City of Newport meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Newport agendas take up waterfront rezoning, $60,000 Sister City allocation, police vehicle contract — no votes recorded yet

Newport boards have posted agendas touching an 8.5-acre rezoning at the former Navy Hospital site, a proposed $60,000 annual allocation to the Sister City Commission, and a contract award for police vehicle replacements. None of the five meetings listed in the past two weeks has published minutes, so no votes, tallies, or outcomes are available. Everything below is what was scheduled for consideration, not what was decided.

Waterfront rezoning draws two boards

The Planning Board's Oct. 5 agenda included amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to establish a Waterfront Campus subdistrict, and a proposed rezoning of an 8.5-acre parcel identified as TAP 09, Lot 219 to Innovation Hub – Waterfront Campus. The City Council's Oct. 14 agenda listed public hearings on zoning amendments and on rezoning Plat 9, Lot 219 from Innovation Hub – Urban Village to Waterfront Campus. The two agendas use different parcel labels ("TAP 09" and "Plat 9"); both are reproduced here as written.

Money and contracts before the Council

The Oct. 14 Council agenda included a public hearing on a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application, a proposed $60,000 annual allocation to the Sister City Commission, and a contract award for Police Vehicle Replacements. No dollar figure for the vehicle contract appeared in the agenda summary.

Licenses

Also on the Oct. 14 Council agenda: entertainment license hearings for The Pyramid Club and El Tapatio Newport.

Subdivisions and a demolition report

The Planning Board agenda listed two minor subdivision applications, each requesting to split one lot into two — at 59 Washington Street and at 701 Bellevue Ave. It also included an informational report on the demolition of a two-family structure at 59 Ruggles Ave. The agenda describes the Ruggles Ave item as informational; no action was specified.

Historic District Commission

The Commission met Oct. 8 with 15 property modification applications listed, and Oct. 13 with 11 applications listed. Several addresses appear on both agendas, including 28 Pelham St (elevator shaft, HVAC replacement and copper awning), 17 Leroy Ave (a 20'x40' swimming pool and French doors), 42 Sherman St (conversion of a 2-bay garage to an ADU) and 1 Berkeley Ave (a conservatory on the south elevation). The Oct. 8 agenda also listed 8 Washington Sq (slate repair, masonry cleaning and a custom wood door); the Oct. 13 agenda added demolition of a 1980s pergola at 141 Narragansett Ave.

What the record does not show

No minutes have been published for any of these meetings, so this roundup cannot report what was approved, denied, continued or tabled, or how any member voted. Two of the entries describe the same Oct. 14 City Council meeting, listed once under an Oct. 9 date and once under Oct. 14; they are treated here as one meeting.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings were listed in the schedule provided for the next 14 days. Residents who want to track the waterfront rezoning, the CDBG application or the Historic District Commission applications should watch for posted minutes and the next agendas from the City Council, Planning Board and Historic District Commission.

Newport agendas: 8.5-acre waterfront rezoning, Broadway liquor license transfer, two subdivisions

Four meetings across three Newport bodies appear in the records provided for the period from Sept. 30 to Oct. 14, 2026. They took up an 8.5-acre waterfront rezoning, a liquor license transfer on Broadway, two subdivision requests with variances, and 15 Historic District Commission applications. All of the records are agendas; no minutes have been published in the material provided, so nothing below is a confirmed outcome. This is what was scheduled.

Waterfront rezoning at former Navy Hospital site

The Planning Board was scheduled to consider amendments to the Zoning Ordinance establishing a Waterfront Campus subdistrict in the Innovation Hub District, and to rezone about 8.5 acres at Plat 9, Lot 219, the former Navy Hospital site. The board's action is a recommendation to the City Council, not a final decision. The City Council has a public hearing scheduled for Oct. 14 on rezoning Plat 9, Lot 219 from Innovation Hub – Urban Village to Waterfront Campus.

Broadway liquor license transfer

Acting as the Board of License Commissioners, the City Council was scheduled to hear a request to transfer a Class C liquor license at 140-142 Broadway from Pivotal Brewing Company, LLC to MXR-RD-RI-1, LLC, doing business as El Tapatio Newport. The owners listed are Jack Watson and Pedro Barajas. A new victualing license for El Tapatio Newport at the same address — first and second floors and rear patio — was tied to the transfer. Entertainment license hearings for El Tapatio Newport and for The Pyramid Club are on the Oct. 14 council agenda.

