PREPARED FOR THE RHODE ISLAND COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL RI CRMC FILE #2002-10-045 QUONSET BUSINESS PARK PUBLIC ACCESS PLAN 2020 PURPOSE type. The Quonset Business Park is a 3,210 acre way for new industry. Due to the nature of site that is partially owned by the Rhode Island construction activities, there are few areas that The Quonset Development Corporation (QDC) Commerce Corporation (RICC), the Rhode Island have not been disturbed. has prepared this update to the Quonset Department of Transportation (RIDOT), the Town The QBP is a mixed use facility with a range of Business Park Public Access Plan 2020 pursuant of North Kingstown, and the United States Navy. industrial (light, heavy, and waterfront) and office to the requirements of Section 335 of the of Additionally, many areas of the Park are privately uses. Additionally, open space and recreational the RI Coastal Resources Management Program owned. areas are incorporated throughout the Park. The (RICRMP). multimodal capabilities (airport, seaport, rail, and The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management BACKGROUND highway) are extremely valuable assets. Council (CRMC) is charged with balancing the The QBP is home to over 200 businesses and uses of Narragansett Bay and other coastal The Quonset Business Park (QBP) is located in more than 12,000 employees. As is the case with waters of the State. Section 335 of the RI Coastal the Town of North Kingstown, Rhode Island most military bases, many areas of environmental Resources Management Program (RICRMP) on the western shore of Narragansett Bay. contamination have been remediated. Davisville addresses the requirements for “Protection and Two former Naval installations, the Quonset is listed as a National Priority Listing (NPL) site. Enhancement of Public Access to the Shore.” It Point Naval Air Station (QPNAS) and the Naval is the policy of the CRMC to “protect, maintain, Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Davisville, Development is regulated by the QBP and where possible, enhance public access to comprise the 3000+ acre site. The QPNAS and Development Package. All projects are reviewed and along the shore for the benefit of all Rhode sections of NCBC Davisville closed in 1974, and by a Technical Review Committee that includes Islanders.” the remaining portions of the Davisville base QDC and Town of North Kingstown staff. Many closed in 1994. of the remaining development sites at QBP Further, it is the policy of CRMC to require are “site-ready,” meaning that environmental that applications for commercial and industrial The QDC (a subsidiary of the RICC) is the permitting through the Rhode Island Department development include a public access plan due redevelopment authority and manager of the of Environmental Management (RIDEM) has to their likelihood of impacting public access QBP. already occurred. Because of the pre-permitted and/or the public’s use and enjoyment of Rhode status, new businesses can have shovels in the Island’s public trust resources. This Public Access The QBP is bisected by the Route 1 commercial ground within 90 day. An Environmental and Plan provides a comprehensive look at the corridor and surrounded by residential Socio-Economic Review Form is utilized to public access to the shore as well as the many neighborhoods and undeveloped land. It is ensure that new development is consistent with other public parks and areas within the Quonset mostly flat, and there are several vegetated the Rhode Island State Guide Plan, managed by Business Park. areas and water bodies. Upon closure, the Navy left behind important infrastructure that now the RI Division of Planning. RIDEM maintains serves the QBP. QBP includes an airport, known jurisdiction over water quality in Narragansett SCOPE as the Quonset State Airport, three piers, miles of Bay, and CRMC maintains jurisdiction over railroad tracks, two marinas and an 18 hole golf waterfront uses and permitting of individual sites occurs as necessary. The Public Access Plan 2020 looks at the entire course. The Navy also left hundreds of buildings, Park regardless of the owner or public access most of which have been demolished to make QUONSET BUSINESS PARK Page 1 PUBLIC ACCESS PLAN 2020 METHODOLOGY PUBLIC ACCESS PARCEL course). Additionally a recreational bike INVENTORY path runs from Post Road to Calf Pasture This Plan was first introduced by the RI Economic Point along the northern perimeter of Development Corporation (which later became The primary component of this Plan is the Public the Park. This 3.75 mile Class I path and the RICC) in 2002 and was approved by the Access Parcel Inventory. The parcels included vegetated buffer greatly enhances access RICRMC in 2005. The Plan has been updated in the inventory are categorized as follows. to Calf Pasture Point and Narragansett every five years since original approval, with Bay. updates occurring in 2010 and 2015. BEACHES When crafting the initial plan, the following HISTORIC/CULTURAL FACILITIES resources were consulted: Four (4) beaches totalling over 7,500 