Quest Montessori School facing obstactles in Narragansett

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A view from the lobby of the proposed Montesorri Quest school in Narragansett. Illustration by Donald Powers Architects.

NARRAGANSETT—Paul Raymond, the head of Quest Montessori School and a prospective property-owner in the town said in an interview that he is up against “significant obstacles” in the state’s current system of regulatory controls.  Recently, his proposal to re-zone a portion of Boston Neck Road as “commercial” has stalled and his school’s future in the town is threatened.  After months of architectural designs, engineering plans, wetland protection zones, and traffic reports were approved by the planning board, the council has twice delayed re-zoning the property. But the council has twice delayed the proposal. Most recently because Narragansett is the only town in Rhode Island that does not allow a school by special permit in a residential area.