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The following emails were forwarded to me by DZ - it's from RIRockhound, so I don't think Bry would mind if it was seen here -
The other is from Fran and Bill Mileski, a very nice young couple who are both avid surfers - their parents are friends of ours and they had my wife and I shoot Fran and Bill's wedding a year and a half ago -
It will fill you in a little on how the situation has unfolded so far -
Good Morning Fellow Surfrider Members:
This will be one of several reminders that you will be receiving regarding an issue that has popped up in Middletown relating to parking and access to the water at the end of Tuckerman's Road in Middletown.
I have attached an Email from one of our Middletown members, Fran Mileski, that explains the issue in more detail; however, in a nutshell the situation is as follows: The Middletown Town Council had an unopposed 1st hearing on a proposal to adopt an ordinance banning on-street parking at the end of Tuckerman's Road. The proposal is scheduled for its second hearing on Monday, June 7, 2004 at 7:00PM at the Middletown Town Hall. If unopposed at the 2nd hearing, the ordinance will likely pass.
The proposed ordinance is being sponsored by the owner of a newly constructed home on Tuckerman's point and will effectively limit use of the CRMC access point as the closest public parking (Purgatory Chasm) is a 10-15 minute walk away and has a 30 minute time limit.
The RI Chapter will be present at the next Town Council Meeting to speak in opposition to this unreasonable limitation on public access.
Based on past Town Council experience, it is critical that our Middletown residents appear and participate in this process. While outsiders are free to speak their piece, Towns want to hear from THEIR residents. The longer you have been a Middletown resident and the more often you have used the Tuckerman's access to surf, fish or just walk the beach, then the more your voice is needed. Even if you choose not to speak, please stand up and becounted, the more Town residents at the meeting the better.
Mark your calendar now,
Monday, June 7, 2004
7:00PM
Middletown Town Hall
As with all formal appearances, please dress and present yourself respectfully. Suits & ties are not required (although they do score points, you'd be amazed at how professional attire gets you noticed because it blows away traditional surfer-stereotypes). However, I do strongly recommend that you leave the baggies, t-shirts & slaps at home.
I will try and send out more reminders as the date draws near. We may also try and organize a brief pre-meeting to discuss protocol & strategy. Feel free to contact any of the board members or Fran or Bill Mileski if you have questions.
All-
I just got back from a Middletown town council meeting, and witnessed a council vote on the first reading of an ordinance to ban parking at the public right of way to Tuckerman's in Middletown . The new owners of newly constructed waterside mansions adjacent to the right of way hired a lawyer, who quickly convinced the Town Council that, since they pay "very high taxes", that they should be able to enjoy their road frontage, which apparently they "can not" because of the parking of a few cars intermittently.
We occasionally drop in there, for example at sunset, just to casually walk to the rocks and enjoy the view, not to mention at other times the waves. Denial of this parking effectively shuts down the practical use of this right of way, because the nearest allowed public parking is at least a ten minute walk in either direction (east end of first beach, west end of second). I have parked there enough to unofficially quantify the parking as no more than two or three cars at a time, which are normally vacant, because their occupants have gone fishing along the rocks (or strolling).
Anyway, I would appreciate opinions on the likelihood of there being any hope to win a battle against this. The lawyer asked for his clients to have the same protection from parked cars as residents at the First Beach end of Tuckermans.. although I would guess that was to avoid a collection of cars whose owners are going to enjoy First Beach without incurring its parking situation (and fees).
I feel like this may be doomed, and I'm bummed. One councilperson said something about these public rights of way to the water being ancient, and that they preceded development, and that they should be revisited as "development issues". This really depresses me, since I always thought the intent of the rights of way (access to shore) were to protect the public in exactly this situation, and the mission seems lost on the council.
Aquidneck Island is all about the water, and the many small battles lost on issues similar to this, all add up to a large loss for those who want to enjoy its beautiful resources.
Fran and Bill
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