Two subdivisions with variance requests

The Planning Board was scheduled to review two minor subdivisions under Unified Development Review:

• PLN-26-8 at 59 Washington Street: split one lot into 8,500 sf and 31,583 sf lots, with requested variances on lot area, setbacks, lot coverage (22% and 40% where 20% is allowed), and parking (0 spaces where 111 are required).
• PLN-26-11 at 701 Bellevue Ave: split 102,684 sf into 62,428 sf and 40,266 sf lots, with requested variances on minimum lot area (40,266 sf where 60,000 is required), setbacks, and lot coverage (12.02% where 10% is allowed).

Fire training structure funding

The Sept. 30 council agenda included Action Item #6679/26, authorization to pursue grants and philanthropic funding to replace the Newport Fire Department training structure.

Historic District Commission

The commission was scheduled to decide on 15 applications for exterior alterations to contributing and non-contributing properties, covering new construction, demolition, and material replacement. Among them: #HDC-26-111 (28 Pelham St), elevator shaft, HVAC replacement, and copper awning; #HDC-26-112 (8 Washington Sq), slate repair, masonry cleaning, and custom wood door; #HDC-26-125 (17 Leroy Ave), a 20'x40' swimming pool and French doors; #HDC-26-136 (42 Sherman St), converting a 2-bay garage to an ADU; and #HDC-26-138 (1 Berkeley Ave), a conservatory on the south elevation.

Other agenda items

• Public hearing on a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application.
• A proposed $60,000 annual allocation to the Sister City Commission.
• A contract award for Police Vehicle Replacements.
• Second readings of ordinance amendments to sections 5.97.020, 10.08.010, 10.16.020, 10.16.030, 10.20.120, and Chapter 10.72 (Bicycles).
• A Castle Hill Neighborhood Association communication opposing the stormwater rate structure under consideration (receive).
• An informational demolition notice, 2026-DEMO-06, at 59 Ruggles Ave, a two-family 1948 structure, reviewed by the TRC on Sept. 9, 2026, with a decision letter recorded Sept. 18, 2026.

Coming up

The list of upcoming meetings supplied for the next 14 days is empty. The only future meeting identified in the records provided is the City Council regular meeting listed for Oct. 14, 2026, which includes the waterfront rezoning public hearing, the CDBG hearing, and the entertainment license hearings.

Because only agendas were available, this roundup reports what was scheduled, not what was decided.

Newport boards weigh grants, variances, and historic alterations

Newport city boards met over the past two weeks to review a range of items, from entertainment applications to zoning variances. No minutes have been published for any of the meetings, so no decisions are known yet. The agendas are summarized below.

Historic District Commission (Aug. 11)

The commission reviewed five applications for changes to historic properties, including a garage conversion at 77 Kay St., a bulkhead replacement at 39 Elm St., a rear addition at 59 Bridge St., multiple alterations at 21 Clay St., and a tennis court at 562 Bellevue Ave.

City Council (Aug. 12)

The council’s agenda included new entertainment licenses for Gardiner House (24 Lee’s Wharf), Midtown Race Club (255 Thames St.), and Jo’s American Bistro expansion (24 Memorial Blvd. West). It also considered awarding Bid #2026-PS-019 for historic gravestone restoration, accepting two DOJ Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants totaling $24,932, a resolution on Memorial Blvd. traffic calming and Complete Streets improvements, and a resolution authorizing a Public Health Vending Machine Program. The council then convened as License Commissioners for liquor license renewals.

Zoning Board of Review (Aug. 20)

The board heard variance requests from Fleury Properties for a new dwelling unit at 75 Pope St./2 West St. and a pool, garage, and dormers at 173–175 Coggeshall Ave. Other requests included a shed at 73 Kay St., a garage at 16 Andrew St., a temporary candy kiosk at Long Wharf Mall, and a withdrawal request from The Collection at Barney, LLC.

City Council (Aug. 21)

The council’s agenda included referring waterfront zoning amendments to the Planning Board, authorizing grant applications for Fire Watch Tower restoration, accepting additional Safe Streets and Roads for All grant funds, awarding a contract for Easton’s Beach Resilience Plan Phase 3, and second readings on sewer service ordinance amendments.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days.

Newport boards weigh variances, licenses, and grants; decisions pending

Newport's Zoning Board of Review, City Council, and Historic District Commission met in late July and early August to consider a range of requests, including residential variances, entertainment licenses, federal grants, and property alterations. Minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, so no decisions are known.

