NORTH SMITHFIELD – A precious metals reclamation business that aims to build a new warehouse on Central Street is now considering a project to extend town water lines to the area.
Material Sampling Technologies has held preliminary meetings with local water officials on plans to extend the 8-inch Slatersville line from the current end at Marshfield Commons on Mechanic Street to the business’s nearby operations, according to Water & Sewer Supt. William Descoteaux. The company has also been granted a one year extension on the Planning Board’s approval of a master plan for the warehouse project presented in 2022.
The proposal to extend the line follows a court ruling that vacated a decision by the North Smithfield Zoning Board to deny requested variances for the proposed warehouse. MST hopes to erect a 23,600-square-foot structure on a currently vacant lot, expanding their current operations at 800 Central St. to an adjacent, 9.7-acre property that the business purchased in 2021.
Opponents of the project, who spoke at hearings prior to the zoning denial last November, noted the property holds forested wetlands, and expressed concerns about issues including well safety, lighting, traffic, quality of life and more. The vacant lot is situated in a mixed use zoning district, currently dominated by residential homes.
Zoners denied the business’s variance requests in a split 2-2 vote, which MST appealed in Superior Court under the name Tech Realty, LLC. An April ruling in MST’s favor means the proposed structure will no longer be required to go before the town zoners.
“Superior Court reversed the Zoning Board decision,” explained Planner Mark Carruolo at a Planning Board meeting on the extension request on Thursday, June 13. “Because (the project) was tied up in court, they’ve run out of time on the first two year master plan approval.”
Planners unanimously approved MST’s request for the one year extension, and the company will now need to submit a preliminary plan for the project, a process that triggers additional public hearings.
“We are in the process of preparing our preliminary plan submission,” noted Attorney Joelle Rocha of Duff & Sweeney LTD in a recent letter to planners.
The separate effort to extend water lines has potential to alleviate at least some concerns about private wells. Opponents have noted that the property where MST plans to build the structure holds an aquifer, and have questioned the project’s potential for contamination of groundwater.
Descoteaux said that if the proposed 1,700-foot line extension comes to fruition, some 13-15 new homes would be eligible to tie in to the Slatersville system. Costs to connect, however, would still fall to the homeowner, including a tie in fee and installation of pipes from the street to their house.
For the business, meanwhile, the water would reportedly help with cooling for operations.
“They indicated that it would be for cooling towers,” Descoteaux said of the early talks.
Discussions, for now at least, are still preliminary. Descoteaux said Casali Engineering – acting on behalf of the business – has yet to submit an application for the water extension project, which would require both state and local approvals.
Wait water cooling towers at a warehouse?? Where was THAT in their plans