In accordance with notice to members of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, a meeting was held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. located at the Administration Building, Conference Room A, One Capitol Hill, Providence, RI.

Members Present
Raymond Coia, Chair
Patricia Reynolds
Ronald Gagnon, DEM
Micheal Reuter, DPM
Joseph Russolino
Steven Izzi
Kevin Flynn

Staff Present
Jeffrey M. Willis, Executive Director
Laura Miguel, Deputy Director
Amy Silva, Environmental Scientist IV
Richard Lucia, Environmental Engineer IV
Anthony Sawaia, Environmental Scientist II
Mark Hartman, Associate Legal Counsel
John Longo, Associate Legal Counsel
Laura Dwyer, Education/Information Coordinator
Ryan Moore, IT
Lisa Turner, Recording Secretary

1. CALL TO ORDER

Chair Coia called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m.

2. Review/Action of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The Council considered approval of the January 13, 2025 meeting minutes.

Motion: Dr. Reuter
Second: Mr. Flynn
Vote: Unanimous voice vote.
Outcome: Motion passed. January 13, 2026 Semimonthly Meeting minutes approved.

3. Subcommittee Reports

Mr. Willis reported: ROW Subcommittee Meeting

• Ms. Feldman gave presentation on two ROW readily accessible files that are ready to be reviewed.

4. Staff Reports

Mr. Willis Reported:

Presented to DEM and ACOE staff on how we three agencies can work together to help the ACOE implement its nationwide permit program.

This Thursday, Feb 12 – CRMC and DEM will meet with members of the British Consulate through a URI hosted event on Coastal Zone Management.

5. Applications which have been Out To Notice for 30-Days and are before the Council for Review and Action:

2025-11-063 – GOEFFREY VAN GORKOM -- Construct and maintain a residential boating facility consisting of a 4x76’ fixed pier, a 3x24 ramp and an 8x18.75’ float. The facility shall extend 90’ beyond Mean Low Water (MLW) at a depth of approximately 2 feet, requiring a 40’ Variance to Section 1.3.1(D)(11)(l). Located at plat 15, lot 47; 305 Riverside Street, Portsmouth, RI.

Ms. Silva gave a brief overview of the application to the Council stating that:

• The proposed facility required a variance of 40’;
• The proposed facility received no comments during the 30-day public notice period;
• the proposed facility is consistent with other docks in the area;

Ms. Silva stated that staff felt that the applicant had met all burdens of proof for the variance and that staff had no objections to the granting of the variance or the approval of the application.

There were no questions for Ms. Silva from the Council.

Sworn in and identified for the record were:
The applicant/property owner Goeffrey Van Gorkom
Todd Chaplin, PE, Mount Hope Engineering
Todd Chaplin, Mount Hope Engineering

Mr. Chaplin stated that both he and the applicant agreed with Ms. Silva’s overview and added that the dock required the variance to reach the water depth.

There were no questions from Council to Mr. Chaplin or Mr. Gorkom.

Chair Coia asked for public comment; there were no comments heard.

Council Discussion and Motion:

Motion: Mr. Izzi motioned, based on testimony of staff, testimony of applicant and consultant, the reading of the application, and the staff report, that the Council approve the application as submitted with the variance and with the usual stipulations recommended by CRMC staff.

Second: Mr. Gagnon

Chair Coia did a roll call vote:

Mr. Flynn Aye
Mr. Izzi Aye
Mr. Russolino Aye
Dr. Reuter Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Outcome: Motion passed and application is approved.

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2025-09-087 – ROCK RIDGE ASSOCIATES LLC – Construct and maintain a commercial dock off existing parking area; to include water and electric utilities to the float. Located at plat 66, lot 11; 163 Main Street, Westerly, RI.

Mr. Lucia gave a brief overview of the application stating that:

• The upland portion consists of a coffee shop with outdoor seating;
• the commercial facility will be used to enhance business access to the shop;
• the facility was determined to be a commercial facility and will accommodate less than five vessels;
• the proposal meets the designated priority use of Type 5 waters and meets all Category B requirements and standards for commercial structures in Tidal waters;
• there were no objections received during the Public Notice period
• CRMC staff recommended two additional stipulations beyond the general stipulations to be added to the assent if approved.
  • Temporary berthing of recreational vessels to access commercial property, no overnight berthing is permitted
  • No more than four vessels may be docked at the facility at one time

Mr. Lucia confirmed that the applicant is aware of the additional stipulations and that staff had no
objections to the project.

Mr. Flynn inquired as to why the application was not approved administratively. Mr. Lucia stated that all commercial structures in tidal waters must be reviewed as a Category B application.

Sworn in and identified for the record:

Frank Samuelson, owner/applicant

Anthony Nenna, PE, On-Site Marina

Mr. Nenna reiterated that the commercial structure would enhance recreation between the river and this property.

