Rhode Island House to study public access to the coastline
For years, advocates for shoreline access have clashed with coastal homeowners over where the public has the right to be along the waterfront, and fighting has only increased during the pandemic. On Wednesday, the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed legislation to initiate a study of shoreline access in the Ocean State.
The bill creates a 12-member commission to study lateral access to the Rhode Island shoreline in hopes of eventually addressing ongoing disputes.
Advocates say using a multi-year high tide line as the boundary is insufficient because it’s nearly impossible to identify. Shoreline property owners say changes would be unfair to them and could create liability issues should someone be injured on their land.
The proposal was put forward by state Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D-Portsmouth, Middletown).
“While there have been efforts to clarify the public’s rights over the years, rising sea levels and erosion are changing the coast, and creating more conflicts along the way,” Cortvriend said in a press release. “There are many questions about how Rhode Island is supposed to determine and protect access rights, and we need to identify some clearer answers.”
Read more: https://thepublicsradio.org/article/house-commission-will-study-shoreline-access-in-rhode-island
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