In reference to your article, August 18th edition “New life for old marina”: It’s a positive move to see the property transferred from Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM). Since 2006, RIDOT has done little or nothing to maintain the property and has not provided any benefit to the town of Tiverton in terms of real estate tax dollars or significant economic activity.

RIDEM is seeking ideas for the use and rehabilitation of 169 Riverside Drive. Through their request for information (RFI-RIDEM 2022-01) the stated concept is to provide a state port facility in the East Bay to address the needs of local commercial fishing, aquaculture, and seafood industries. Other interests may also be considered. This will be accomplished using federal and state funds for the marina portion, the buildings, and the shoreside site, perhaps with some private capital upfront from potential leaseholders.

RIDEM will manage the state-owned property in perpetuity. The RFI also seeks ideas about private investment in capital improvements to the facility for purpose-driven usage. What remains to be seen is the impact on the town of Tiverton. Overall, state ownership has been negative the last 16 years or so. Will this change?

The overall thinking of RIDEM is to redevelop the marina to provide 25-30 berths for commercial vessels. Thirty boats might require 20 parking spaces and another six to eight spaces for building occupancy. The area is already stressed on busy weekends due to the activity of the adjacent launching ramp and fishing pier. Street parking would interfere with fire and safety access.

Unless the prior marina western boundary limits (GIS N-202,117.933, E-406,823.866 and N-202,275.915, E-406,859.169) have changed, it would be difficult to fit more than 18 boats in the area. Any more would require expansion to the west interfering with an existing fairway.

The shoreline support for the marina activity may also require space for the storage of fishing gear, cages, traps and bait. In addition, truck access will be needed for unloading of gear and catch. Because of the limited space and constraints of the shoreline support area, a scaled-down plan might function better.

There are two additional concerns that should be kept in mind: Fisheries management and climate change. In terms of fisheries management, many predictions are based in part upon assumptions, data from fishermen, landings and other inputs. Fisheries management in some areas has been quite successful, but in other areas, the ability to access stock, predict migratory patterns, and temperature impacts is limited. It’s important to think about what a changing fishery might mean for a working waterfront in the future. Aquaculture might offset some of the decline in the traditional fisheries. However, local aquaculture operations are small and face NIMBY issues. This facility might serve as a shoreside support for aquaculture but water quality would be a negative factor.

The other concern of the science of climate change is sea level. One group at DEM is trying to redevelop the site as a working waterfront while another group within the DEM is telling us that a few years from now we’ll need our hip boots to stand in the parking lot at 169 Riverside Drive.

RIDEM is attempting to utilize this property and provide a better stewardship than RIDOT. As a reminder, the beginning of this issue was the DOT’s failure to maintain a bridge. By their own admission, their failed policy was “let it rot” because the Federal Highway Administration would provide most of the funds for a replacement. As stated earlier, DOT has done little to nothing to maintain 169 Riverside Drive and there has been little to no benefit to Tiverton during the last 16 years.

Now the state wants to use taxpayer dollars to redevelop this facility. (We should be thankful it’s a fix-up and not a total replacement). 

The State of Rhode Island has a poor record of managing and maintaining property. RIDEM currently manages two commercial fish piers. Want a sense of what Riverside Drive might look like? Take a look at the facility in Newport. On the good side, RIDEM does a great job with Fort Adams, Colt State Park and other recreational areas.

The state should change its thinking. A hard look should be made toward private development, private financing and private business-like thinking. A private business approach would be better for Tiverton and better for the taxpayer.

Private ownership would break the mindset of the government thinking that they can do anything with endless taxpayer dollars!

Been there, done that.

Frank Chase RDWTA

Little Compton