The Council did not have questions for Mr. Samuelson nor Mr. Nenna

Chair Coia asked for public comment; there were no comments heard.

Council Discussion and Motion:

Motion: Mr. Flynn motioned, based on the staff report and presentation, testimony heard with the addition of the two staff stipulations, for the approval of the application.

Second: Mr. Izzi

Chair Coia did a roll call vote:

Mr. Flynn Aye
Mr. Izzi Aye
Mr. Russolino Aye
Dr. Reuter Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Outcome: Motion carried and the application was approved.

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2025-07-044 – TIMOTHY & ISABELLA EHRLICH -- Construct and maintain a residential boating facility consisting of a 74.5’ fixed pier, 16’ aluminum gangway, with a 72 square foot float. The total length of the facility is 96’ and it terminates at 40’ from mean low water (MLW), achieving a water depth of approximately 2.5’ below MLW. Discussion and action of the application including whether the matter is a Contested Case and possibly referring the matter to the Hearing Officer. Located at plat 8, lot 67; 10 Minnesota Road, Little Compton, RI.

Attorney Hartmann stated that DeSisto Law Associates would be recusing, as they represent the Town of Little Compton. John Longo, is handling the legal proceeding for this application

Attorney Longo explained to the Council that:

• the proposed project before them is for the construction of a dock. Mr. Longo also stated that CRMC
  staff have reported that the proposal meets all of the programmatic requirements and that they do
  not think there has been a substantive objection raised.
• if the Council feels the objections are substantive, the application is referred to a hearing officer or a subcommittee.
• the Town’s Legal Counsel submitted an objection on the Town’s behalf.
• if they conclude that a substantive objection has been raised, this application should be continued for a public hearing before a subcommittee or a hearing officer.
• the CRMC staff, by considering and evaluating the objections, has concluded that the objections do not rise to the level of substantive.

Attorney Longo explained to the Council that they could not do the same kind of evaluation as staff.

Attorney Longo stated that it was his legal opinion that the objections that have been raised satisfy the requirement of being substantive and that this should go to a subcommittee or hearing officer and the hearing officer or subcommittee may or may not determine that the objections are not meritorious enough to overcome the applicant’s burden, and the application might be granted.

Discussion was had about the vehicle for hearing the application as well as how the Council would decide if objections are substantive without evaluation of comments. Attorney Longo explained it was similar to a motion to summary judgement. Factual determination on whether it does or it doesn’t. Debatable determinations need to be kicked to hearing officer. Further discussion on the Council’s reliance on staff evaluation of applications and why they wouldn’t in this instance. Attorney Longo stated that the evaluation of the letters of objection, as to whether or not they are substantive, should be evaluated by the hearing officer or the subcommittee.

Mr. Flynn stated that this could add a burden on the applicant due to the additional time for review. Attorney Longo explained the Hearing Officer’s process.

There were no further questions from Council to Attorney Longo.

Attorney Chris McNally, representing Timothy and Isabella Ehrlich, addressed the Council stating that his client would be willing to go to subcommittee which would promote judicial economy, efficiency and less time than a hearing officer.

Chair Coia stated that the Council has a Hearing Officer in place and it is quite possible that the composition of the Council could be different in March.

CRMC Staff member Anthony Sawaia presented to the Council stating that there were objections received from the public, the Town of Little Compton and the Sakonnet Yacht Club and all of the reasons for objecting such as STORMTOOLs risk assessment data, rental nature of the property, safety concerns, etc.

Mr. Sawaia stated that as per the standards in Red Book Section 1.1.6(G), the objections have to meet
one of the four criteria outlined in that section and that staff does not believe the objections meet the
criteria of Section 1.1.6(G).

Discussion on the Town of Little Compton’s objection. Mr. Sawaia stated that the Town’s most recent
Harbor Management Plan (HMP) is dated from 2010 and that there have been no updates to the HMP.

Attorney McNally reiterated his request on behalf of his client that the application be heard by a
subcommittee stating that the forum would fully satisfy all of CRMC’s procedural requirements.
Attorney McNally respectfully objected to the referral of the application to a hearing officer as it would
present an unfair delay to the applicant.

Attorney McNally noted for the record that the Town of Little Compton’s counsel was not present at this
meeting.

Discussion on the process of subcommittee vs hearing officer.

Council Discussion and Motion:

• Motion: Mr. Russolino motioned for the matter to be referred to a hearing officer.
• Seconded: Mr. Gagnon

Chair Coia did a roll call vote:

Mr. Flynn Aye
Mr. Izzi Aye
Mr. Russolino Aye
Dr. Reuter Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Outcome: Motion passed 6:1 to send to hearing officer.

6. ADJOURN

Motion to adjourn:
Motion: Mr. Flynn
Second: Dr. Reuter

Motion to adjourn approved on a unanimous voice vote.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 pm.

 

Minutes respectfully submitted,
Lisa A. Turner, Recording Secretary

 

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