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RI Coastal Resources Management Council

...to preserve, protect, develop, and restore coastal resources for all Rhode Islanders

In accordance with notice to members of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, a meeting was held on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. in Conference Room B, Administration Building, One Capitol Hill, Providence, RI.

Members Present
Anne Maxwell Livingston, Chair
Paul Lemont, Vice Chair
Ronald Gagnon, RIDEM
Raymond Coia
Donald Gomez
Mike Hudner
Joy Montanaro
Tony Affigne

Members Excused
Jerry Sahagian

Staff Present
Grover J. Fugate, Executive Director
Jeffrey M. Willis, Deputy Director
David Reis, Spv Environmental Scientist
Caitlin Chaffee, Coastal Policy Analyst

 

1. CALL TO ORDER

Chair Livingston called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

Mr. Coia motioned, seconded by Vice Chair Lemont, for the approval of the minutes from the meeting of Tuesday, February 25, 2014. Motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

3. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

None

4. STAFF REPORTS

Mr. Fugate reported to the Council on the following issue:

  • House Finance hearing for CRMC earlier that day focusing mainly on the open engineering positions in which they asked for another Engineering Tech IV position in place of the one engineering position we lost. They also discussed the grant for the Beach SAMP and rectifying the situation of not including the 150k in the budget.
  • Senate Budget hearing on March 18th and a presentation to Senate on Beach SAMP on March 19th
  • Senator Whitehouse will be giving a presentation on Federal efforts for climate change at the State House 3:00 p.m. on March 20th to joint hearing of the House and Senate combined committees; all of the Council members are invited.
  • There will be a Stakeholders meeting on the Beach SAMP on April 3rd
  • Army Corps of Engineers will be looking into the re-engineering of the shoreline using $20 million dollars after Sandy. Mr. Fugate informed the Council that he was appointed to the national review team.

5. Applications which have been Out-To-Notice for 30 Days and are before the Full Council for Decision:

2013-12-027 EDGEWOOD YACHT CLUB -- Rebuild the clubhouse that was destroyed by fire in the same foot print over the water. Located at plat 2-2, lots 2852, 4000, 866; 3 Shaw Avenue, Cranston, RI.

Mr. Fugate gave a brief overview of the application to Council stating that the permit could have been issued administratively but due to the significance of the application he brought it before the Council. RIHPHC sent in a letter asking for more time for façade discussions. Vice Chair Lemont motioned, seconded by Mr. Coia, for the approval. Motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

2013-11-076 LYNN MORRIS -- construct and maintain a residential boating facility consisting of a 62 foot fixed pier to a 16 foot ramp to a 10x15 foot float, extending 75 feet beyond MLW, a 25 foot variance to Section 300.4.E.3.l. Located at plat 7, lots 1-A, 1-B, 1-C; 73 Maple Street, Warren, RI.

Mr. Reis gave a brief overview of application explaining that one objection was received from the Town of Warren Conservation Commission. Mr. Reis stated that the application was approved by ACOE and no staff objections. Mr. Reis stated that this dock would be considerably shorter than the abutting docks and that the dock length of 75’ is appropriate for site. Mr. Coia motioned, seconded by Mr. Hudner, for the approval of the application. Motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

6. Applications requesting Modification before the Full Council for Decision:

1995-07-173 DAVID FARRANDModify existing dock consisting of elevation and extension of existing dock 35 feet seaward or 96 feet beyond MLW, requiring a 46 foot variance to Section 300.4.E.3.l. Located at plat 7, lot 1; 130 King Tom Drive, Charlestown, RI.

Attorney Don Packer submitted an entry of appearance as representation of Mr. Farrand who was not present. Mr. Reis gave a brief overview of the project to modify the existing dock to extend to 96’ beyond MLW making it ineligible for an administrative approval. Mr. Reis explained that the previously authorized floats, totaling 175 sf would be moved seaward achieving 1.5 feet water depth. Mr. Reis stated that the reviewing staff biologist noted that one of the reasons for the extension was that the stream flowing into Ninigret pond was dumping sediment and deeper water was needed. Mr. Reis confirmed that the dock would extend over neighbors property line extension but CRMC received a letter of no objection from abutter. Mr. Hudner, motioned, seconded by Mr. Coia, based on staff recommendations and stipulations, for approval of the modification of assent. Motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

5. Coastal Habitat Restoration Trust Fund Applications before the Council for Review and Decision:

The projects recommended for full funding are:

  1. Manton Pond Dam Nature-Like Fishway Construction ($62,523)
  2. Factory Brook Fishway Construction ($50,000)
  3. Pontiac Dam Fish Passage Feasibility Study ($50,000)
  4. Edge Restoration in the Blackstone Park Conservation District ($22,777)
  5. RIDEM Equipment Request ($5,000)
  6. Jacob’s Point Salt Marsh Restoration ($5,000)
  7. Winnipaug Salt Marsh Restoration ($5,000)
  8. Calf Pasture Point Salt Marsh Restoration ($4,700)

The project recommended for partial funding is:

  1. Statewide Salt Marsh Mapping ($20,000)

The projects not recommended for funding are:

  1. Bourne Lane Salt Marsh Restoration
  2. Rhody Native™: Capacity building for production of resilient native plant material for coastal habitat restorations
  3. Cocumscussoc Brook and Meadow Brook Wetlands Restoration
  4. Ninigret Scallop Spawning Sanctuary

Ms. Chafee presented to Council the yearly recommendations for the RI Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Trust Fund explaining that the fund contained $225,000 allocated from the oil spill prevention and response fund. Ms. Chaffee explained that CRMC has the authority to allocate to habitat restoration projects throughout the state. Ms. Chaffee explained the competitive process the applicants go through and that typically the committee focuses on saltmarsh, anadromous fish passage, dam removals, fish ladders, shellfish and eel grass projects, and submerged aquatic vegetation habitats. Ms. cHaffee explained that to date the program has funded over 80 projects in 10 years and had leveraged over 23 million dollars in matching funds.

Ms. Chaffee stated that this year the committee selected nine project for funding; three projects involve restoration of anadromous fish passage, four projects involve restoration of saltmarsh habitat, one is for coastal wetland restoration in an urban park, and one is for equipment funding for DEM mosquito abatement coordination.

Ms. Chaffee stated that this years projects would leverage $629,000.

Ms. Chaffee explained that there was a contingency list just in case funding becomes available through a project that has fallen through.

Mr. Gomez asked about the origin of the trust fund monies. Mr. Fugate stated that it is allocated by the General Assembly from the OSPAR fund which is based off of a tax of the fuel coming into the port. Mr. Fugate stated that the theory behind the use of oil spill money is that a resilient coastal habitat would be much more capable of withstanding preservations by oil spills.

Mr. Fugate stated that at some point in time a presentation could be made to the Council regarding one of the more noble projects that is funded.

Mr. Affigne praised Ms. Chaffee for her thorough presentation and collected information but asked for aerial photographs for future presentations. Mr. Affigne asked for process on the Blackstone fish wave restoration. Ms. Chaffee stated that the project was currently on hold.

Mr. Lemont asked about the 10 mile river project. Ms. Chaffee explained that construction had started but that there is an issue with the gas line that runs under the river and that National Grid had concerns about possible interruptions to service.

Mr. Lemont motioned approval as presented with a second from Mr. Coia. Motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

10. ADJOURN

Vice Chair Lemont motioned, seconded by Mr. Hudner, for the meeting to be adjourned at 6:28 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Lisa A. Turner, Recording Secretary

CALENDAR INDEX

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