Projo — RI country club loses fight to change rules over illegal seawall. What comes next?

Jan 29, 2025

By Antonio Noori Farzan — NORTH KINGSTOWN – The Coastal Resources Management Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to deny Quidnessett Country Club's attempt to change the rules for its illegal seawall.

There was no discussion before the 6-0 vote.

Quidnessett's massive riprap revetment was built without CRMC permission in an area designated as Type I conservation waters, where seawalls are not allowed.

Faced with the threat of being ordered to remove the wall, the country club petitioned to change the water type classification so that it could belatedly seek permission for the seawall.

"The fact that the Council even considered this request, a retroactive plea for relief from the consequences of their blatantly illegal action, tells you everything you need to know about the state of environmental oversight in Rhode Island," Attorney General Peter Neronha said in a Tuesday statement.

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