Thank you to the Narragansett Times for Publishing the following article on the Galilee Land Lease.   Please continue to encourage friends and family to sign this petition.  If we can reach 2500 in the near future, that would be great.   Thank you all again for your support.  

Justification for the RIDEM to Select Narragansett’s Proposal for a Viable Development Plan in Gailee.

In Narragansett, we have had great dissensions on various issues ranging from a fight for a modern state of the art library, cabana rentals, and heated disagreements over a 3 or 4 student limit on academic rentals. However, we have never had such uniformity in support for a most worthy and some would say one of the most important issues in our history of Narragansett that being the land lease in Galilee controlled by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM). Regardless of one’s political affiliation or stances on any other issues, the Town and its residents do not feel the Procaccianti Group has maintained the terms of its former lease nor have they come up with a viable development plan for Galilee. For many years, the RIDEM leased out a 5-acre parcel to the Procaccianti Development Group. The name Procaccianti attached the PRI X name to its business. Over the years the property that was leased out by the PRI X Group has become an eyesore with the former Dutch Inn/Lighthouse Inn becoming a state of neglect. The area became a haven for seagulls. Procaccianti is a multi-billion-dollar developer who recently purchased a 19-million-dollar mariner in Block Island. Champlin’s Marina is a lavish resort style marina with a hotel and restaurant. This past summer the terms of the former lease in Galilee was to expire. The RIDEM gave the PRIX Group multiple opportunities to produce a viable development for the land they have been leasing as its lease with the RIDEM was set to expire. The PRIX Group put forth 2 proposals that were primarily a massive parking lot with either a small strip mall or a landscaped area that was to represent a small park like setting. There were several public meetings via Zoom between the RIDEM, the Narragansett Town Council, and the public. The representative for PRIX, Mr. Voccola noted the area was noisy and smelly, and a parking lot was the best fit. The RIDEM gave the PRIX Group a 6-month extension to its lease, and they were asked to put out requests for proposals (RFPS) with the RIDEM. Our local representative, Carol Hagan McEntee, Teresa Tanzi, our Town Officials, and the public were very upset with the PRIX parking lot proposals and with the extension that was offered to the PRIX Group. Everyone aside from PRIX Representatives who were outspoken at the meetings felt the PRIX Group failed to negotiate in good faith for a viable development plan for Galilee. The Town and its representatives also felt it can appear to be a conflict of interest as the PRIX Group is not only allowed to help draft and manage the RFPs for the leased land with the RIDEM, but PRIX was allowed to prepare a proposal and help oversee the proposals that were being submitted for the leased land.

At the RIDEM website, 4 proposals have been noted to have been submitted related to the 5-acre parcel that is leased out in Galilee by the RIDEM. However, in my opinion only 3 are actual proposals. The RIDEM listed the proposals that were submitted came from the Town of Narragansett, Quonset Area Aqua Development Inc., PRI X, and The Atlantic Red Crab Company. I feel the proposal by the Atlantic Red Crab Company was just to make some suggestions for others to explore rather than a legitimate proposal. Based on the research I have read; it appears to me the Town of Narragansett’s Proposal is most in line with the research completed by the University of Rhode Island’s Galilee: A Vision for a Resilient Port.

I hope the Town of Narragansett will create an ad Hoc committee to present a paper to the RIDEM and the Governor of Rhode Island before their December 15th, 2021, decision date that will explicitly state why the Town of Narragansett’s proposal is the Best for Narragansett, its residents, the businesses in Galilee, and for all those who love Galilee. The ad hoc committee can consist of Mike Deluca (Narragansett Town Planner), James Tierney (Narragansett Town Manager), Heather Pouliot Kisilywicz (South County Museum, Director), a representative from the Galilee Advisory Committee, a representative from the Economic Development Committee, Charles Carberry(Landscape Architectural Designer), James Drew (Member of Galilee Advisory Committee and Board Member of Friends of Galilee), Dr. Ewa Dzwierzynski (Narragansett Town Council Member), and others who have researched best use renditions for the leased land area.

The justification for Narragansett’s proposal may highlight the following. A Maritime Museum/Marine Educational Center, Educational Centers, a recreational park, a multi-level parking garage, a boutique hotel, and a tourism center would make that area a showcase for Galilee. Money from the multi-level parking garage can be used to fund the other construction projects. Once the boutique hotel is built, that will bring in additional revenue. The cost for the Maritime Museum/Education Center can be obtained through grants. A recreational / park like area will be welcome to all those who visit. By building a Maritime Museum and an education center on a portion of the leased land it will benefit all those who want to educate those on our fishing industry, its history, and our fragile ecosystem in Galilee. I Part of the RFP was to show support of our fishing industry, and the PRI X proposal fails to show any benefit.
The PRI X Proposal while it discusses a Boutique Hotel, it wants the RIDEM to award them with a 99-year lease, and aside from the hotel, it fails to create a showcase for Galilee. In addition, a good portion of the land would be used for parking. The Town of Narragansett’s Proposal notes a consolidated parking garage that will take up a small footprint of the overall land would be best to solve some of the parking issues in Galilee rather than the parking rendition designed by PRI X in their plans. A street level parking lot is also less regulated than a parking garage that is equipped with cameras that can monitor traffic flow for an accountability of cars utilizing the lot. I also would be hesitant to give PRI X a 99-year lease since they failed to maintain the leased land in Galilee. By their failure to maintain the existing property, one must question their ability to maintain property for 99 years. In addition, the previous proposals submitted by the PRI X Developers shows that PRI X put forth plans with a nickel and dime proposal without consideration for the needs of Galilee.

While the Quonset Development Proposal notes it will bring jobs into the area, I feel it will fail to enhance the Beauty of the area. I also feel such a proposal will not encourage people to visit Galilee. The area of land is also zoned GB – Galilee Business, so a seafood processing plant would be in violation of the zoning for the 5-acre parcel.
At the Change.org website the online petition that supports a viable development plan for Galilee now has over 2000 signatures. It shows that supporters of the petition do not want PRI X to retain its lease based on the companies past practice of failing to maintain the leased land in Galilee. The petition also supports renditions that are like the Town of Narragansett’s Proposal. It is never too late to cast your signature that will support a viable development plan for Galilee such as is supported by the Town of Narragansett’s RFP.

This paper is submitted in memory of my dad, Albert Alba, Sr. who inspired me by his advocacy to bring forth ideas to better Narragansett, its residents, and its businesses.
                                                      Dr. Albert Alba, Jr.