In accordance with notice of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council’s Planning & Procedures subcommittee, a meeting was held on Tuesday, July 23 at 3:00 pm at the Administration Building, Conference Room A, located at One Capitol Hill, Providence RI.

MEMBERS PRESENT
Raymond Coia, Chair
Don Gomez
Patricia Reynolds
Ron Gagnon, RIDEM

STAFF PRESENT
Jeff Willis, Executive Director
Laura Miguel, Deputy Director
Bruce Lofgren, Coastal Policy Analyst

 

Call to Order. Chair Coia called the meeting to order at 3:15 p.m.

Item 2 Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes:

May 14, 2024
Ms. Reynolds seconded by Mr.Gagnon moved to approve the minutes as presented.
All voted Yes in favor of the motion (3-0 DG not yet in attendance).

Item 3. Old Business/Works in Progress

Staff had no old business or works in progress to discuss.

Item 4. Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Petition for Promulgation of Rules

A. 2024-04-071 Quidnessett Country Club Petition for Change to Map of Water type Classification for North Kingstown (north)– J. Willis explained the CRMC received a petition to change the water type classification for the waters adjacent to Quidnessett Country Club (QCC) and an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was advertised on May 21st, with a public comment period ending on June 28th. Mr. Willis further explained that we received several comments during the public comment period, some of which requested a public hearing under a statute for a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which requires a public hearing if 25 or more people request one. The referenced statue in these comments was not applicable to an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, however since the requests were received we elected to hold this meeting to gather additional public comments in addition to the comments that were submitted during the public comment period.

Chairman Coia then began asking for individual members of the public to speak on behalf of the petition.

The following members of the public spoke on the petition:

Mike Jarbo, representing Save the Bay, stated that Save the Bay submitted comments during the public comment period and that he wished to highlight the key issues. Mr. Jarbo spoke in opposition of the petition and highlighted issues with the petition, with considering the petition during ongoing enforcement process, shoreline public access concerns, and concerns regarding this petition, if approved, setting a precedent.

Stephen Lombardi, representing the East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce, spoke in support of the petition. Mr. Lombardi stated that the country club is a member of the chamber of commerce and is an asset to the community. Mr. Lombardi also stated that the 18-hole golf course as presently configured is critical to the continued success of the country club.

James Boyd, stated that he spent over 2 decades working for the CRMC writing policy and assisting in the enforcement of CRMC rules and regulations. Mr. Boyd stated he submitted a letter on his behalf during the public comment period and that he wanted to highlight a few points of the letter to the subcommittee. Mr. Boyd spoke in opposition to the petition stating that the petition is trying to cover up an illegally constructed wall on the property to which the applicant constructed knowing that permit was necessary. Mr. Boyd also stated the Country Club has applied for structural shoreline protection in the past, but never followed through with the plans, that the shoreline is class one, and it is not adjacent to medium dense residential as the type 2 shoreline adjacent to the Mount View neighborhood to the south. Mr. Boyd also stated that the residential structures are far away from the shoreline and are not at risk of erosion, questioned if the existing illegal wall was an engineered structure as required, and was concerned with shoreline access public safety. Mr Boyd concluded with stating that the Club has alternatives such as non-structural shoreline protection and redesigning the configuration of the golf course.

Joe Parrillo, stated that he is employed by the country club and spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Parrillo stated that he was concerned about the ramifications a denial of the petition would have on the club and its employees.

Evan Kenny, stated that he is employed by the country club and spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Kenny stated that he hoped the Council would use discretion in any restoration efforts they consider and that any measures are financially reasonable.

Fred Definis, stated that he is the Vice President of the RI Saltwater Anglers Association and spoke in opposition of the petition. Mr. Definis stated that there was no compelling public interest to downgrade a particular waterway because of the construction of a wall contrary to CRMC regulations. Mr. Definis stated that approving the petition would undermine the authority and credibility of the CRMC and that the waterway should stay in its current status.

Kevin Colton, stated that he is employed by the country club and spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Colton stated that the decision would directly affect him and other employees that work there.

Alex Parenti, stated that he is employed by the country club and spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Parenti stated that under the current water type the club is unable to protect the golf course and the employment of the employees may rest in the decision.

Peter Falishevsky stated that he is employed by the country club and spoke in favor of the petition. stated that if the course was redesigned the course would cease to be Quidnesset Country Club. Mr. Falishevsky also stated that he was concerned that a denial would have serious consequences for club members and all of its employees.

Jeff Gladstone, stated that he was a an active lawyer in RI and a member of the country club and spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Gladstone stated that the country club property is constrained and that a redesign isn’t possible and that in his experience he has not witnessed any public access along the shoreline. Mr. Gladstone also stated that maintaining the structure is the only way to protect the interests of everyone.

Philip Casadona, stated that he is a member of the country club and spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Casonda stated that the club needs to protect their property and asked the Council to provide them with such relief.

Mike Murphy, stated that he is a member of the country club and spoke in favor of the petition.
Michael Woods stated that was representing the New England Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and spoke in opposition of the petition. Mr. Woods stated that the Council should consider the public interest in equal deference to that of country club. Mr. Woods also stated that he had concerns regarding an active enforcement case being addressed with a rule change petition rather than though the typical CRMC permit process and that rulemaking should not proceed.

