Future of Greenwich Bay…depends on what people say

Warwick Beacon Online

Written by LEVEILLE, DAVID

Thu, Jul 10 03

"By DAVID LEVEILLEE

Encompassing only about 5.5 square miles, Greenwich Bay is not the largest geographic component of Narragansett Bay, but it is a large economic and environmental factor in Warwick. By this time next year, a Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) for the bay could be in place to serve as a reference and a template for anyone concerned with the future of the bay.

"We want to ensure Greenwich Bay's long-term vitality as a natural resource," said Sue Kennedy, spokesperson for the Coastal Resources Center at the University of Rhode Island. "We want to see citizens, working together with state and local governments, asking each other, ‘What do we want from this bay?'"

Preparations for a SAMP originated in March 2002 after it was announced that $250,000 in federal money would go to the Coastal Resources Management Center. Since that announcement, roughly half of that money has gone to researching projects and issues within Greenwich Bay, such as water quality and SONAR studies. The other half of the funds will go towards "figuring out some of the problems the bay faces regarding development and other issues," said Kennedy. The roots of the SAMP can be traced back to the Greenwich Bay Initiative that took place during the early 1990s. "Mayor Chafee was an early supporter of the initiative and the state got behind it," Kennedy said. "That initiative played a large part in getting the sewer bond passed and started to put a dent in citywide sewer issues."

"After the initiative, people started to become more aware of the concerns surrounding Greenwich Bay. It shed some light on the environmental and land use issues," she said.

Kennedy added that since that time, some significant progress has been made concerning water quality and natural habitation. Kennedy said that one major difference between this plan and previous ones is the economic component that will be present in the Greenwich Bay SAMP plan.

"Past plans have been drawn up for more rural areas, so there was less economic concern. Since Greenwich Bay is already a developed area, we'll be focusing on the economic impact of further developments. This is the first time that we'll include an economic chapter."

Kennedy went on to say that the plan is currently in the information gathering stage.

"Right now, we're organizing chapters of the plan."

She explained that the chapters are being organized by topic: floods and hazards, historic recourses, and so on.

"As we go forward, we'll have enough information in place to possibly make recommendations to state and local decision makers," she said.

"Economic vitality in and around Greenwich Bay will benefit everybody: citizens, fishermen, the marinas," she said.

Kennedy went on to say that local marinas would play a large part in the organization of the SAMP. "We need input on how to make these marinas an invested leader in the bay."

John Williams, owner of the Warwick Cove Marina, is a supporter of the plan. Presently, he is very concerned with improving the water quality in Brush Neck Cove.

"The water over there is dangerously shallow," Williams said. "Right now, all it would take is one big storm to turn Brush Neck Cove into Brush Neck Pond."

Williams also wants to explore improvements to City Park and Oakland Beach. "They need more sand at Oakland Beach than they currently have."

"It's very early in the plan," Williams said. "We need to complete some environmental, engineering and analytical studies. That's where we are right now."

"This is an evaluative process," he continued. "Putting the plan together may cause some controversy and some consternation, but it could benefit everybody in the end."

The SAMP is also being supported by other local activists with strong ties to Greenwich Bay. Jack Early, spokesperson for Defenders of Greenwich Bay, said that his organization looks forward to becoming "aggressively involved" with the design and construction of the plan.

"Discussions concerning our involvement with the SAMP are currently underway," Early said. "This can be a real opportunity to balance economic and environmental interests."

The Defenders of Greenwich Bay were recently awarded $2,000 in grant money for the continuation of an appeal of a permit allowing the expansion of the Greenwich Bay Marina.

When asked about the timetable for adoption of the plan, Kennedy said, "We're shooting for sometime next summer." She explained that a formal adoption process could take place over the course of next year. She also encouraged community input.

"Any group or organization with an interest in this project is welcome to participate. We'd love for them to get on board."

"This is a plan that will belong to the community," Kennedy continued. "We're just writing down the information."

Anyone interested in providing input to the Greenwich Bay Strategic Area Management Plan can call Kennedy at 874-6017 or Virginia Lee at 874-6490 for more information."