Zoning Board of Review — July 27

The Zoning Board met July 27 to hear 12 residential variance requests. Among the items on the agenda were 12-month extensions for cases at 17 Bayview Avenue and 6 ½ & 8 Cross Street, and a 9-month extension for 33 Corne Street. The board also considered dimensional variances for a dormer addition at 7 Malbone Road (3 feet from property line vs. 10 feet required), a garage expansion and lot coverage increase at 153 Ruggles Avenue (29.9% vs. 20% allowed), a garage conversion to a bedroom at 6 Tompkins Court in the Historic District, a rear addition and roof deck at 32 Bayside Avenue, and third-floor dormers and a pool at 173-175 Coggeshall Avenue. An appeal of a zoning decision on driveways at 18 Barney Street and 3 & 4 Barney Court was also on the agenda, as was a special use permit for a five-bedroom guest house at 640 Thames Street with no additional parking.

City Council — August 6

The City Council met August 6 to consider several entertainment licenses. First hearings were scheduled for new licenses for Gardiner House at 24 Lee's Wharf and Midtown Race Club at 255 Thames St., as well as an expansion of entertainment hours for Jo's American Bistro at 24 Memorial Blvd. West. The council also voted on accepting two federal grants from the U.S. Department of Justice Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program: $8,825 and $16,107. A resolution requesting traffic calming, pedestrian safety, and Complete Streets improvements for Memorial Blvd. was also on the agenda.

Historic District Commission — August 6

The Historic District Commission met August 6 to review one continued application and four new applications for exterior alterations to contributing properties. The continued application (#HDC-26-69) would convert a garage to an accessory dwelling unit at 77 Kay St. New applications included replacing a bulkhead with a metal door at 39 Elm St. (#HDC-26-87), expanding a rear addition at 59 Bridge St. (#HDC-26-91), multiple alterations including dormers, chimney removal, and roof replacement at 21 Clay St. (#HDC-26-93), and constructing an outdoor tennis court and other changes at 562 Bellevue Ave. (#HDC-26-97). The commission also heard an invitation from the Utilities Department.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days.

Newport Council Set to Act on $321,600 Road Safety Grant; Historic District Commission Reviews Multiple Property Applications

The Newport City Council has a packed agenda for its July 8 regular meeting, including a proposed $321,600 federal road safety grant and a public hearing on repairs to Mumford Manor. Meanwhile, the Historic District Commission held two meetings this month to weigh alterations to properties across the city. Minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, so outcomes are not yet confirmed.

City Council — July 8

The council's agenda lists a public hearing on a Community Development Block Grant application for Mumford Manor, located at 39 Farewell Street. The grant would fund repairs to the property.

Among the action items scheduled for a vote:

• **Accepting a $321,600 FHWA SS4A grant award** for road safety. The federal Safe Streets and Roads for All program funds the grant.
• **A contract award** for the Station 1 Drinking Water Treatment Plant SCADA and PLC modernization project.
• **A Henderson Home Trust distribution** for maintenance and reserves.
• **Parking changes** on South Baptist Street and Bridge Street.
• **Designating a parking lot as a transit hub.**

The council is also scheduled to receive a notice of a projected school budget deficit from the Superintendent. Consent items include special event permits, waste hauler license renewals, and commission resignations. License renewals and appointments are also on the agenda.

Because minutes have not been published, it is not yet known which items were approved, modified, or tabled.

Historic District Commission — July 10

The commission was scheduled to review five applications for property modifications:

• **365 Thames St:** Replace a glass wall and vestibule, install an ADA ramp, and update signage.
• **77 Kay St:** Convert a garage into a two-story accessory dwelling unit.
• **14 Leroy Ave:** Construct a detached garage, pool, and pool house.
• **6 Tompkins Ct:** Convert a 2-car garage to a primary suite and add a new garage.
• **421 Gibbs Ave:** Reconstruct a garage for a primary suite and alter the roofline.

