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Remington owner warns Weavers Cove marina expansion could threaten large ship operations; commission tables matter
Summary
At the July 6 Fall River Conservation Commission meeting, a nearby property owner warned the proposed Weavers Cove/52 Ferry Street marina expansion could affect his ability to receive large vessels, and the commission agreed to monitor Army Corps and DEP proceedings while tabling local action.
The Fall River Conservation Commission on July 6 heard strong public concerns about the proposed Weavers Cove/52 Ferry Street marina expansion and tabled further local action while it awaits related state and federal reviews.
Bob Bogan, president of the board of Borden Remington and owner of 63 Water Street, told commissioners the expansion could significantly disrupt his business, which brings large vessels six times a year to deliver sodium hydroxide. "We average well over 500 feet," Bogan said, adding that one vessel measured about 620 feet. He estimated that those calls represent "probably a good 25 to 30% of our business" and said the project could jeopardize jobs and long-standing regulatory arrangements. "This is not an exaggeration," he said.
Dan Aguilar, the commission's conservation agent, said the commission had been cc'd on lengthy Army Corps correspondence and on a June 26 chapter 91 determination tied to the project. Aguilar told the meeting the commission's jurisdiction is limited to landward improvements and the area between mean high and mean low water; navigation and deep-water operational issues—such as those raised by pilots and maritime interests—are handled by the Army Corps, the state Department of Environmental Protection and other agencies. "We don't deal with the navigation part of it," Aguilar said.
Commissioners and staff noted that the project has already gone through chapter 91 licensing and that the applicant obtained a variance to proceed in a designated port area. Members said they will continue to review the Army Corps correspondence, assess whether outstanding work was permitted or requires enforcement, and coordinate with other agencies as needed. The commission made a motion to table the 52 Ferry Street item to allow staff time to investigate permit history and to monitor the Army Corps process; the motion carried.
Why it matters: Bogan warned that loss of access for very large vessels would have direct economic consequences for his firm and that pilots and other maritime stakeholders have raised safety and navigation concerns. The commission emphasized the limits of its authority but said it would relay information to and receive updates from the Army Corps and DEP.
Next steps: The conservation agent said he will continue researching the permit record, follow up on the Army Corps correspondence, keep abutters informed, and report back to the commission at a future meeting. The item remains tabled pending that follow-up and external agency decisions.
