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Council forwards dock dispute materials to CRMC after applicants defend proposed private pier
Summary
After hearing a lengthy statement from applicants defending riparian rights and disputing opposition letters, the council voted to support a procedural objection from the Harbor Commission and instructed the clerk to forward all submitted correspondence and materials to the Coastal Resources regulator (CRMC). Savage Law Partners was engaged to draft the town's letter.
The Little Compton Town Council voted to support a procedural objection from the Harbor Commission and to forward all letters, diagrams and other materials related to CRMC application file 2025-07044 (10 Minnesota Road) to the Coastal Resources regulator for review.
The action followed a reading by Tim Ehrlich on behalf of the property owners at 10 Minnesota Road. Ehrlich described the proposed private residential dock as rooted in the owners’ riparian rights and said the design had been prepared to minimize environmental impact. He disputed claims in opposition letters about safety and short‑term rentals and asked the council to evaluate the application on its legal merits. “We ask that the Town Council judge this application solely on its legal merits,” Ehrlich said while reading a prepared statement.
Council also approved payment to Savage Law Partners LLP to cover work done to date on researching and drafting a letter to CRMC setting forth the town’s position. During discussion a councilor asked that the Harbor Commission president confirm delivery to the law firm; the council president said he had already contacted the lawyer, contingent on the vote.
Why it matters: The council’s action does not decide the CRMC application; it preserves the administrative record and ensures regulator review before the state deadline. The engagement of outside counsel signals the town sought technical assistance framing its position to the state agency.
What was said: Ehrlich, speaking for the applicants, emphasized that the proposal was “consistent with precedents set by our other shoreline neighbors” and argued the dock was a private residential pier intended for family use. He contested statements attributed to the Harbor Master as “false, misleading, and made without any evidence,” writing that opposition letters contained “conjecture, misinformation, and regrettably elements of bias.”
Next steps: The clerk will forward the compiled record to CRMC; CRMC will make the regulatory decision. The council’s payment to Savage Law Partners covers work done to date on the town’s letter to the state regulator.
Notes: The file number discussed in council records is recorded as CRMC file 2025-07044. The council’s action was procedural—referral of materials and payment authorization—not a determination on permitting or the merits of the dock itself.
