Wednesday, May 21, 2008 12:15 PM EDT
Planning Board unanimously supports SUFA/town shelter
 A $2.4 million, joint town and Stand Up for Animals animal shelter is on its way to beginning construction. |
WESTERLY — After nearly four years of planning, a $2.4 million, joint town and Stand Up for Animals animal shelter is on its way to beginning construction.
Planning Board members unanimously approved the master and preliminary plan for the major land development on Tuesday. The town planner is expected to grant final approval.
Excavation of the foundation is slated to begin in the next month and the project is expected to last 12 to 14 months, said Thomas Liguori Jr., the attorney representing the project.
Plans call to construct the animal control facility on town land located off Westerly-Bradford Road, adjacent to the Department of Public Works garage currently under construction at the town transfer station site.
The location was selected under an agreement and lease between the town and the nonprofit group Stand Up for Animals. The new, town-maintained building will serve as the town’s animal control facility as well a SUFA animal sanctuary.
SUFA Vice President Larry Hirsch told Planning Board members the project has been a “rough, rocky road.”
He, however, also pointed to a “great synergy” reached between the town and SUFA: “I don’t think it’s been done before.”
The agreed-upon location is the third move for the building, Liguori said. The building depicted in current plans is around 5,000 square feet smaller than the initial plans, found to be “cost prohibitive.”
Providence-based Kite Architects designed a building that fits 10,000 square feet of usable space in a 7,000 square foot footprint by including basement and loft space, Liguori said.
The last iteration placed the building across Larry Hirsch Way adjacent to Chapman Pond and prompted some noise concerns from residents living along the pond.
Liguori said under current plans — which place the building back in the originally chosen location — kennel noise is blocked to the east by the animal shelter building and wetlands before reaching the pond.
Carolyn Doyle, project engineer from Cherenzia and Associates, said RI Historic Cemetery No. 23 and Route 78 sit to the west of the animal shelter site. An archeological survey, reviewed by the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, raised no objections to building roughly 25 feet from the cemetery.
The project has been pegged at $2.4 million and has received a $300,000 municipal contribution — which includes $150,000 in funds and the remainder in remedial work like digging the foundation. SUFA has, to date, raised slightly less than $2 million from the community, Liguori said.
The planned wood-frame building will feature brick and stucco architectural enhancements and include 24 dog kennels, a cat sanctuary, a small critters room, a procedure room, a large community room, a pet adoption room, handicap accessible restrooms, SUFA office space, animal control officer offices, isolation areas for sick cats and dogs and a laundry and grooming area. Plans also include an emergency generator.
Because of its location on a former landfill that had never been adequately cleaned or capped, the town is responsible for meeting state Department of Environmental Management landfill closure requirements on both the animal shelter and Department of Public Works sites. This includes capping the sites with 24 inches of cover – gravel, loam and asphalt.
Project representatives lauded the work that had been done to reach this stage Tuesday.
Liguori said the project would not have progressed without the persistence of Hirsch and SUFA President Diane Kinney.
“I just think it’s one of those good news stories that needs to be celebrated,” he told Planning Board members.
Board member Patricia Douglas — an alternate sitting in Craig Nichols’ absence — also thanked SUFA representatives for their efforts.
“Because the facility that we have now does not speak very well for Westerly,” she said of the current, overcrowded shelter.
The conversation also turned good-humored, when board Vice Chairman Thomas Toscano asked if the shelter would only take animals of a certain size.
Board Chairman Mario Celico quipped, “They won’t take any elephants.”
Liguori added, “No donkeys and no elephants. It’s a politically correct facility.”
edupuis@thewesterlysun.com
Planning Board members unanimously approved the master and preliminary plan for the major land development on Tuesday. The town planner is expected to grant final approval.
Excavation of the foundation is slated to begin in the next month and the project is expected to last 12 to 14 months, said Thomas Liguori Jr., the attorney representing the project.
Plans call to construct the animal control facility on town land located off Westerly-Bradford Road, adjacent to the Department of Public Works garage currently under construction at the town transfer station site.
The location was selected under an agreement and lease between the town and the nonprofit group Stand Up for Animals. The new, town-maintained building will serve as the town’s animal control facility as well a SUFA animal sanctuary.
SUFA Vice President Larry Hirsch told Planning Board members the project has been a “rough, rocky road.”
