the Wenscot Reservoir that is proposed to be developed

into a condominium project.

LATEST THREAT TO CAMP MEEHAN..DEVELOPMENT FROM NORTH PROVIDENCE

A developer’s request for a zone change to allow 17 wooded acres next to Governor Notte Park to be the site for 60 condominiums and a 74-unit assisted-living complex goes before the Town Council Tuesday in what is shaping up to be a showdown over one of the few large parcels of undeveloped land in town.

John Petrarca, the father of Rep. Peter Petrarca, D-Lincoln, is a principal partner in Generation Realty, and the firm has hired as its chief consultant former North Providence Rep. Vincent Mesolella Jr., a developer who is familiar with working the levers of power.

Mesolella said the condos, which would be priced at $350,000 to $425,000 and built in phases, would be geared primarily to mature couples who are seeking to downsize and to young professionals. While the condos could be built in phases in response to demand, Mesolella said there is already a high demand for assisted-living facilities so that project would be built all at once.

In a surprise move at the scheduled town council meeting, the hearing on the zoning change for Camp Meehan was postponed at the last minute, leaving more than 200 attendees from Lincoln and North Providence frustrated but ready to use the time to gather more opposition.

Example of North Providence zoning

The sale of the 78 acres of land at Camp Meehan to the Town of Lincoln has finally been approved.

Town Administrator Sue Sheppard said the town has made a deal with Capital City Community Center to the buy the land on the North Providence line for $3.225 million, ending the fear that it could be turned into housing development.

The issue now is exactly what is the best use of this land. 

Former Town Administrator Sue Sheppard has already been quoted as saying the town may sell the North Providence portion (15 acres) to a private developer and 38 acres of the land may be turned into ballfields.

The Lincoln Taxpayers Assocation advocates keeping this land intact for enjoyment of its natural beauty.  Hiking trails, swimming and fishing is what preserbing open space is about.  We do not wish to see this land bulldozed for ballfields and asphalt.

View of Wenscott Reservoir from the road leading into Camp Meehan.

(Note: when will the town residents be allowed to enjoy this property?

The gate remains locked.)

History of Land Sale

Around the time the school bond was being considered (2002), the owners of Camp Meehan approached the Town of Lincoln

with an offer to sell the entire acreage to the town as open space, as they decided they would concentrate their efforts on their organization in Providence. 

Without giving the voters a chance to act on this once in a lifetime opportunity, the administrator turned down the offer as "too expensive".

Looking for ways to raise capital in the short term, and spurned by the town, the owners then cut a deal with private developers, DOSCO Inc., to sell off about 6 acres of the choicest lots.

This sale got the attention of the taxpayers, who voiced much opposition at public meetings.

As a result of the publicity, the town decided to hold an election to issue a bond to purchase "approximately 80 acres" to preserve for open space, which was overwhelmingly approved.