South Kingstown Council to consider federal‑funded land swap tied to high school rebuild after public concern

Luke Murray, a school building committee representative, presented a required public engagement on a proposed land swap that would place the new South Kingstown High School on the current Hazard Field and relocate athletic fields to the existing school footprint. The Hazard Field is about 5 acres and is subject to a 6(f) restriction tied to a Land and Water Conservation Fund award the town accepted in 1979, Murray said. That restriction limits changes to the designated parcel unless a conversion is approved by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and then the National Park Service (NPS) under the Department of the Interior.

Murray said the conversion process for a 6(f) property requires an independent appraisal and a peer review against federal appraisal standards (“yellow book”), and that the NPS has already provided informal, positive feedback on the town’s approach. If formally approved, the town would have a three‑year window to complete the conversion steps, which administration officials said aligns with construction timetables for the school project. Murray said the application is somewhat unusual because the swap would occur within the same site footprint (building on the field and converting what remains of the site), so the appraisal process will use square‑foot cost comparisons to show equivalent value and quality.

Public commenters raised concerns about timing and transparency. Resident Roberta Mulholland told the council she was “shocked” the conversion questions had not been more clearly advertised and asked whether the town had written evidence from NPS or DEM supporting the project. She also asked what the consequence would be if the application were denied and whether a school building committee of appointed members—with limited elected representation—could make decisions with such fiscal and policy implications. Murray responded that the building committee has repeatedly discussed the restriction and that while denial is possible, he has not observed denials in other conversions and that the usual consequence would be limits on future Land and Water Conservation Fund eligibility rather than immediate statutory penalties.

Council members pressed for clarity on whether a formal council vote is legally required to submit the application. Murray said he would check with legal counsel and confirmed he had been in contact with DEM and NPS staff. The council agreed to add the land swap and conversion as a business item on the next meeting agenda so the council could receive legal advice and, if desired, take a formal vote authorizing submission of the application and the appraisal work.

Next steps: Murray will provide the council with linked presentation materials and consult the town solicitor about whether formal council authorization is required to file the 6(f) conversion application; the council expects to revisit the item at its next scheduled meeting with legal guidance and the option to vote.