He, however, also pointed to a “great synergy” reached between the town and SUFA: “I don’t think it’s been done before.”
The agreed-upon location is the third move for the building, Liguori said. The building depicted in current plans is around 5,000 square feet smaller than the initial plans, found to be “cost prohibitive.”
Providence-based Kite Architects designed a building that fits 10,000 square feet of usable space in a 7,000 square foot footprint by including basement and loft space, Liguori said.
The last iteration placed the building across Larry Hirsch Way adjacent to Chapman Pond and prompted some noise concerns from residents living along the pond.
Liguori said under current plans — which place the building back in the originally chosen location — kennel noise is blocked to the east by the animal shelter building and wetlands before reaching the pond.
Carolyn Doyle, project engineer from Cherenzia and Associates, said RI Historic Cemetery No. 23 and Route 78 sit to the west of the animal shelter site. An archeological survey, reviewed by the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, raised no objections to building roughly 25 feet from the cemetery.
The project has been pegged at $2.4 million and has received a $300,000 municipal contribution — which includes $150,000 in funds and the remainder in remedial work like digging the foundation. SUFA has, to date, raised slightly less than $2 million from the community, Liguori said.
The planned wood-frame building will feature brick and stucco architectural enhancements and include 24 dog kennels, a cat sanctuary, a small critters room, a procedure room, a large community room, a pet adoption room, handicap accessible restrooms, SUFA office space, animal control officer offices, isolation areas for sick cats and dogs and a laundry and grooming area. Plans also include an emergency generator.
Because of its location on a former landfill that had never been adequately cleaned or capped, the town is responsible for meeting state Department of Environmental Management landfill closure requirements on both the animal shelter and Department of Public Works sites. This includes capping the sites with 24 inches of cover – gravel, loam and asphalt.
Project representatives lauded the work that had been done to reach this stage Tuesday.
Liguori said the project would not have progressed without the persistence of Hirsch and SUFA President Diane Kinney.
“I just think it’s one of those good news stories that needs to be celebrated,” he told Planning Board members.
Board member Patricia Douglas — an alternate sitting in Craig Nichols’ absence — also thanked SUFA representatives for their efforts.
“Because the facility that we have now does not speak very well for Westerly,” she said of the current, overcrowded shelter.
The conversation also turned good-humored, when board Vice Chairman Thomas Toscano asked if the shelter would only take animals of a certain size.
Board Chairman Mario Celico quipped, “They won’t take any elephants.”
Liguori added, “No donkeys and no elephants. It’s a politically correct facility.”
edupuis@thewesterlysun.com
Re: Sugar Daddy/TAKE IT DOWN!/etc. wrote on May 29, 2008 12:17 PM:
" How dare you disparage the citizens of Westerly. Through your several posts, you obviously look down on others who are not of your "class". That is reason enough to ban you and your ideas and send you packing to wherever you came from. So long........................ "
Re: Sugar Daddy/TAKE IT DOWN!/etc. wrote on May 29, 2008 12:09 PM:
" How dare you disparage the citizens of Westerly. Through your several posts, you obviously look down on others who are not of your "class". That is reason enough to ban you and your ideas and send you packing to wherever you came from. So long, sweetheart! "
Karen wrote on May 29, 2008 11:49 AM:
" Not only are we going to have a new 2.4 million dollar animal shelter, we're going to have a NEW BRIDGE OVER THE TRAIN TRACKS LEADING RIGHT TO THE CALIBREASE CLUB!!!!!!!!!! HOW CONVENIENT!! Guess what this is going to cost us taxpayers$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ THAT'S RIGHT$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ "
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ "
George W. wrote on May 29, 2008 11:43 AM:
