PROVIDENCE, R.I.–January 29, 2025–Save The Bay agrees with the decision of the full CRMC Council to deny the petition brought forward by this violator, Quidnessett Country Club, to downgrade the waters adjacent to the club from Type 1 to Type 2. Now, it’s time to move forward with CRMC’s enforcement action without further delay. The Council must require Quidnessett Country Club to tear down the illegally built wall and restore the coastline and coastal access, through a properly reviewed process.
“The Council should never have entertained the violator’s petition without first addressing the enforcement action,” said Topher Hamblett, executive director of Save The Bay. “In the roughly year and a half since the Council issued its initial cease and desist order to Quidnessett in response to their illegally built seawall, we have seen repeated delays by the CRMC subcommittee, which benefit and embolden the violator and give an unfair economic advantage over law-abiding coastal landowners and businesses. Now that this petition has been denied, we can finally undo the harm this illegally built wall has done to the local ecosystem and access to the coast. Any further delays by the Council will continue to reward Quidnessett Country Club for their unlawful actions.”
It’s been 520 days since this Council issued its initial cease and desist order to Quidnessett in response to their illegally built seawall. The fact that this petition was entertained speaks volumes about the Council’s lack of transparency and fairness. It’s time for the General Assembly to reform our coastal agency by passing legislation to remove the Council.
About Save The Bay
Founded in 1970, the Rhode Island-based nonprofit Save The Bay seeks to protect and improve Narragansett Bay and its 1,705-square-mile watershed. The organization works to achieve its vision of a fully swimmable, fishable Narragansett Bay, accessible to all, through its advocacy, education, and habitat restoration and adaptation work. Learn more about Save The Bay at www.savebay.org.