linear feet of shoreline are available for public These two (2) venues are important to • Coastal Resources Management Program access at the QBP. Two (2) are owned by the colonial and military history of Rhode (aka the “Red Book”); RICC and managed by QDC (2,200’), one Island. The Seabee Memorial Park is • North Kingstown Harbor Management Plan, (1) is owned by RIDOT and managed by publicly owned but privately operated. It is 1994; QDC (800’), and the other (4,500’) is owned anticipated that the Allen Madison House • Designation of Public Right-of-Ways to the by the Town. All four of these beaches will be similarly structured. The airport Tidal Areas of the State (CRMC), 1998; permit public use and have parking areas apron area, though limited in public use, • Public Access to the Rhode Island Coast available. is included because of the tremendously (Coastal Resources Center), 1993; and popular annual Air Show. • RIDEM Water Quality Regulations. CONSERVATION AREAS PUBLIC BUILDINGS While crafting the initial plan, a property Conservation Areas are public and private inventory was assembled which contained parcels suitable for public access. Parcels which were not undeveloped open spaces, including parks The Shops at Quonset Gateway are suitable because of security, safety, or economic without facilities, beaches, conservation included as publicly acessible buildings. development considerations were not included. areas, preserves and buffers around These retail buildings are an important The parcels selected generally had some level of natural features between adjacent land feature of the QBP and provide access existing public activity, or represented significant uses. to a grocery store, restaurants and other open space areas. retailers. The Shops at Quonset Gateway RECREATION are utilized by employees within the QBP and residents of North Kingstown and the Seven (7) recreational areas are proposed surrounding areas. including three (3) existing Town facilities (a marina, a dog park and an 18-hole golf The Inventory discusses individually each parcel that is available for public access. The Inventory QUONSET BUSINESS PARK Page 2 PUBLIC ACCESS PLAN 2020 includes a narrative describing the parcel in specified because that may imply that picnic Likewise, the RIDOT and RIAC are property greater detail and a current aerial photograph. tables are available. That does not mean that owners, lessees and managers. Both agencies Additionally, the Inventory includes any rules people are not allowed to bring a picnic basket have a transportation mission that is in the of use (hours, emergency phone numbers, to designated areas. public interest, but which may or may not include permitted and prohibited activities, etc.) for each public access to its facilities. The QDC can not be location. In general, all waterfront areas and protected obligated to replace a public access point that open space areas that currently support public becomes unavailable due to actions beyond the For waterfront parcels, the coastal feature is use, or have the capability to support public use, QDC control. identified (either beach, wetland, or manmade are included in this Plan. shoreline) as well as RIDEM’s water quality AMENDMENTS designation, CRMC’s use classification, and the length of the waterfront. For parcels other than IMPLEMENTATION This Plan will be updated every five (5) years beaches, acreage is included. The land ownership to continue to provide an accurate overview is also noted. LAND CONTROLS of the public access available at the QBP. Over Public uses or activities for each parcel are time, circumstances change, priorities change, documented. Such activities might include In general, all of the parcels proposed for public economic conditions change, coastal features walking, swimming, fishing, or enjoying scenic access are in public ownership. The parcels that change. In between these scheduled updates, the views. The categories have been adapted from are leased to private entities almost invariably plan will also be amendable with concurrence by reports of the Coastal Resources Center. were transferred by a public benefit conveyance the CRMC. and have deed restrictions that expressly address The proposed activities are determined based the public aspect and future uses of the property. MAINTENANCE on the extent of existing use, the capability of The Davisville parcels are protected by a Final the parcel to support activities, the potential Environmental Impact Statement and Record of The responsibility for maintenance of these impact on adjacent properties, and the provision Decision, which are legal documents based on facilities falls to several entities including the of a safe means of access. The activities that are the Base Reuse Plan. QDC, Town of North Kingstown, RIAC, and private encouraged help to determine the facilities that lessees. It is entirely possible that an “Adopt-A- Notwithstanding the aforementioned land may be necessary (signs, garbage cans, parking, Spot” program can be initiated.There may be protection mechanisms, the QDC cannot be etc.).