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Charlestown Council authorizes staff to study allowing limited fish processing and to define shellfish in zoning
Summary
Councilors authorized the town administrator, zoning official, town planner and solicitors to prepare a recommendation and a proposed zoning definition for shellfish, with a 45-day target to report back, after applicants seeking to operate a small-scale seafood processing operation appealed zoning prohibitions.
The Charlestown Town Council on June 9 authorized town staff and legal counsel to produce a recommendation for how fish processing could be permitted in town zoning and to draft a definition for “shellfish,” with the council asking for a report back by the July meeting (roughly a 45-day turnaround).
Councilor Sarah introduced the item after applicants said they had obtained a Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management permit and Department of Health certification but were told the town zoning prohibits fish processing. The applicants appealed the zoning opinion to the zoning board. Councilor Sarah said she was not seeking blanket permission for all neighborhoods and suggested any new allowance could be a special-use permit with objective criteria.
Attorney Petrarca told the council that any special-use approach will require objective criteria under the enabling legislation and that the drafting may require additional research but should be feasible. The council authorized the town administrator, the zoning official, the town planner and the solicitors to prepare a recommendation and a proposed zoning definition for shellfish and to report back to the council by the July meeting; the motion passed unanimously, 4–0.
Applicants identified themselves as owners of Mark Topfish Company. Frank Solustree and an associate, Pete, described the proposal as a small-scale local seafood processing hub and co-op intended to keep harvested seafood circulating locally to support fishermen, restaurants and local food resiliency. The council emphasized that this authorization is to study and recommend zoning changes and is not approval of any specific parcel or development; specific applications remain subject to the zoning board and standard permitting processes.
Resident Bonnie Van Slyke asked where processing would occur; council members directed her to the zoning board packet for parcel-specific details and clarified that tonight’s action was a general direction to staff to prepare recommendations.
