Mill owner applies for demolition permit

WESTERLY The owner of the Potter Hill Mill has applied to the town for a demolition permit on the heels of the town taking steps to demolish buildings on the property itself.

Meanwhile, a hearing on Renewable Resources Inc.s appeal of the towns demolition order, the legal mechanism putting the company on notice of the towns intent to demolish buildings on the property, was postponed from Thursday night to Feb. 28, meaning the long saga will likely continue for at least another few months.

The hearing, to be conducted by the Building Code Board of Appeals, was postponed by agreement of the board and Renewable Resources, town solicitor Michelle Buck said. Kelly Fracassa, the lawyer who represents Potter Hill Mill, did not return a telephone message requesting comment for this story.

Edward Carapezza, the principal owner of Renewable Resources Inc., wrote to Building Official David Murphy on Tuesday in an email and outlined the companys plans to demolish eight buildings on the property, starting with the wooden buildings.

Carapezzas apparent willingness to demolish the buildings comes one month after he said he would fight efforts to demolish the buildings, which he planned to renovate and maintain because of their historic significance.

On Jan. 18, the town issued a stop work notice to Renewable Resources claiming it had started unauthorized demolition work without obtaining town, state, and federal permits.

Renewable Resources Inc. is appealing a Dec. 20 demolition order citing unsafe conditions issued by the town. The order puts the company on notice of the towns intent to demolish buildings on the property and to charge the company for the work through the placement of a tax lien on the property.

The dilapidated 19th century mill has been targeted for demolition, at various times, since at least the early 1980s when it was owned by Helen Cottrell.

Rhode Island Superior Court Associate Justice Brian Stern recently cleared the way for the town to demolish the property when he vacated a restraining order which had prohibited the town from following through on an earlier demolition order.

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Mill owner applies for demolition permit