Warren council approves remediation deal and walking easement for contested waterfront parcel
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Summary
After years of litigation and state environmental pressure, the council approved an agreement with property owner Anthony Quattrocci for cleanup and infrastructure work in exchange for a demarcated four‑foot walking easement with sunrise‑to‑sunset access; the harbor commission urged CRMC review but council cited fiscal constraints.
The Warren Town Council voted Feb. 26 to accept an agreement under which waterfront property owner Anthony Quattrocci will undertake environmental remediation and infrastructure repairs to a disputed parcel from Water Street to the Warren River in return for the town granting a demarcated walking easement to the shoreline.
Solicitor (identified in the meeting record as the town solicitor) told the council the parcel’s ownership has been litigated and that the state Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has issued a violation requiring cleanup. The solicitor said Quattrocci’s offer — to clean the site, fix failing stormwater infrastructure and accept the town retaining a walking easement — would remove the town’s imminent remediation costs and associated litigation risk and recommended accepting the deal as a cost‑saving measure to the town.
Quattrocci, who spoke during public testimony, said he has carried out remediation on the southern portion of his property and urged the council to allow the north‑side and disputed area work to proceed. “I am 83 years old… I just want this to be solved,” he said, describing repeated seawall repairs and stormwater damage that he said burden his waterfront operations and tax obligations.
Members of the Harbor Management Commission disagreed on process, urging referral to the CRMC (Coastal Resources Management Council) and fuller harbor commission review to avoid setting a precedent for private encroachment on town rights of way. Harbor commissioners William Hunt and Rock Singwell told the council the commission submitted a CRMC package in 2016 and that designating rights of way through the CRMC is an established process the council should respect.
Councilors voiced concern about both procedural fairness and fiscal exposure. Several members said the town lacks funds to undertake the required cleanup and infrastructure work if the offer were rejected. After discussion, the council approved the agreement and directed the solicitor to incorporate clarifications discussed at the meeting, including a four‑foot demarcated walkway that is ADA‑conscious, sunrise‑to‑sunset public access, and delineation details (materials or rope/fence) to be finalized by the solicitor.
The approval includes council guidance that Quattrocci coordinate good‑faith design input with the Harbor Management Commission on how the easement is demarcated. The solicitor confirmed that DEM will retain authority to set cleanup timelines and that some permitting and engineering will be required before on‑the‑ground work begins.
What happens next: Quattrocci said he intends to proceed with permitting and remediation as soon as permits are obtainable, noting coastal permits can take months. Council members asked staff to ensure the final agreement includes the delineated width, access times and language addressing safety and public liability. The council’s vote moves the town away from immediate capital outlays but leaves open the need for DEM oversight and permit approvals before remediation work begins.
