In accordance with notice to members of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council’s Shoreline Change Special Area Management Plan (Beach SAMP) Subcommittee, a meeting of the subcommittee was held on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 9:30am at the offices of the CRMC, Stedman Government Center, 4808 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI.

Members Present
Don Gomez

Staff Present
Grover Fugate, CRMC Executive Director
James Boyd, CRMC
Anthony DeSisto, Esq., CRMC Legal Counsel

Others Present
Teresa Crean, URI CRC
Tiffany Smythe, URI CRC

Call to order. Mr. Gomez called the subcommittee meeting to order at 9:35 a.m.

Item 1 – Presentation of DRAFT Beach SAMP Chapters 6 (State and Municipal Considerations) and 7 (Adaptation Strategies and Techniques for Coastal Properties)

Mr. Fugate explained that the purpose of today’s meeting is to provide an update and status on the draft Beach SAMP chapters. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 were previously reviewed by the Subcommittee and are currently out for a 30-day public comment. The comment period will end on March 23 and the Council will consider Chapters 3, 4, and 5 for adoption as part of the overall Beach SAMP document.

Ms. Smythe presented the content of Chapter 7 - Adaptation Strategies and Techniques for Coastal Properties and explained that this chapter is intended to support CRMC’s vision of providing guidance and tools for property owners and state and local decision-makers to proactively prepare and plan for and successfully adapt to changing coastal hazard conditions associated with storm surge, coastal erosion and sea level rise. Mr. Gomez inquired as to community engagement and Ms. Smythe responded that a number of coastal municipalities helped to develop and refine recommendations for the technical adaptation strategies to accommodate a variety of sites.

Ms. Crean then presented the content overview of Chapter 6 - State and Municipal Considerations and explained how CRMC’s proposed Coastal Hazard Application Guidance (detailed in Chapter 5) might be applied and implemented by state agency and municipal resiliency planning and adaptation efforts.

Ms. Crean and Ms. Smythe indicated that Chapters 6 and 7 will be presented at the next Beach SAMP Stakeholder meeting scheduled for the evening of March 29 at the URI Coastal Institute. Attendees will be provide a detailed overview of chapter content and the process for submitting comments over the following 10 days. Following any needed revisions, Chapters 6 and 7 will then be posted for a CRMC 3-day public notice with consideration for adoption by the Council at a May meeting. Mr. Fugate explained that the plan is for the entire Beach SAMP document to be officially adopted by the Council at the May 22 semi-monthly meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:50 a.m.

 

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