I believe the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management will be making their decision this month in selecting the winning proposal for the 5-Acre Parcel. If the RIDEM does not select the Town of Narragansett's Proposal, the Town will be able to reach out to the State Properties Committee and ask them not to above the RIDEM's decision, or the Town can sue the RIDEM for reckless disregard in not selecting the Town of Narragansett's Proposal.
Here is the email I sent out the RIDEM. Much of the letter was in the form of a letter written by the Friends of Galilee. I also sent a copy of the letter to the Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the Narragansett Town Council, the Narragansett Town Manager, the Narragansett Town Planner, the Friends of Galilee, and many others that are advocating for the Town of Narragansett's Proposal.
Dear Honorable Directors and Board Members of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management,
Below is a letter written by the Friends of Galilee to the Governor of the State of Rhode Island. Let us hope the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management will not ignore the will of the people of Narragansett, its elected governmental leaders, the Narragansett Town Manager, the Narragansett Town Planner, the recommendations of the Galilee Master Development Plan, the recommendations by the University of Rhode Island Research study that was endorsed by URI Professors in architecture and marine scientists, and the support of many concerned and informed member groups such as the Friends of Galilee, and the Narragansett Pier Residents’ Association. There is also an online petition at Change.org that has over 2700 signatures in support of the Town of Narragansett’s Proposal. It would be a sad day in Rhode Island history if the will of those most informed who are noted above is ignored by any government agency and the leaders of that agency. May the legacy of the Directors and Board Members of the RIDEM be that they have listened to the will of the people and the leaders in the Town of Narragansett. Otherwise, if the Narragansett Proposal is not accepted as the most viable plan for the 5-acre parcel by the Directors and Board Members of the RIDEM the Agency and its leaders will be forever remembered for having ignored the will of all those who govern and lead Narragansett, our elected officials, and our citizens who live, visit, and who have done research that supports the Town of Narragansett’s Proposal. The State of Rhode Island's Motto is Hope. Let us Hope the Motto of our State will not be considered by all those who live here as Hopeless if the voices of those who are most informed are ignored.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dr. Albert Alba
Below is the letter sent to the Governor from the Friends of Galilee:
The Friends of Galilee Support for the Town of Narragansett’s proposal for the redevelopment of the property in Galilee, where the current Lighthouse Inn is situated. The Friends of Galilee is a non-profit organization of approximately 170 members. Founded in 2018, our mission is to preserve the historic fishing port of Galilee and its critical habitats while also stimulating its future planning and development.
The following content is a partially edited combined version of two email communications sent to Governor McKee.
The first was sent December 9, 2021, and the second on January 24, 2022.
Dear Governor McKee,
On behalf of the Friends of Galilee, we would appreciate your active support of the Town of Narragansett’s proposal submitted in response to the RFP for the Redevelopment of the Lighthouse Inn Parcels in Galilee. What follows is a brief description of why we support the Town’s proposal and the reasons for opposition to the PRI X’s and the Quonset Area Aqua Development Inc.’s proposals.
The Town of Narragansett Overview
The Town’s proposal is based on a number of studies and plans for the Galilee area including; 1) URI sponsored study in February 1992, 2) the State of RI sponsored Master Plan for the Development of the Port of Galilee in December 1997; which included a second part evaluation of tourist-related development, 3) the Galilee Special District Plan for the Town in October 2000 and 4) the adoption of the Galilee Special District Ordinance adopted by the Town Council as part of the 2003 Town Comprehensive Plan. According to the studies, the single common element was the development of an anchor hotel. In the short term the Town is proposing a 75-100 room boutique hotel including a restaurant and events hall with a public parking deck for 400 spaces. Also proposed is a multi-use building that would include offices, and 8 housing units with related parking. Longer term, the entire Galilee Business Zone will be redeveloped with roadway and utility improvements plus the addition of short-term and long-term parking. Why We Support this Proposal Briefly, 1) It is based on numerous studies culminating in the Galilee Special District Plan. 2) It is focused on revitalizing the port by investing in multi-use buildings, a gallery or museum which focuses on the fishing industry, future marine retail uses and the addition of major anchors such hotels, museums and residential structures. *
We’d like to stop being the doormat to Block Island and encourage tourists to visit and stay. 3) There are primary benefits to the Port including major public infrastructure investments for parking, ground transportation and multi-modal transportation. 4) Expansion of goods and services that directly support marine, tourism, recreation and residential uses in and around the Port.* 5) Environmentally sensitive practices related to stormwater, future development and land conservation (e.g., vertical development verses surface parking).* *From Town of Narragansett Proposal to the State of RI In supplement to that, On December 17, 2021, Jason McNamee, Deputy Director, Bureau of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Management, sent a letter to each of the three bidders; the Town of Narragansett, Procaccianti Companies, Inc. and iCell Aqua, Inc. The Deputy Director indicated that the proposals had been reviewed and additional information relating to Financial Plans, Team Experience, Contingencies, Timeline and Public Amenities be submitted. The supplemental information submitted by the Town of Narragansett, combined with the original proposal, leaves no question that the Town’s proposal is the best thought out, has strong expert and studied backing, is the most broad and flexible, and has the best future vision for the Port of Galilee and its Village.
