RICRMC Semi-Monthly Agenda 6/26/12

AGENDA
Semi-Monthly Meeting – Full Council
Tuesday, June 26, 2012; 6:00 p.m
Conference Room A
One Capitol Hill
Providence, RI

Approval of the minutes of the previous meetings – June 12, 2012

Subcommittee Reports

Staff Reports

Coastal Education Series – John Torgan, Director of Ocean and Coastal Conservation, The Nature Conservancy

Ratification by the Council of CRMC Executive Director's Federal Consistency Determination:

2012-01-027 RHODE ISLAND AIRPORT CORPORATION -- TF Green Airport – Extension of Runway 5-23 approximately 1530 feet south for a total runway length of 8700 feet and the relocation of Main Avenue to the south to facilitate the extension at the Runway 5 end. In addition, Runway 16-34 safety enhancements will require a partial relocation of Airport Road 100 feet north of the current intersection with Post Road to accommodate the installation of engineered materials arresting system (EMAS). EMAS will also be installed at the Runway 5 end to reduce the degree of relocation needed for Main Avenue. The safety improvements to Runway 34 end, which include EMAS, necessitate the placement of fill material into approximately 5.0 acres of freshwater wetlands that form the headwaters of Buckeye Brook. The proposed wetland fill activity triggers both federal (USACE) and state (RIDEM) wetland permit requirements. Located at 2000 Post Road, Warwick, Rhode Island..

Applications Which Have Been Out-to-Notice for 30 days and are Before the Full Council for Decision:

2009-06-090 H. H. ACQUISITIONS CORP. -- The existing crushed stone roadway (Church’s Lane) will be augmented with a layer of gravel creating an even 12’ wide roadway. The on-site end of this improved roadway will include a 20’ wide emergency vehicle turnaround. In addition two (2) 10’ wide shoulder turn-offs will be created. These improvements to Church’s Lane are being proposed to provide access to a proposed dwelling. The improvements to the roadway will require alterations to 13,296 square feet of freshwater wetlands. The project will incorporate creation of wetland replication area because of this alteration. This wetland replacement area will be excavated to create a new continuous wetland (27,885 square feet). This replacement wetland is approximately 1,293 square feet larger than required (required is twice the size of impacted wetland or 26,592 square feet). A variance to RICRMP Section 100.4.(F.1) is required. Specifically, filling, removing or grading of any tributary wetland is prohibited. However, an exception to this prohibition may be permitted by the council “where filling is required to access otherwise buildable land and where no other reasonable alternative for access exists and when the applicant has satisfied the variance burdens of proof set forth in Section 120 of the RICRMP” (RICRMP Section 120, Variances). Located at plat 5, lot 36, 38; 120 Church’s Lane, Little Compton, RI.

2011-11-021 CURTIS JACKSON -- Construct and maintain a three acre aquaculture lease in Bluebell Cove, Portsmouth. The operation plan is for clams under tents, and oysters in bags on a bottom longline. Please see the attached documents for the plan and location. Located in Bluebell Cove, Portsmouth, RI.

2012-02-041 MICHAEL & LAUREEN COSTA -- Construct and maintain a residential boating facility consisting of a 4 ft. wide by 97.5 ft. long fixed timber pier that leads to a ramp that leads to a 7.5 ft. by 20 ft. terminal float. The proposed facility is to extend 102 ft. seaward of the cited Mean Low Water mark, and therefore requires the issue of a variance for RICRMP dock standard 300.4.E.3.l. Located at plat 123, lot 11, 12; 70 Everett Avenue, Bristol, RI.

2012-04-048 CARL JACOBSON -- Construct and maintain a residential boating facility consisting of a 4’ x 97’+/- fixed timber pier that leads to a 3’ x 18’ ramp that leads to a 7.5’ x 20’ (150 sf) terminal float. The proposed facility is to extend 98’ seaward of the cited Mean Low Water mark and therefore a 48’ variance to RICRMP Standard 300.4.E.3.l is sought. Located at plat 69-2, lot 32; 307 Winchester Drive, South Kingstown, RI.

Public Hearing on Changes to the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Program:

RICRMP Section 300.7. -- Construction of Shoreline Protection Facilities

Modify 300.7.A.1 as follows:

1. Structural shoreline protection facilities include revetments, bulkheads, seawalls, groins, breakwaters, jetties, and other structures, the purpose or effect of which is to control the erosion of coastal features, and includes any sheet pile walls, concrete or stone walls, or other structures that are located within the 50-foot minimum setback or the erosion setback pursuant to Section 140 and which would extend to a depth below grade to protect land or structures from active or future shoreline erosion.

Add new 300.7.B.4 as follows:

4. Any sheet pile walls, concrete or stone walls, or other structures that are located within the 50-foot minimum setback or the erosion setback pursuant to Section 140 and which would extend to a depth below grade to protect land or structures from active or future shoreline erosion shall be defined as a structural shoreline protection facility. Such facilities shall comply with the policies, prerequisites, prohibitions, and standards herein.

Modify 300.7.C.1 as follows

1. Permits for projects with structural shoreline protection facilities located below mean high water must be obtained concurrently from the Army Corps of Engineers and the CRMC. Council and Army Corps requirements are designed to complement one another; applicants should consider the requirements of both agencies when beginning the permit process. In some cases, the Council may require an applicant to obtain applicable Army Corps of Engineers permits prior to applying to the Council. A CRMC Assent is not valid unless the applicant has received all required Army Corps of Engineers approvals. For purposes of federal consistency the CRMC shall require applicants to submit a copy of the completed Army Corps of Engineers application to partially fulfill the federal requirements pursuant to 15 CFR § 930.

The purpose of these proposed changes are to define certain structures within CRMC defined setbacks as structural shoreline protection facilities, and provide specific requirements for federal consistency activities involving structural shoreline protection.

Category “A” List

CALENDAR INDEX

RI Coastal Resources Management Council