Stormy Weather
There’s a political storm brewing in Rhode Island and coastal residences and businesses could be at risk. At issue is the accuracy of new Federal Flood Maps for Rhode Island…
Getting a Dock In Rhode Island May Be Harder Than You Think
One of the attractions in acquiring waterfront property is to have a boat dock for recreational activities. That may, however, be easier said than done. For example, if a prospective…
Getting Out of the Flood Zone
Given it is Hurricane Season, it is appropriate to ask whether Rhode Islanders are any safer from a hurricane today than they were three years ago when Hurricane Sandy hit.…
Taming Rhode Island Wetlands Registrations
Rhode Island property owners, developers and builders have long been frustrated by conflicting State and municipal regulation of wetland setbacks and buffers, often causing delays, increasing the cost of building,…
Zoning the Oceans
I am pleased and proud that the American Bar Association has just published my book, “Zoning the Oceans The Next Big Step in Coastal Zone Management”. And at approximately 300…
Rhode Island and Massachusetts Issues on the Siting of Potentially Hazardous Facilities Will Get National Attention
An American Bar Association Webinar will bring to a national audience Rhode Island’s and Massachusetts’ experience with the proposed development of a LNG facility as part of a discussion of…
Coastal Permitting and Federal Coastal Zone Management Act Protections for States
I recently had the opportunity to address the fall meeting of the American Bar Association’s Section of State and Local Government Law on a coastal permitting topic that even…
Developers and Property Owners Benefit From Permit Extensions
Many real estate developers and property owners got a significant break from the General Assembly late last year, when legislation passed to extend the expiration date of a broad…
Regulating Waterfront Property in Rhode Island: Ownership Does Not Mean Control
If you own waterfront property in Rhode Island and think you can do with it what you will, so long as you observe zoning ordinances like everyone else, think…
Putting the Champlin’s Marina Decision in Perspective
This is the last in a four-part series on the Rhode Island Supreme Court’s decision in the Champlin’s Marina decision, where the court affirmed in part and reversed in part…