Historic District Commission — July 14

A second HDC meeting four days later covered several of the same properties plus new applications, with more specific filing details:

• **Application #HDC-26-78** — NewPort Architecture LLC seeks permission for a detached garage, pool, and pool house at 14 Leroy Ave, classified as a non-contributing property.
• **Application #HDC-26-80** — Anne Ferraro requests replacing a plaster front porch ceiling with wood beadboard at 96 Second St, a contributing property.
• **Application #HDC-26-81** — Robert Damiano and Linda Perry Piera propose converting a 2-car garage into a primary suite and adding a 15'x19'6" garage at 6 Tompkins Ct, a non-contributing property.
• **Application #HDC-26-83** — Fleury Properties LLC seeks to construct a new front porch replicating the original at 1 Cottage St, a contributing property.
• **Application #HDC-26-84** — Jamie and Harmony Oschefski request reconstruction of an existing garage for a primary suite, reconfiguration of the front entry, and roofline alteration at 421 Gibbs Ave, a contributing property.

The agenda notes the board would also continue discussion of previously submitted projects. Decisions will be recorded in the meeting minutes, which have not yet been published.

What This Means for Residents

The $321,600 federal safety grant, if accepted, would fund road safety improvements in Newport. The CDBG application for Mumford Manor could direct federal housing funds toward building repairs. The HDC applications affect what property owners can build or change in the city's historic districts, where exterior modifications require commission approval.

Coming Up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents should check the City of Newport's official meeting calendar for scheduling updates.

Newport council set to weigh CDBG grant, school deficit notice, and parking changes; minutes not yet published

Newport's recent government meetings are on the calendar, but official minutes have not yet been published for any of the sessions listed below. What follows is drawn from the agendas only; no votes, approvals, or final decisions can be confirmed until the minutes are released.

City Council — July 8, 2026

The Newport City Council's regular meeting was scheduled to include a public hearing on a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for Mumford Manor, located at 39 Farewell Street. The agenda also listed several action items:

• **$321,600 federal safety grant** — Authorization to accept a $321,600 FHWA FY-24 SS4A grant award for road safety.
• **School budget deficit notice** — A notice of a projected school budget deficit from Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain.
• **Parking ordinance revisions** — Proposed changes would prohibit parking on South Baptist Street and designate Bridge Street as one-way.
• **Water treatment plant contract** — A contract for Station 1 Drinking Water Treatment Plant SCADA and PLC modernization.
• **Henderson Home Trust distribution** — A distribution for maintenance and reserves.
• **Transit hub designation** — Designating a parking lot as a transit hub.
• **Consent items** — Special event permits, waste hauler license renewals, and commission resignations.

Because minutes are not yet available, it is not known which items were approved, tabled, or continued.

Historic District Commission — July 10, 2026

The Historic District Commission was scheduled to review five property applications:

• **365 Thames St** — Proposal to replace a glass wall/vestibule, install an ADA ramp, and update signage.
• **77 Kay St** — Application to convert a garage into a two-story accessory dwelling unit.
• **14 Leroy Ave** — Request to construct a detached garage, pool, and pool house.
• **6 Tompkins Ct** — Proposal to convert a 2-car garage to a primary suite and add a new garage.
• **421 Gibbs Ave** — Request to reconstruct a garage for a primary suite and alter the roofline.

No outcomes are confirmed; minutes have not been published.

What this means for residents

The CDBG hearing for Mumford Manor at 39 Farewell Street concerns a federal grant application for the property. The $321,600 FHWA grant, if accepted, would fund road-safety improvements. The projected school budget deficit notice from Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain is a procedural step that flags a potential shortfall; any budget action would follow separately. Parking changes on South Baptist Street and Bridge Street, if adopted, would affect how residents and visitors park and travel in those areas.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Readers seeking confirmed outcomes from the July 8 council meeting and the July 10 Historic District Commission meeting should watch for the official minutes, which had not been published as of this report.

Newport Council Set to Consider $20M FEMA Grant, Tax Rate Adjustment; Zoning Board Reviews Variance Petitions

Newport's City Council and Zoning Board of Review have several consequential items on their agendas, but minutes have not yet been published for any of the recent meetings. All items below reflect what was scheduled for consideration, not confirmed outcomes.

City Council — June 24, 2026 Meeting

The council agenda included a resolution to adjust the non-owner occupied residential tax rate (Item #23). No vote tally or dollar figure for the adjustment was listed in the agenda.

The council was also scheduled to authorize seeking two FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants:

• **$20 million** for South Easton's Pond Dam flood resiliency (Item #19)
• **$1.425 million** for Elizabeth Brook daylighting (Item #18)

Other items on the agenda: a bid award for the Sidewalk Improvement Program 2026 (Item #16), an ordinance revision prohibiting parking on Russell Avenue (Item #11), special event licenses, a sound variance public hearing, and appointments to city boards.

