Found at https://turnto10.com/news/local/residents-say-warehouse-development-near-warwick-pond-will-negatively-impact-environment
TurnTo10WJAR by JESSICA A. BOTELHO, NBC 10 NEWSMon, March 28th 2022 at 7:14 AM

This is a site on Commerce Drive in Warwick, where a 491,000 square foot distribution warehouse will be constructed. NBC 10 News observed an excavator at the site Wednesday, March 23, 2022.

WARWICK, R.I. — A group of Warwick residents has been meeting monthly to discuss concerns they have with a variety of environmental issues within the city.

They said the latest problem is a 491,000 square foot distribution warehouse -- originally proposed for 541,000 square feet -- that will be built near the Buckeye Brook watershed.

“It’s a mile upstream from Warwick Pond on Commerce Drive off Airport Road,” Philip D’Ercole, who lives along Edgehill Road with his wife, Carmen, told NBC 10 News.

Mayor Frank Picozzi says while he was neither for nor against the project, the proposal was approved by the city's planning and zoning department without any zoning changes. He said it passed city, state, and federal guidelines.

“They complied with everything that was required,” Picozzi said of NorthPoint.

“There’s no legal way we could tell them they couldn’t build there even if we wanted to,” the mayor added. “They’ve conformed to every rule and regulation. This company bought the property, and they are entitled to build there. We can’t just say no. It’s against the law.”

Picozzi also said the company is funding a three-year water quality study with the Buckeye Brook Coalition.

A spokesman for Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management told NBC 10 that DEM reviewed the project and approved wetlands and storm water permits, but also noted that the city negotiated with the builder, and through its zoning and planning divisions, vetted the project before it was presented to DEM.

The spokesman said the developer and the city submitted plans to DEM, and because the project involved alterations to wetlands and had storm water implications, they reviewed the application and issued the permit.

He also said stakeholders affiliated with the Buckeye Brook Coalition reviewed the plans while they were in DEM’s purview and were not opposed to DEM issuing the permit.

2022.02.22 Site Construction Final Plan Set 30 by Jessica A. Botelho on Scribd

Still, D’Ercole, as well as other residents, said they aren’t happy.

D’Ercole held a meeting with residents March 21 in a community room at the Warwick Public Library on Sandy Lane. Six others were in attendance.

They included Madeline White, who said she has lived in the city for about 70 years.

She is frustrated about the warehouse, which she said will likely have a negative impact on wildlife.

“Pollution outweighs any kind of economic value,” White said during the meeting, which was livestreamed on Facebook.

“This is going to effect the watersheds,” she told NBC 10. “The officials don’t seem to be concerned with it.”

Other residents, including Doug Clark, shared similar sentiments.

In addition to environmental concerns, such as storm water runoff from the roof and parking lot, as well as fumes from tractor trailer engines, they worry about traffic and noise.

“When this construction starts, people are going to be wondering what hit them,” Clark said.

“I want to know what the pros are,” he later added.

Picozzi said the warehouse is going to bring more than 100 jobs to the area. He also said he made no tax concessions to NorthPoint.

“They are paying the full rate like everyone else,” the mayor said. “No tax deals were made. They asked me for them, and I kept saying no. We’re going to get full tax revenue.”

The mayor went on to note that tractor trailer traffic will be intermittent. As far as the noise, he reminded residents that there’s been an airport in the area for years, adding that the warehouse will be set back from the road.

“I don’t see how noise would be an issue,” Picozzi said.

An article published in the Warwick Beacon in February 2021 notes that the design of the warehouse would make it one of Warwick’s largest warehouses, covering nearly 11 acres. It would include 116 loading bays, 124 trailer stalls, as well as parking for 404 vehicles.

“You could have anywhere from 30 to 40 trailer trucks going in and out at a time in that area,” D’Ercole said. “The fumes are going to be generated from the engines -- unless they plan to have all electrical trucks. Maybe they will. Right now, that’s farmland.”

NBC 10 called Michael Johnston, of NorthPoint, for a comment. A reporter left a message, which was not returned.

Since moving to Warwick about 20 years ago, D’Ercole said he has been “very involved” in environmental issues in the city.

He operates the Facebook account, “Friends of Warwick Ponds,” which has 550 followers. He said he is working with homeowners to shed light on the issues, which include the flooding of Warwick Pond, as well as frequent algae blooms in the water.

“If anybody thinks there won’t be hazardous waste chemicals in that warehouse, they are out of their minds,” D’Ercole said.

D’Ercole said the next meeting with residents will be held at the library April 18 at 6 p.m. It will also be livestreamed on Facebook.