Kevin Donovan spoke in favor of the petition and supported the country club due to its importance to its members and the community.

Tim Simonson stated that he is a member of the country club and spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Simonson stated that the Council should consider changing its 1980s policies to reflect todays changes of climate change and sea level rise.

Bill Matthews stated that he is a member of the country club and spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Matthews stated the club has changed significantly over the years and that the club previously installed sandbags for protection 10 years ago and now is requesting rocks.

Ed Fornosoto, stated that he is an attorney employed by Jan Companies spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Fornosoto stated that the company has employed hundreds of thousands of employees over the last 50 years and the denial of the petition would cause grave harm to the club and its employees.

Jeffrey Carroll, stated that he is employed by Jan Companies spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Carroll stated that erosion has placed the golf course, members, and employees at risk and the company took necessary action to save its business. Mr. Carrol also stated that the club provides revenue, jobs, and charity events to the State of Rhode Island.

Greg Gulimo, stated that he is employed by Jan Companies as the Director of Real Estate and spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Gulimo stated that he was concerned about the denial of the petitions impact on his employment and other employees.

Bob Mccann stated that he is a member of the country club and spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Mccann stated that the course can not be redesigned and the golf course would not be able to exist without the wall.

Rich Hittinger, stated that he is the President of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers and spoke in opposition of the petition. Mr. Hittinger, stated that he was concerned with the process of a rule change after an illegal structure was built and said that the wall should be removed and the petition denied.

Scott Travers stated that he is the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers and spoke in opposition of the petition. Mr. Travers stated that he had concerns regarding the process of changing a water type to support and illegal structure. Mr. Travers also had concerns about the precedent this would set.

Kevin Haughey, stated that he is a member of the country club and spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Haughey stated that erosion has been a issue at the club for decades and the previous attempts to prevent it were unsuccessful. Mr. Haughey suggested that this erosion issue affects all of Rhode Island and with global warming the CRMC should consider reclassification of this petition as well as along the entire RI shoreline.

Richard Langseth, spoke in opposition of the petition. Mr. Langseth stated that he was concerned about safety as the wall was constructed without a permit and that the approval of the petition would not allow CRMC Staff to property enforce the issue. Mr. Langseth also stated that although this is should not be about economic development, the Council should also consider the economics of tourism in RI and the protection of type 1 waters contributes to tourism.

Carl Wadensten stated that he was a board member of RI Commerce Corporation and spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Wadensten stated that he supports maintaining RI coastal destinations and that they have been eroding overtime. Mr. Wadensten also spoke about competing interests of the environment and the economy and the difficulty in finding a balance.

John Russell, stated he is a member of the country club and spoke in favor of the petition.

Joanne West, stated that she is employed by Jan Companies and spoke in favor of the petition.

Armani, stated that licensed nursing home administrator at Bayview Scalabrine and spoke in favor of the petition. Armani stated the property has experienced eroding, there is no public access along the shoreline, and that Bayview has goals of expanding in the future.

Christian Ruffasto, stated that she is employed by Jan Companies and spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Ruffasto spoke highly of his employer and that the club contributes to the local community.
Peter Gendreau, stated that he is employed by Jan Companies and spoke in favor of the petition.
Amy Sonder, stated that she is a member of the North Kingstown Conservation Commission spoke in opposition of the petition. Mrs. Sonder stated that the Conservation Commission and Harbor Management Commission heard the petition and were both in opposition of the petition. Mrs. Sonder stated that they were concerned about the precedent this may have on other type 1 waters, the sensitive environmental areas nearby, and the structural integrity of wall. Mrs. Sonder also stated that the Council consider the letter of opposition from the Town of North Kingstown Town Council and to restore the shoreline.

Elanie Gebhart, stated that she was the Executive Director of the New England Golf Association and spoke in favor of the petition. Ms. Gebhart spoke about the positive economic benefits of golf and the charitable impact. Ms. Gebhart stated that a resolution should be made to keep the country club viable.

Ken Rudman, stated he was a member of the country club and spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Rudman that he has experience with CRMC permitting and suggested that a compromise could be made between CRMC and the country club.

Paul Dalise, spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Dalise stated that the wall has become habitat for marine life while also providing protection to the property.

Michael Baker, stated he was a member of the country club and spoke in favor of the petition. Mr. Baker stated that it’s important to protect the scenic vista and the uses of the property has intensified to a level that justifies the class 2 designation. Mr. Baker also stated that the golf course portion of the property is subject to an open space easement and that no further development will occur on that portion of the property.

Chairman Coia asked if there were any other people who would like to speak and closed the public comment portion of the meeting.

Director Willis stated there was no new business or staff reports to discuss at this meeting. Chairman Coia thanked the public for speaking.

ADJOURNMENT. Ms. Reynolds, seconded by Mr. Gagnon, moved to adjourn. All voted in favor of the motion and the meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted by
Bruce Lofgren, Coastal Policy Analyst

 

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