" TAKE IT DOWN...YOUR A CRY BABY!! IF THINGS DON'T GO YOUR WAY THIS IS HOW YOU REACT. YOUR A VERY EMOTIONAL PERSON, MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T READ THE PAPER ANY MORE OR AT LEAST TALK BACK. DID YOU EVER HEAR OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH? WELL, HERE IT IS, SO STOP YOUR CRYING AND GET ON WITH WHAT EVER YOU DO AND STOP PUTTING DOWN THE WESTERLY SUN! YOU MUST BE ONE OF "THOSE" PET LOVERS WHO IS ANAL ABOUT IT. GET OVER IT AND GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE. WAH, WAH, WAH! "
TAKE IT DOWN! wrote on May 29, 2008 11:16 AM:
" TO THE WESTERLY SUN: Note the posting from "Sugar Daddy" below. I REST MY CASE! Users of this services should register with a user name and password and log in each time they post! "
Sugar Daddy wrote on May 29, 2008 8:48 AM:
" I am not against people who have mental illness...I just think that there are an excessive amount of people in the Westerly area who have it! "
TAKE IT DOWN! wrote on May 29, 2008 8:45 AM:
" ONCE AGAIN, THE SUN IS ALLOWING THESE POSTINGS TO GET PERSONAL, ANGRY AND INFLAMMATORY! THE SUN SHOULD READ THE RULES ATTACHED TO OTHER ONLINE NEWSPAPER AND TV SITES WHERE THE USER MUST AGREE TO THE RULES BEFORE POSTING, AND FURTHER, MUST LOG IN. IF THE SUN IS NOT GOING TO MONITOR THESE COMMENTS MORE CLOSELY, AND IT APPEARS THEY WILL NOT, THEN WESTERLY PEOPLE SHOULD STOP POSTING! ONE POSTING ACCUSES A PERSON OF HAVING A SUGAR DADDY. ANOTHER MAKES A BLANKET STATEMENT WITHOUT MERIT STATING THAT THE CONSTRUCTION WILL COME IN OVER BUDGET. IN ALL REALITY, THESE STATEMENTS ARE PROBABLY FALSE, NOT TO MENTION ONE BEING DISPARAGING. C'MON, WESTERLY SUN, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THESE POSTINGS MORE CLOSELY. I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU HAVE USERS AGREE TO AN AGREEMENT AND LOG-IN PRIOR TO USING THIS SERVICE. THIS WOULD ALLOW YOU, THE SUN, TO NOT ONLY REMOVE SUCH POSTINGS, BUT TO FOREVER BLOCK USERS WHO ABUSE THE SERVICE. THINK ABOUT IT! "
UPSET TAXPAYER wrote on May 28, 2008 4:41 PM:
" This town council LOVES to spend our hard earned MONEY$ What's wrong with you people? 2.4 MILLION for a animal shelter? I agree they need more space, they could have added on to what they already have couldn't they? Well, if not they needent be so fancy, and you know as well as I do IT WILL BE OVER BUDGET$$$$ Come on, you really don't think this is ok, cuz if you do...YOU ALL NEED YOUR HEADS EXAMINED!!!!!!!!!!! "
Esmirelda wrote on May 28, 2008 3:55 PM:
" SUGAR DADDY????, you say you are so for children and animals, but you also state you are vehemently against human beings with mental illness. How can that be???
"
"
SUGAR DADDY???? wrote on May 28, 2008 9:48 AM:
" THERE MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE WATER BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESS!!!! "
Re: UNBELIEVABLE! wrote on May 27, 2008 5:16 PM:
" There must be SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU if you can't wrap your head around it. Who is your "Sugar Daddy"??? "
dettie wrote on May 26, 2008 5:58 PM:
" i for one think that the conditions under which the present shelter is operating is appalling. i am glad that the new shelter is finally breaking ground soon. "
UNBELIEVABLE! wrote on May 26, 2008 12:34 PM:
" There are lot of people in this Town worried about money! I just can't believe the negativity over such a wonderful cause. Why can't the Town help the animals AND the schools? Listen, there are plenty of people in this Town who have demonstrated anger toward the schools, and TRUST ME, I AM NOT ONE OF THEM. I attended the Westerly Public Schools and possess "Bulldog loyalty" and always will defend our schools! BUT, I will, also, defend SUFA, JUST AS ADAMANTLY! I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF BOTH, THE CHILDREN AND THE ANIMALS! I JUST WISH I COULD UNDERSTAND YOUR WAY OF THINKING, BUT I CAN'T WRAP MY HEAD AROUND IT! "
Jesse Applewhite wrote on May 26, 2008 10:21 AM:
" Who let the dogs out; Arf Arf? Let's see......we are getting rid of 40 positions in the Westerly School Department and we're spending 2.4 million dollars on a Pet Shelter? Let me guess....along with illegal immigrants, ANIMALS have been successfully registered to vote in Westerly? "
WAKE UP!! wrote on May 25, 2008 9:39 PM:
" Dear Heartless - perhaps you have never had children that need an education, better yet, a child who has special needs who relies on the special ed teachers and therapists that could possibly be facing lay offs. While I love animals very much (and have had cats, dogs, fish and birds), I would rather see my tax dollars go toward Westerly Public Schools. Come back to reality - this town is starting to write checks the taxpayers can't cash. "