PRI X Overview
The PRI X proposal returns to one of its prior proposals. Phase I calls for redeveloping the front portion of the Lighthouse Inn into a number of retail shops and replacing the front parking area with landscaping features. The remainder of the property will be used for parking. In Phase II, PRI X would develop a boutique hotel of between 20-40 rooms. The execution of Phase II is contingent upon an extension of its lease to 99 years. In addition, Procaccianti / Paolino PRI X will determine if the Phase II development is economically feasible. Why We Don’t Support this Proposal 1) The PRI X experience has been terrible. It has allowed the property to fall into dilapidation over the last several years. The Lighthouse Inn is now an attraction for the nesting of seagulls who leave excrement over this and nearby sites. 2) PRI X has been in default of its lease for a number of years with no consequences. PRI X has demonstrated that it has no interest in the property except for the property’s parking opportunity. It reneged on its first proposal (in 2019) of an upscale restaurant and events venue to return with a strip mall, and green space proposal with the great majority of the remaining space targeted for parking. For some unknown reason, the RI DEM has allowed PRI X to continue leasing the property AS WELL AS be involved in the decision-making and issuance of the current RFP. The Friends of Galilee and 2,700 other people on Change.org say it is high time that whatever ties bind the RI DEM and PRI X be broken. We respectfully ask you to make this happen. 3) The strip mall concept is Phase I of PRI X’s current proposal. Phase II, IF economically feasible AND if the state issues a 99-year lease extension, is to develop a 20-40 room boutique hotel. PRI X has stated publicly on numerous occasions that it was NOT economically feasible for a hotel to be built in this “smelly and noisy district”. So, we’re most likely looking at 99 years of a massive parking lot. 4) PRI X has demonstrated no concern for the Galilee Port and Village and has demonstrated through past neglect that it has no long-term plans for revitalizing the site or the area.
Quonset Area Aqua Development Inc. Overview
The Quonset Area Aqua Development Inc (QAAD Inc.) - in conjunction with ICell Aqua Inc). is proposing a seafood processing facility with a water recycle and nutrient recovery system for all seafood processors in Point Judith. Up to 25% of the site could be retained for public parking. There would be front office spaces to be utilized by those in the seafood industry. Why We Don’t Support This Proposal 1) The entire site is taken up by seafood processing (plus related offices). This is at odds with the pre-mentioned studies that culminated in the Galilee Special District Plan. No recreational or commercial uses are included. 2) It would not encourage tourists to visit and stay in Galilee. 3) Seafood processing plants of this type can be the cause of objectionable odor emissions. In fact, there have been successful class action suits from surrounding areas based on the odor issue. 4) This property is zoned for Business, not for Industrial uses.
The Atlantic Red Crab Company
The Atlantic Red Crab Company was unable to submit a proposal but made suggestions on how a complex or terminal could be used to showcase the fishing industry and, also to provide space to hold workshops in support of sustainable fisheries and other environment friendly topics as well as to educate tourists on the industry. It was indicated that it would provide an opportunity for the public to interact and enjoy the seafood of the industry.
We sincerely hope you will actively support the Town of Narragansett’s Proposal as it is by far the best proposal of those submitted and will be a huge step toward the long-term revitalization of our Gem, the Port of Galilee and its Village.
Respectfully submitted, Friends of Galilee: Drew Magee
Debra Aubin, and Sherry Carberry