In accordance with notice to member of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, a meeting was held on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. located at the Administration Building, Conference Room A, One Capitol Hill, Providence, RI.

Members Present
Raymond Coia, Chair
Ronald Gagnon, DEM
Patricia Reynolds
Stephen Izzi
Kevin Flynn
Joseph Russolino
Patricia Reynolds
Donald Gomez

Staff Present
Jeffrey Willis, Executive Director
Laura Miguel, Deputy Director
Richard Lucia, Environmental Engineer IV
Anthony DeSisto, Legal Counsel
Mark Hartmann, Asst Legal Counsel
Lisa Turner, Recording Secretary
Cynthia Tangney, Court Reporter

 

1. CALL TO ORDER

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

2. Review/Action of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting – Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Chair Coia called for a motion regarding the minutes for the Tuesday, June 25, 2024 Semi-monthly Meeting.
Motion: Mr. Gagnon
Second: Mr. Flynn
Motion carried on unanimous vote.

3. Subcommittee Reports

Mr. Willis updated the Council:

• The Planning and Procedures Subcommittee met on the matter of the Quidnessett Country Club’s Petition
  to Change the Water Type at their location. While there was no action taken at the meeting, the Subcommittee heard many comments both in support and in objection to the petition.

4. Staff Reports

Mr. Willis reported to the Council:

• Meetings on dredging and beach nourishment issues
  • Ninigret Breakwater in Charlestown
  • Mouth of the Narrow River in Narragansett
• Two outreach meetings
  • League of Cities and Towns where CRMC talked about the Beach SAMP, StormTools and CERI that can be incorporated into their own rules and regulations through an adoption to the General Laws.
• Environmental Business Council meeting where CRMC talked about resiliency issues, public access issues, aquaculture and offshore renewable energy.

5. Applications Requesting Modification before the Council for Review and Action:

1990-10-040 LESLIE GURSKI – Modification - Vacate reference to Lot “H” in Assent Stipulation
“H” (i.e.: disallowing individual access pathways for Lot H, now identified as AP 31, Lot 166) to allow under separate application for a request to construct a stairway over the bluff to access the shore. Located at Water Street/Johnny Cake Lane, Portsmouth, RI.

Applicant Leslie Gurski was present as well as legal representative, Atty. Christian Capizzo of Partridge Snow & Hahn.

Ms. Silva gave a brief overview of the application to the Council stating that the applicant wished to modify a Category B subdivision approved by the Council which stated within that the coastal lots were to have no individual pathways to the shore due to long term erosion concerns with only one pathway being shared by the subdivision.

Ms. Silva stated that CRMC Staff discussed Assent Stipulation H with CRMC legal counsel and the applicant was given guidance to make a request to have the original stipulation H vacated. Ms. Silva stated that a plan submitted within the agenda package was only for illustrative purposes.

Ms. Silva stated that CRMC Redbook Section 1.2.2D states that the Council has a goal of protecting bluffs from activities that may damage them; however, the applicant noted that the bluff has remained densely vegetated with no significant erosion events on the shoreline. Ms. Silva stated that the adjacent lot has a set of stairs over the bluff and there is no sign of erosion or destruction due to the stairway.
Ms. Silva stated that the applicant has sufficiently demonstrated that no erosion has occurred since the original subdivision assent in 1990 and that staff has no objections to vacating Stipulation H for this lot which would allow the applicant to subsequently apply for a staircase.

There were no questions for staff from the Council.

Christian Capizzo of Patridge Snow & Hahn addressed the Council stating that he and Neil Hingorany was present to answer questions and that a letter of support from Ms. Gurski’s abutter Bill Plunkett, President of the Lake Shore Condominium Association, offering his support of applicant’s application.

There were no questions for Mr. Capizzo or Ms. Gurski. There was no public comment offered/given on this matter.

Mr. Capizzo thanked Ms. Silva for her thoughtful review and stated that the applicant would submit an application for a staircase if approval granted by Council on this matter.

Ms. Reynolds motioned, based on the findings of fact as presented in the staff report and the representations and presentations made here at the public meeting, to vacate the reference to Lot H in Stipulation H to allow a separate application to be filed for the construction of the stairway.

Mr. Gomez seconded the motion.

Roll call vote by Chair Coia:
Mr. Russolino Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Mr. Flynn Aye
Mr. Izzi Aye
Mr. Gomez Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Motion carried on unanimous vote.