Garrett wrote on May 25, 2008 1:54 PM:
" OK, Heartless don't go all emotional and irrational on us. Take a deep breath and pull yourself together. Any rational person would see that this shelter is way overkill and to ask the town to participate in this project the way it is, is inappropriate. For the sake of the townspeople I hope the town has a written contract with this group that clearly limits the Town's involvement and funding, now and in the future. I would rather see a premium project like this 100% privately funded with no town involvement at all. "
Heartless??? wrote on May 25, 2008 8:35 AM:
" The negative postings I see below obviously come from those who don't have pets, never experienced the love of a dog or cat, and think only of their pocketbooks. I would draw the conclusion that they have a love, that of money. Where are your hearts? Have you looked into the eyes of a pup or a kitten without a family to care for them? When my dogs passed, one at 14 and the other at 16+ years, who I treated like little princesses, I had lost members of my family. They remain in memory and heart just like losing anyone else in the family. WE OWE IT TO THESE WONDERFUL ANIMALS WHO GIVE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, DO NOT JUDGE YOU, ACCEPT ANYTHING YOU DO AND ANYTHING YOU ARE, AND ALL THEY WANT IN RETURN IS A HOME WITH LOVE, FOOD AND SHELTER. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK. Remember, those who help the helpless will find it easier to enter paradise. AGAIN, THANK YOU MRS. DOUGLAS AND THE REST OF THE PLANNING BOARD FOR YOUR COMPASSION!! "
Richard wrote on May 23, 2008 12:14 PM:
" All that money for a "lean-to"? What's wrong with a concrete block building like we have now or like they have in many other towns? SUFA members must have big wallets. The common taxpayer in Westerly doesn't, but the common taxpayer is going to get stuck for all the high priced maintenance, etc., etc., etc. for this unnecessarily rich shelter. I don't want to pay for that green roof when it starts leaking - and it will! (Besides, the town cannot properly maintain the buildings it has now!) What a bargain! "
Angela wrote on May 22, 2008 8:31 PM:
" Who are we building this shelter for? The dogs? Really. Come on. This is a joke. Will the animals be getting jeweled collars when they leave? "
Concerned Resident wrote on May 22, 2008 12:09 PM:
" The support for this shelter should come from donations only. I am sure any resident of this town that is an animal lover will donate. "
George wrote on May 22, 2008 9:43 AM:
" We're building too many "monuments" in this town that are being foisted on the overburdened taxpayers. What's next????? "
Barking dog wrote on May 22, 2008 8:53 AM:
" It is always great with those without voices are supported by those with. Thank you for being the voice of the animals. "
Chippy wrote on May 22, 2008 8:23 AM:
" I think Westerly is getting too rich for the average Taxpayer. The Taxpayers are going to get sucked into supporting this fancy-schmancy shelter in the future (and for a lot more than they would want). I think the do-gooder's need to come down to earth ~ leave something the town entirely out of your own pocket and not out of mine. "
Concerned Resident wrote on May 22, 2008 7:19 AM:
" HURRAY FOR THE ANIMALS! "
al wrote on May 21, 2008 10:58 PM:
" Great job!!! I know of other communtities that are looking to westerly as a shining example of how the public and private sectors can work together to improve the dire condition of animals. "
HolyCow wrote on May 21, 2008 7:30 PM:
" How many other $2.4M animal shelters in a community like Westerly exist in New England??? Hmmmmm................. "
THANK YOU wrote on May 21, 2008 3:45 PM:
" THANK YOU TO MRS. DOUGLAS AND COMPANY! The community is eternally grateful on behalf of the animals. "
Cathy wrote on May 21, 2008 11:50 AM:
" It's about time! Best of Luck! "
 | Share your thoughts.... Our TalkBack option has been updated to improve service to our viewers. Some comments made prior to March 26 may not be available for viewing outside of the archives section. Thank you for your patience during this update. TalkBack is an opportunity for viewers to exchange comments regarding online content. Comments are moderated. Please allow time for posting. Comments are not edited. They are either approved or they are not. Comments should be void of personal attacks, foul language, advertisements or impersonations. Please limit comments to 200 words or less. |