Guidelines Have to Be Consistent: Prov. Preservation Society’s Runyon on Fane Proposal

Guidelines Have to Be Consistent: Prov. Preservation Society’s Runyon on Fane Proposal

Brent Runyon with the Providence Preservation Society joined GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle on GoLocal LIVE before the Providence City Council had a public hearing on the proposal for a 46 story tower by developer Jason Fane on the 195 land — which would require a variance approved by the Council at it exceeds existing allowable height limits. 

On Wednesday evening, the City Council's Ordinance Committee voted to deny the request by Fane. Now, the matter will go before the full Council.

“How does the City Council give favoritism to one developer for an extremely outside the zoning ordinance change?” asked Runyon, who also spoke to its potential impact on what will be an adjacent park. 

“A little outside our purview [is] the fact that developers like predictability,” said Runyon.  “The city and state have put in place process to make it predictable. Twelve projects have been approved [except this one] — guidelines have to be consistent,” said Runyon. 

“We love some of our local developers, but if they came with the same project we’d opposed on same grounds,” said Runyon. “It’s about the current proposal — not the developer.”