Welcome to the RICRMC Coastal Hazard Application WORKSHEET and ONLINE VIEWER!

Please download and print the RICRMC Coastal Hazard Application WORKSHEET from the link below, and use the ONLINE VIEWER to access the maps and other information required for completion of the WORKSHEET.

Coastal Hazards Application Interactive Worksheet (PDF)

Coastal Hazards Application Online Viewer

A note to applicants: The primary purpose and use of the Coastal Hazard Application (CHA) Worksheet and Viewer is to notify the applicant of potential coastal hazards that should be taken into consideration when planning shoreline development. These hazards include sea level rise (SLR), storm surge and associated flooding and shoreline erosion. The CRMC’s goal is to increase understanding and awareness of these potential hazards among the development community (property owners, builders, realtors, financial institutions and insurers) with the hope of guiding development and investment away from vulnerable areas. While the CHA is required for projects meeting specific thresholds (see below), the CRMC encourages all applicants to consider using the CHA process to assess future risks to their proposed projects.

Our understanding of the impacts of climate change and the pace at which these changes are likely to occur is constantly evolving. Adaptation to these impacts will require frequent adjustment as conditions and our understanding of those conditions change. The Coastal Hazard Application and Viewer are a first step to educate applicants and increase understanding of present and future coastal hazard risks.

For the CHA process, the CRMC recommends a minimum 30 year “design life” be considered when evaluating the impacts of future coastal hazards. However, in some cases, depending upon the site characteristics and the type of development proposed, impacts may be expected to occur within a shorter period of time. Applicants are advised that CRMC staff will utilize the full suite of STORMTOOLS maps to identify potential impacts to proposed development that may not be included in the CHA analysis. These may include flooding scenarios projected to occur within shorter time intervals or during lower-magnitude storm events, and impacts to site elements such as onsite wastewater treatment systems, private drinking water wells, parking and access. Staff may make recommendations for avoiding such impacts to applicants based on these analyses.

The list of projects below must complete the RICRMC Coastal Hazard Application WORKSHEET to be filed in addition to and with your standard CRMC application (http://www.crmc.ri.gov/applicationforms.html).

Any of the following new projects, including tear downs and rebuilds, located on a coastal feature or within the 200-foot contiguous area:

1. construction of new residential buildings as defined in § 1.1.2;
2. construction of new commercial and industrial structures as defined in § 1.1.2;
3. construction of new beach pavilions as defined in § 1.1.2;
4. construction of any new private or public roadway, regardless of length;
5. construction of any new infrastructure project subject to §§ 1.3.1(F), (H), and (M); and
6. construction of any new subdivisions with six (6) or more lots, any portion of which is within 200 feet of a shoreline feature.

Any of the following modifications to existing projects, including tear downs and rebuilds, located on a coastal feature or within the 200-foot contiguous area:

1. any expansion of existing commercial structures over tidal waters;
2. any expansion greater than 600 square feet to existing residential, commercial, industrial or beach pavilion structures;
3. second story additions greater than 600 square feet to any existing residential, commercial, industrial or beach pavilion structures; and
4. any modification to existing residential, commercial, industrial or beach pavilion structures when such structures are located within the CRMC minimum setback specified by § 1.1.9.

See Section 1.1.6 (I) of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Program for specific regulatory requirements for the coastal hazard analysis application requirements: http://www.crmc.ri.gov/regulations/RICRMP.pdf.

The tools on this site provide guidance for applicants to address Coastal Hazards for specified projects in the design and permitting process for the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council.

Chapter 5 of the Shoreline Change Special Area Management Plan (Beach SAMP) provides additional background for this coastal hazard analysis application process. It is available online at http://www.crmc.ri.gov/samp_beach.html.

Questions? Please contact the RI Coastal Resources Management Council permitting staff at (401) 783-3370 or email cstaff1@crmc.ri.gov