6. Applications which have been Out-To-Notice and are before the Council for Review and Action.

2024-02-046 TOWN OF BRISTOL -- Construct and maintain a new boat ramp and public recreational boating facility. The existing concrete boat ramp and floating dock is proposed to be removed and replaced with a new cast in place concrete ramp with rip rap slope stabilization and a new 10ft x 120ft floating dock. The facility is proposed to extend approximately 75ft beyond mean low water achieving a water depth of approximately 7.5 feet. Located at plat 8, lot 12; Thames Street, Bristol, RI.

Sworn in by CRMC Legal Counsel were:
Brian Dutra, Engineer at Pare Corporation
Greg Marsili, Harbormaster with the Town of Bristol RI

Mr. Lucia gave a brief overview of the project stating that the site is located in Independence Park which is owned by the Town of Bristol who is applying for the improvement of the existing boat ramp and dock to enhance public access. Mr. Lucia stated that the existing facility will be replaced by a new 35’ x 120’ pre-cast concrete ramp, and a new 10’ x 120’ floating dock. Mr. Lucia explained that riprap will be installed for slope stabilization for the boat ramp and will continue along the eastern edge of the driveway. Mr. Lucia stated that the site was located in multipurpose waterways, Type IV and that the project meets this designated priority use. Mr. Lucia stated that no objections were received during the public notice period, no variances were required and that it is the opinion of staff that the project minimizes impacts to the environment while improving public access. Mr. Lucia stated that there were no engineering objections to the project and recommend approval.

Mr. Dutra thanked the staff for there time and stated that they were available if the Council had questions.

There were no questions from the Council for Mr. Dutra or Mr. Marsili.

There was no public comment offered/given on this matter.

Mr. Flynn motioned approval based on the findings in the staff presentation.
Mr. Gagnon seconded the motion.

Roll call vote by Chair Coia:
Mr. Russolino Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Mr. Flynn Aye
Mr. Izzi Aye
Mr. Gomez Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Motion carried on unanimous vote.

---

2023-11-073 AMY TOURANGEAU -- Construct and maintain a residential boating facility consisting of a 3’ x 8’ ramp, 4’ x 25’ fixed timber pier, 3’ x 14.25’ access ramp and 8’ x 18.75’ (150sf) terminal float. The facility will extend 50’ seaward of the cited MLW mark, requiring a 3” water depth variance to Redbook 650-RICR-20-00-01 Section 1.3.1(D)(11)(z)(Table 8), which requires 18” MLW at the facility terminus. The application has been revised (length variance eliminated) to reduce impact to local navigational concerns raised during the original public notice period. Located at plat 43-1 lot 6; 1 Lafayette Avenue, South Kingstown, RI.

Sworn in by CRMC Legal Counsel were:
Ted Monahan on behalf of Amy Tourangeau;
Mark Dowdell – Dowdell Engineering.

Ms. Silva gave a brief overview of the application for a residential boating facility stating that it was proposed to be located in Type II waters of the Narrow River on the west side north of Middlebridge.

Ms. Silva stated that the dock would extend to 50’ beyond Mean Low Water and will require a depth variance of approximately three inches for a water depth of 15.6 inches at the terminus.

Ms. Silva explained that the dock would abut a neighborhood ROW.

Ms. Silva stated that the dock was originally submitted for a facility that terminated at 61’ beyond MLW requiring an 11’ length variance and that several objections were received for the project as submitted. Ms. Silva stated that CRMC staff worked with the applicant and design engineer which resulted in the scaled back design before the Council requiring a minor depth variance. Ms. Silva stated that the objections had been rescinded with the exception of the public access comment but staff did not find that comment to be a substantive objection.
Ms. Silva stated that staff had no objection to the approval of the application.

Ms. Silva confirmed for Mr. Gomez that staff would require float stops if water depth is below 18”.

No further questions for Ms. Silva

Mr. Monahan addressed the Council thanking staff and stating agreement to the stipulations.

There were no questions from the Council for Mr. Monahan or Mr. Dowdell.

There was no one present to offer public comment on this matter.

Mr. Izzi motioned for approval of the application with variance based on testimony given and staff report with the staff standard stipulations.

Ms. Reynolds seconded the motion.

Roll call vote by Chair Coia:
Mr. Russolino Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Mr. Flynn Aye
Mr. Izzi Aye
Mr. Gomez Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Motion carried on unanimous vote.

Mr. Russolino asked if Legal Counsel had comment on the recent decision from Superior Court.

Mr. DeSisto stated that he was preparing a fuller memo for the Council.

7. ADJOURN

Motion to adjourn:
Motion: Mr. Gagnon
Second: Mr. Flynn

Motion to adjourn approved on a unanimous voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 6:30.

 

Minutes respectfully submitted,

Lisa A. Turner
Recording Secretary
Present via Zoom Webinar

Transcript Available upon request

 

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