In accordance with notice to member of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, a virtual meeting was held on Thursday, April 29, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. utilizing Zoom Meeting, and Council members participating remotely.

Members Present
Raymond Coia, Vice Chair
Donald Gomez
Jerry Sahagian
Joy Montanaro
Ronald Gagnon, RIDEM
Michael Hudner
Trish Reynolds
Excused:
Jennifer Cervenka, Chair

Staff Present
Jeffrey Willis, Executive Director
James Boyd, Deputy Director
David Reis, Spv Environmental Scientist
Ross Singer, Engineer
Anthony DeSisto, Legal Counsel
Ryan Moore, Moderator
Laura Dwyer, Public Information and Education Coordinator
Cindy Tangney, Court Reporter
Emily Skeehan

1. CALL TO ORDER

Chair Cervenka is excused from this meeting. Vice Chair Coia will Chair.

Chair Coia called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. and identified the participants of the meeting, Council Members, Staff members, and applicants. The Chair stated that the meeting would be recorded.

2. Ryan Moore, Meeting Moderator, briefed participants on the meeting housekeeping items.

3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

Chair Coia called for a motion regarding the minutes for the April 13, 2021 Semi-monthly Meeting.

Mr. Sahagian asked if the sealed Executive Session minutes would be included in the approval of the Meeting minute. It was decided to wait until the next meeting when the Executive Session minutes could be reviewed by Council to approve the Executive Session sealed minutes from the 04-13-2021 Semimonthly Meeting. Mr. DeSisto explained the procedure to unseal the Executive Session minutes once the matter is completed.

Motion to approve the minutes of 04-13-2021 withholding the Executive Session sealed minutes until the May 11, 2021 meeting.

Motion: Mr. Sahagian
Second: Mr. Hudner

Roll Call Vote:
Vice Chair Coia Aye
Mr. Gomez Aye
Mr. Sahagian Aye
Ms. Montanaro Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Mr. Hudner Aye

Motion carried to approved minutes from 04-13-2021 meeting.

4. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS:

None Heard.

5. STAFF REPORTS:

Mr. Willis addressed the Council on the following matters:

• Welcomed new employee, Emily Skeehan, CRMC Policy Analyst, who began work on Monday, April 26, 2021
• Block Island DWW/National Grid cable project due for completion by the end of May. CRMC and RIDEM making sure order
• Orsted Southfork Windfarm and CRMC have entered into a Stay Agreement on decision deadline and will be before the Council May 25th. The Stay Agreement will enable all parties to negotiate on mitigation terms. Decision deadline will not be June 1, 2021.
• CRMC Right of Way program Cooperative agreement between CRMC and Roger Williams University Law School Fellow Program that will allow some of the fellow work on the legal research to determine if sites as proposed by municipalities and CRMC can become designated as public. Work to be supervised by Attorney DeSisto.
• Mr. Willis wished best of luck CRMC’s David Reis, Spv Environmental Scientist retiring April 30, 2021. Council Members offered best of luck to David Reis and offered thanks for his tenure with CRMC. Mr. Reis thanked the Council as well.

APPLICATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN OUT-TO-NOTICE AND ARE BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL FOR DECISION:

2020-10-060 RI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – Replace demolished I-95 northbound viaduct and RT 146 ramp/bridge located in the City of Providence, RI.

Mr. Singer gave a brief overview of the application for the Council stating that the project was for demolition of the I-95 northbound through downtown Providence and included the demolition of the northbound viaduct bridge and relocation of Rte 146 northbound ramp and bridge. Mr. Singer stated that previous approval was granted for this project in 2011 but only southbound portion of the project was completed. Mr. Singer stated that there were no comments received during a CRMC/RIDEM Joint Public notice. Mr. Singer explained that variance to setback was required. Mr. Singer confirmed that RIDEM Water Quality Certification and US ACOE permit had been received. Mr. Singer stated that the existing pier will remain in the water for use by the City who submitted a maintenance agreement to CRMC. Stormwater as well as Soil Erosion and Sediment Control requirements have been satisfied. Mr. Singer stated that all impacts from demo and construction activities have been minimized and that RIDOT has answered all Category B criteria as well as demonstrated that the project meets all requirements. Mr. Singer stated that CRMC staff recommended approval of the project.

Mr. Gomez asked for clarification on the stipulations for the project. Mr. Singer stated that new stipulations were included with the previously approved stipulations for this project and that he had worked with the Androgynous fish program to ensure proper stipulation.

No further question from the Council for Mr. Singer.

RIDOT Representatives:
Anthony Pompeii, RIDOT Project Manager
Lou Macaroon, RIDOT Project Management
Erica Klinkhammer, Pare Engineering
Jason Duplessi, Project Manager for Design Build Team

Mr. Pompeii explained that he and his team were there to answer questions.

No questions from Council for RIDOT or their representatives.

Mr. Sahagian motioned approval of the application as presented, seconded by Mr. Gagnon.

Roll Call Vote:
Vice Chair Coia Aye
Mr. Gomez Aye
Mr. Sahagian Aye
Ms. Montanaro Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Mr. Hudner Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye

Motion approved unanimously. Application approved.

Public Access Plan Update:

2002-10-045 QUONSET DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION -- Five Year update on the Public Access Plan for Quonset Davisville Port and Park, North Kingstown, RI.

Mr. Reis presented to the Council beginning with history of the plan. Mr. Reis stated that this is the third update for the project for Public Access plan which began in 2005. This plan is considered to be net neutral as there is not additional assets in the plan but there is an addition of recreational fields and the elimination of the Quonset Air Museum which are considered non-coastal assets as stated in the submitted memorandum of Chelsea Siefert, Quonset Development Corporation, Director of Planning & Development. The plan provides access to the public which satisfies §1.3.6 of the Redbook. Mr. Reis stated that staff recommended approval with the two recommended stipulations and further coordination between CRMC and QDC.

No further questions from the Council for CRMC staff.

Chelsea Siefert addressed the Council and stated that she was available for Council for questions.

Mr. Gagnon any opportunities within the investment park to provide access.

Ms. Siefert stated that the 4 public beaches that have public access but that there is not very much area of undeveloped land for providing public access.

Mr. Sahagian motioned for approval based on staff recommendation, seconded by Mr. Hudner.

Roll Call Vote:
Vice Chair Coia Aye
Mr. Gomez Aye
Mr. Sahagian Aye
Ms. Montanaro Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Mr. Hudner Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye

Motion approved unanimously – Public Access Plan Update approved.

8. ADJOURN

Motion: Mr. Gagnon
Second: Ms. Reynolds
Motion carried on unanimous vote

Meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa A. Turner
Recording Secretary

 

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