By Ryan Blessing — Rhode Island's Coastal Resources Management Council will resume the closely-watched public hearing on the town's application to designate Spring Avenue extension as a right-of-way to the shore on Tuesday. 

By Nancy Lavin — Says coastal regulators violated their own rules when they approved scaled-down scallop farm… The 48-page order from Associate Justice Joseph Montalbano reopens the longstanding battle between acclaimed restaurateur and oyster farmer Perry Raso and nearby property owners, remanding the case back to the council for additional public hearings and consideration. 

By Rob Smith — New legislation (H7996/S3082) proposes to merge the two entities, with CRMC — as the smaller of the two agencies — becoming a bureau within DEM. CRMC’s director would become a deputy director within DEM, and the politically appointed board that oversees the coastal agency would be transformed into an advisory body with little decision-making power.

By Nancy Lavin — Frustrated coastal advocates renew calls to nix politically appointed council

By Zane Wolfgang — The Middletown Coastal Ac­cess Alliance announced at a Dec. 9 meeting that it will officially steward six public rights-of-way in Middletown through an agree­ment with the state Coastal Re­sources Management Council.

By Antonia Noori Farzan — The advocacy group Save The Bay is pushing the Coastal Resources Management Council to take action against Quidnessett Country Club's illegal seawall, and is questioning why the council hasn't done so already. The CRMC voted to pursue enforcement actions on Sept. 23, but to date no further action has been taken, according to Save The Bay.

By John Howell — Danelle DeBye, who has filed suit against Safe Harbor marinas to ensure that she as well as emergency-response vehicles have access to her Arnold’s Neck home is hopeful the matter can be resolved without court action.

By John Howell — … And Bennett knows the names of many neck residents, pointing out they have lived there for generations and have always accessed the bay from what is now a Safe Harbor marina. But that doesn’t appear to be the case any longer.

By Alex Kuffner — Quidnessett Country Club has been granted a 30-day extension to submit a plan for removing an illegal seawall. The country club's proposed plan involves using potentially non-compliant plastic fiber bags for shoreline stabilization. Disagreements persist between the club and the Coastal Resources Management Council regarding the extent of restoration required. Environmental advocates express frustration over the ongoing delays and lack of action.

By Katie Mulvaney — Rhode Island beachfront property owner David Welch is suing the state's Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) over public access requirements for storm damage repairs. Welch argues the CRMC's requirement that he provide public access up to 10 feet inland of the high tide line is an unconstitutional taking of his property. This is Welch's second lawsuit against the state regarding beach access; the first challenged the 2023 shoreline access law and is pending before the Supreme Court.

Rhode Island, like the rest of the nation, will receive zero federal funding to restore beach sand when storms sweep it away. In recent years, the damage done has been severe. And the impact has been costly. Sometimes the bill has been in the millions.

By Nancy Lavin — Extension comes after North Kingstown country club appeals decision in Superior Court

By Nancy Lavin — A dispute between state coastal regulators and Quidnessett Country Club has finally landed in court, with the North Kingstown country club filing an appeal in Rhode Island Superior Court on July 9 — one day before it was due to turn in a restoration plan for its coastline.

By Nancy Lavin — Lawmakers keep their cool in marathon last day, mostly avoiding sweeping changes

By Nancy Lavin — 2 high-profile environmental bills get taken down a notch, or two, or three

By Alex Kuffner — When Catherine Robinson Hall was appointed to a seat on the Coastal Resources Management Council in 2022, she represented something different for the powerful state agency that controls development along the Rhode Island shoreline…

By Emily Brennan — Some state legislators want to restructure the council that oversees Rhode Island’s coastline, but there’s a debate over how it should be reformed.

By Nancy Levin — The embattled Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) has had a tough time recruiting new members. The 10-member panel has been four seats shy of a full roster since December — not unusual in recent years. Controversy surrounding the appointed regulatory body did not dissuade Dr. Michael Reuter, a Barrington podiatric surgeon and avid sailor, from seeking an appointment to the council.

By Antonio Noori Farzan — 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.