New Shoreham directs consultant to prepare town response to DEM wetlands variance for Blansfield property

Council reviewed a notice from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) concerning a wetlands-variance application submitted by James Blansfield of Blansfield Realty Holdings LLC for a parcel off Mansion Road. Staff told the council this item is not a public hearing but a request for the town to state objection or non-objection to the variance proposal.

Jim, the town’s wetlands consultant, outlined the narrow scope of DEM’s wetlands review: the agency evaluates specific wetlands criteria such as loss of floodplain, groundwater recharge, wetland habitat loss and downstream flooding. Jim said the town has retained McHugh Environmental Engineering as a subconsultant to review the plans and prepare a report for the council and for DEM. "We've gotta look at and examine what they're proposing; does it impact these 5 or 6 conditions," Jim said, summarizing DEM’s technical points.

Council members noted two standing boards had sent differing recommendations. Several councilors said they preferred the town submit the two board letters along with the consultant’s technical findings, so DEM has the local board analyses and the town’s professional concerns. Councilors also raised life-safety and emergency-access issues, asking the consultant to note fire-department apparatus needs and lane-width concerns in the town submission.

Given timing and upcoming absences that could affect quorum, the council directed Jim and the subcontractor to draft the technical response and forward it to DEM with the planning board and conservation commission letters attached, subject to council review before submission. The motion to proceed passed by voice vote.