Beach Commission Hears Boat Ramp Concerns, Delays Vote

A standing room only crowd of about 100 people attended Monday night’s public hearing at Town Hall for a proposed new with handicapped-accessible pier.

After hearing three hours of testimony, the Middletown Beach Commission voted 5-1 to reconvene within the next 10 days to vote at a special meeting.

“We need time to think about everything we’ve heard tonight and go over all of this information,” Beach Commission member John Bagwill said.

At the request of the Middletown Town Council, the Beach Commission is tasked with recommending one of five versions of the plan, presented by Middletown Engineer Warren Hall and Town Administrator Shawn Brown Monday night.

The next step will require the Planning Board to review the recommendation and determine whether it fits in with Middletown’s Comprehensive Plan for Third Beach. The council will review those findings and take the final vote on the matter. Middletown has until Sept. 30 to notify the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM). The cost to replace the Third Beach boat ramp has been estimated at $481,000. If the town accepts a DEM grant, its share would be about $120,250.

About 10 local residents spoke out with concerns Monday night, backed by groups in the audience. Only one person spoke against efforts to replace the boat ramp altogether, while two others asked that the town withdraw its grant application from DEM or have the town pay for the new ramp on its own. Most who voiced concerns said they could support the ramp replacement, but not the proposed pier and pump station.

“I can’t help but feel that if you build it, they will come and the beach will change,” argued Beacon Street resident Judy Tucker, summing up many opponents’ sentiments that improving the ramp and adding a pier will invite more boaters from out-of-town.

Beach Commission Chairman Rian Wilkinson responded that the 17 parking spaces for boat trailers would not change.

Aquidneck Land Trust Executive Director Ted Clement Jr. posed several questions, largely stemming from the ALT’s concerns for environmental impacts and for preserving the natural state of Third Beach. The ALT had assisted with the Norman Bird Sanctuary acquisition of property along Third Beach Road, he noted.

Supporters of the project included local boaters and representatives from two local saltwater fishing organizations, as well as public safety officials.

Harbormaster Steve Ponte and Middletown Fire Department Chief Ronald Doire described how a new boat ramp is needed to launch and retrieve boats during all tides.

Ponte said he’s seen injuries and property damaged as boaters wrestled with launching boats, even during high tide.

Public safety officials who need to perform water rescues or assist stranded windsurfers, sailors and boaters in distress encounter similar problems, he said.

Chief Doire said the pier also would enable a safer and faster transfer of rescued patients from boats to shore.

The proposal calls for the new boat ramp with one fixed pier and floating dock to rise and fall with the tides, as well as a pump station for disposal of boats’ wastewater. The pier and floating dock would be connected by two access ramps to adjust during the changing tides.

One scaled back plan eliminates the pump station, while another scenario calls for cutting the floating dock.

A fourth alternative has no fixed pier and only boarding floats providing handicap access.

All scenarios provide access for persons with disabilities, a DEM grant requirement, Brown noted.

Under the federal Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) passed in 1990, all newly constructed public accommodations, including recreational areas, must be ADA compliant.