Fight continues over marina expansion

Posted on 10 May 2010

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The battle over expanding Champlin's Marina on Rhode Island's Block Island is about to resume.

The Coastal Resources Management Council, the state agency that first began considering Champlin's expansion plans more than seven years ago, has scheduled a new hearing for Tuesday, with a second hearing scheduled for May 27, the Providence Journal reports.

The management council has held 23 hearings and generated more than 3,000 pages of testimony over Champlin's application requesting permission to add 4,000 feet of additional piers, which would cover four acres of Great Salt Pond.

Some Block Island residents insist the expansion is too much and that it would cause too much congestion and pollution in the pond, which is among the top destinations for boaters in the Northeast.

Champlin's owners say they turn away potential customers every summer because of insufficient space.

In a tie vote, the management council originally turned down Champlin's request. A Superior Court judge reviewed the case and found numerous allegations of inappropriate behavior by several council members and issued a ruling that allowed the expansion to go through.

But in February, the state Supreme Court, responding to an appeal by the management council and some Block Island residents, sent the case back to the coastal agency for further review and another vote.

Click here for the full article.

Comments

5 Thursday, 13 May 2010 12:45

As a longtime vacationer to the Block, I and my family are dead-set against further commercial exploitation of Great Salt Pond for any reason.  This great resource is under increasing strains from every quarter; the flushing action is limited, and there is simply no question that the water quality and overall environmental condition of the Pond would suffer.  It is time for those who love the Island to stand up to those who merely seek to make another buck at the Island's expense!

4 Thursday, 13 May 2010 12:25

Champlin's is large and loud enough already and the protected portion of the Great Salt Pond doesn't have enough moorings as it is !!!  Why give into private  enterprise so they can exploit the sailing community. Who owns the land under the proposed new docks ? These docks will probably only used Fourth of July, and Labor Day weekend. Don"t privitize The Pond.

3 Tuesday, 11 May 2010 21:10

Champlin's marina is gouging enough from the boaters who already use their marina, I would go over to Paynes long before i ever step foot on Champlin's again. I so hope Chaplin's loses this battle! Rhode island already can't fill all the slips in the state and these clown's want to exploit new harbor even more,sure you may not be able to get a slip on 4th of july ,but what is champlins going to do for Block island and new harbor? nothing but fill thier greedy pockets!

2 Tuesday, 11 May 2010 17:27

TIme after time, we cave to developers and pristine natural resources are lost forever. Had they requested a dramatically smaller expansion, I believe it might be negotiable.  However, this is blatantly obscene.Private developers have no right to public lands (or waters) for the exclusive use by their privileged customers

1 Tuesday, 11 May 2010 03:04

People are coming to Rhode Island wanting to spend money and they are turned away.  No wonder Rhode Island is in so much trouble.

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