City Council — July 8, 2026 Meeting

The council will hold a public hearing and act on a Community Development Block Grant application for Mumford Manor at 39 Farewell Street.

The agenda includes a notice of a projected school budget deficit from Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain. No dollar amount for the deficit was specified in the agenda.

The council is also scheduled to consider:

• Authorization to accept a **$321,600** Federal Highway Administration FY-24 SS4A grant award for safety
• Ordinance revisions prohibiting parking on South Baptist Street and designating Bridge Street as one-way
• An electricity supply fixed-rate contract and a contract for Station 1 water treatment plant SCADA modernization

Zoning Board of Review — June 22, 2026 Meeting

The board was scheduled to hear three full-hearing variance petitions:

• **18 Barney St:** The Collection at Barney, LLC seeks variances for AC condenser and deck reconstruction, increasing lot coverage from 59% to 61% (45% allowed).
• **32 Bayside Ave:** Equity Investment Group seeks variances for a rear addition and roof deck, increasing lot coverage from 29.8% to 36.9% (28.48% allowed).
• **153 Ruggles Avenue:** Variance to increase lot coverage beyond allowed limits. No specific figures were listed in the agenda.

Extension requests were scheduled for 57 Marchant (6 months) and 551 Thames Street (12 months). A petition for 2 Wheatland Court was listed for withdrawal by staff.

A continued hearing for 640 Thames Street, LLC — requesting a special use permit and variance to convert a dwelling to a 5-bedroom guest house without parking — was continued to July 27, 2026.

What We Don't Know Yet

All three meetings are marked "agenda only" — minutes have not been published. No vote tallies, approvals, denials, or final dollar amounts are available. Outcomes will be confirmed when minutes are released.

Coming Up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. The Zoning Board's continued hearing on 640 Thames Street is scheduled for July 27, 2026.

Newport Council Takes Up Non-Owner Occupied Tax Rate, $20M Flood Grant Bid

The Newport City Council this week considered a resolution to adjust the tax rate for non-owner-occupied residential properties, while also weighing multimillion-dollar flood resilience grants and a Community Development Block Grant application for affordable housing. Because official meeting minutes have not been released for any of the recent sessions, voting outcomes and final actions remain unknown.

Zoning Board reviews variances for Barney Street, Bayside Avenue

The Zoning Board of Review met on June 22 with a docket heavy on dimensional variances. Petitions included:

• **18 Barney Street**: The Collection at Barney, LLC sought variances for an AC condenser and deck reconstruction that would push lot coverage from 59% to 61%, above the 45% limit.
• **32 Bayside Avenue**: Equity Investment Group sought variances for a rear addition and roof deck, increasing coverage from 29.8% to 36.9% (28.48% allowed).
• **153 Ruggles Avenue** was also scheduled for a full hearing.

The board voted on extension requests for 57 Marchant (six months) and 551 Thames Street (twelve months). A petition for 2 Wheatland Court was withdrawn by staff. A special use permit and variance sought by 640 Thames Street, LLC to convert a dwelling into a five-bedroom guest house without parking was continued to July 27.

City Council ponders flood grants, sidewalk work, and tax rate

At its regular June 24 meeting, the City Council faced several financial and infrastructure items, all still awaiting minutes.

A resolution to adjust the non-owner occupied residential tax rate was listed as Item #23. The council also considered two authorizations to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants:

• A $20 million request for South Easton’s Pond Dam flood resiliency.
• A $1.425 million request for the Elizabeth Brook daylighting project.

Other agenda items included a bid award for the 2026 Sidewalk Improvement Program (Item #16) and an ordinance revision to prohibit parking on Russell Avenue (Item #11).

Council hears CDBG application for Mumford Manor, learns of school deficit

The council held a public hearing during its July 2 meeting on a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for Mumford Manor at 39 Farewell Street. The session, for which minutes are also unavailable, included a notice from Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain of a projected school budget deficit, though no dollar figure was detailed in the agenda.

Among other proposals were:

• Authorization to accept a $321,600 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant award.
• Ordinance revisions to prohibit parking on South Baptist Street and to establish a one-way designation on Bridge Street.
• A fixed-rate electricity supply contract and a contract for SCADA modernization at the Station 1 water treatment plant.

Coming up

No public meetings are currently listed in the city’s upcoming calendar for the next two weeks. The next scheduled session is the continued Zoning Board hearing for 640 Thames Street on July 27.