In accordance with notice to members of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, a meeting was held on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. in Conference Room A, Administration Building, One Capitol Hill, Providence, RI.

Members Present
Anne Maxwell Livingston, Chair
Paul Lemont, Vice Chair
Ronald Gagnon, RIDEM
Don Gomez
Joy Montanaro
Jerry Sahagian
Paul Beaudette

Members Excused:
Tony Affigne
Mike Hudner

Staff Present
Grover J. Fugate, Executive Director
Jeff Willis, Deputy Director
Richard Lucia, Spv Civil Engineer
John Longo, Legal Counsel

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

Vice Chair Lemont motioned, seconded by Mr. Gomez for the approval of the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

3. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS None

4. STAFF REPORTS

Mr. Fugate informed the Council on the following items:

• The first Semimonthly meeting for November will be moved to Wednesday, November 12th at 6:00 p.m. due to the state holiday of Veteran’s Day.
• Update on the Matunuck enforcement cases that were to be brought before the Council.
  • Beachview Associates asked for continuance and submitted an application which needed corrected plans
  • Kennedy and Pilling requested a continuance and time to submit a plan; they were given a date certain
  • Valinote is scheduled for next meeting.
• Explanation of the workings of the Regional Planning Body which includes Janet Coit RIDEM Director and himself as members to look at Ocean planning in New England.
• The North East Regional Ocean Council which is co-chaired by Jeffrey Willis, RICRMC Deputy Director will be having a meeting two days from now to discuss regional work between federal and state governments.
• The Regional Planning Board will be meeting for two days in New Hampshire about how to increase efficiency of decision making in the federal government and dovetailing on the State level.
• There will be a national conference in Washington DC from November 3rd to November 5th on Restoration and Coastal resilience. A few CRMC staff members will be attending, Caitlin Chaffee will give a speech and Mr. Fugate will be giving a course on marine spatial planning.
• Beach SAMP Workshop was held focusing on SLAMM models which had been produced showing wetland rollback due to climate change. The maps are out to notice and are scheduled to go before the Council. The meeting was well attended and URI got feedback very good.
• The CVA started an engineering review of DWW project and a full model design is expected some time late in November or early December. They are trying to get to the point of jacket design to start construction of the jacket in early spring and have them up here to move deployment by next summer.
• Mr. Fugate explained, at Mr. Gomez’s request, the part that Quonset will play to bring the transition pieces, such as the mast and points, to the area.

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

2014-01-025 BONNET VIEW LLC – ANTHONY FIORE – SHORE CLUB CONDO --- construct and maintain: A 31 single family unit subdivision to be serviced by public utilities. Relocation of existing utilities, construction of stormwater management BMPs and driveway/private roadway construction are also proposed. Section 140 & 150 buffer zone and setback variances to the RICRMP are required, and the project is also subject to the Rules and Regulations Governing Freshwater Wetlands in the Vicinity of the Coast (FWWVC). Located off Boston Neck Road in Narragansett at plat N-H, lots 173, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 35.

Mr. Lucia gave a brief overview of the project stating that the 31 unit condo development would be serviced by municipal utilities. Mr. Lucia explained how the applicant merged the lots to create one site. Mr. Lucia stated that the applicant was requested a 75% variance to the required 200’ buffer and that there would be some work conducted within the 100’ riverbank wetland. Mr. Lucia stated a 60% setback variance was requested from the 25’ standard proposing 10 foot setback. Mr. Lucia stated that CRMC staff had worked with the applicant to minimize the variances and meet the requirements of the RICRMP and that staff had no objections to the proposed project. Mr. Lucia pointed out that no objections were received during the public notice period and that the staff was stipulating that the applicant should submit a finalized homeowner’s association and operation maintenance document for the stormwater treatment systems within 60 days of the issuance of the assent. Mr. Lucia stated that CRMC was requiring the applicant to formulate, execute and record the proposed conservation easement.

Mr. Sahagian inquired as to whether the recommended stipulations were reviewed with the applicant. Mr. Lucia confirmed that they have no objections to CRMC stipulations.

Mr. Fugate explained that if the lots had been developed individually, the buffer requirements would have been much smaller and that with the larger lot the overall disturbance and buffer that we are able to enforce is much larger than we would get with each individual lot. Mr. Beaudette expressed concern that CRMC was setting a precedent with the approval of the buffer variances. Mr. Fugate stated that each application is treated on its own merits and stipulations are tailored to each project and site. Mr. Fugate reiterated that the project presented is much better than developing each smaller lot. Mr. Gomez added that there would also be the added benefit of getting open space with conservation easement as well. Mr. Gomez asked about the limitations for Algonquin Road. Mr. Packer stated that there was substantial opposition from Bonnet Shores Development to the use of Algonquin Road; therefore, the proposal was for a pathway with emergency egress but will not be primary access to the development. Road being shifted is partially paved which will be moved and the area closest to the wetland will be revegetated.

Mr. Sahagian motioned for approval of the application with staff stipulations and recommendations. Motion seconded by both Vice Chair Lemont and Mr. Gomez.

Mr. Gagnon relayed that there was good coordination with RIDEM and CRMC staff in reviewing the application’s stormwater management plan.

Mr. Sahagian’s motion to approve with staff stipulations and recommendations was carried on unanimous voice vote.

6. Enforcement Report – August and September, 2014

No Discussion

7. Category “A” Applications

No Discussion

8. ADJOURN

Vice Chair Lemont motioned for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Gomez and Mr. Beaudette. Motion carried on a unanimous voice vote and the meeting adjourned at 6:27 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Lisa A. Turner, Recording Secretary

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