CRMC OKs expansion of Block Island marina

NEW SHOREHAM – Six months after the R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council rejected an appeal by Champlin’s Marina to expand its dock on Great Salt Pond, the agency has approved a smaller 0.38-acre expansion by Payne’s Dock, The Block Island Times reported last week.
The decision, based on an application originally submitted in 2005, will allow Payne’s dock to expand 80 feet north into the pond, then build a 187-foot dock east to west that would form the top of a broad “T” shape, the newspaper said. It is currently 2.8 acres in size, which means the expansion will increase the marina’s size by approximately 14 percent.
The original application requested that the dock extend to 207 feet. However, applicant Clif Payne scaled back his ambitions. The extension will allow an additional 15 boats to dock at the marina.
New Shoreham had objected to the project on similar grounds to its opposition to Champlin’s Marina, noting to the R.I. Supreme Court that the town owns the Great Salt Pond and would have to sign the application. Additionally, the town raised issues about the “cumulative impact” of the expansion, water-quality concerns, enforcement for the no-rafting rule, proper fire protection and a stipulation on vessel size.
CRMC unanimously rejected the Champlin’s proposal in January. The marina had hoped to expand 225 feet and make room for another 140 boats. &#8226