The drawn-out saga of a North Kingstown country club’s quest to ease development restrictions along its shoreline ended abruptly Tuesday when Rhode Island coastal regulators denied the proposal.

The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council’s 6-0 vote came within minutes, without questions or discussion of Quidnessett Country Club’s request to reclassify the water off its shoreline. Even more importantly for coastal access advocates, the decision appears to block any avenue for the country club to keep a  600-foot-long seawall built without permission along its northeastern property line two years ago.

“It’s been 519 days, but who’s counting?” Jed Thorp, advocacy director for Save the Bay, said in a phone interview Tuesday, referring to when regulators first caught wind of the illegal rock wall overlooking Narragansett Bay. “We’ve been saying all along the request was inappropriate. Hopefully we can get on to enforcement as quickly as possible.”

The country club erected the barrier in January 2023, seeking to protect its flagship golf course from rising sea levels. It wasn’t until state and federal regulators spotted the seawall more than six months later, issuing warnings of fines and other enforcement, that the club sought retroactive permission.

Quidnessett’s April 2024 petition asked the CRMC to reclassify a 1,400-foot-long section of the waters along its shoreline from the existing Type 1 “conservation area” to a less stringent Type 2 “low intensity use.” Under the Type 1 designation, any permanent structures like a seawall are strictly prohibited. A change to a Type 2 designation could — but doesn’t have to — allow for permanent structures like a seawall.

The move drew sharp criticism from Save the Bay and other coastal advocates whose objections were met with equally impassioned support by country club owners, members, and employees. Country club owners through a team of hired attorneys and experts implored the CRMC to consider the redesignation as a correction to a 50-year-old mistake, arguing that the area should have been under less stringent development restrictions all along.

Unpersuaded by this line of reasoning, a subcommittee of the full council voted 3-0 in December to recommend denial of Quidnessett’s petition. The full council’s vote Tuesday affirmed the position of the subcommittee and the agency’s staff report.

The council denied a request from Robin Main, an attorney representing Quidnessett, to speak before the vote Tuesday based on advice from CRMC attorney Anthony DeSisto, who cited the four prior, public subcommittee meetings as ample opportunity.

Main said in an email Tuesday night that she could not comment on the council’s decision. Janice Matthews, vice president of The Jan Companies, which owns the country club, also did not return a call for comment Tuesday night.

While state and federal regulators have issued a series of escalating warnings and threats of fines against the club for the existing stone wall, the club has not yet been forced to tear down the structure.

Thorp hoped that with the application denied, the CRMC would double down on enforcement, including forcing the country club to finally remove the seawall.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha in a statement Tuesday night pointed to the ongoing saga as further evidence of the need to reform the politically appointed council.

“The fact that the Council even considered this request, a retroactive plea for relief from the consequences of their blatantly illegal action, tells you everything you need to know about the state of environmental oversight in Rhode Island,” Neronha said. 

His office submitted legislation to state lawmakers on Monday seeking to abolish the council and reshape the agency as an administrative department.

“Because while the Quidnessett decision ultimately came down in our favor, it’s only a matter of time before the next Quidnessett,” Neronha said. “We must embrace real and lasting reform before it’s too late. And the solution is a dedicated Department with no agenda beyond acting in the best interest of Rhode Islanders and the environment.”

Similar bills introduced in the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions, including with Neronha’s backing, have failed to advance out of committee in either chamber.

Updated to include a response from Robin Main, attorney for Quidnessett Country Club.

With the excitement of the holiday season over, it may seem like the best way to wait out the cold New England winter is staying indoors.

However, if you can work up the courage to face the cold, Rhode Island has plenty of attractions that can brighten up the gloomiest winter day, including ice skating. Whether indoor or outdoor, plenty of ice rinks can be found throughout the state, many of which offer more than ice skating.

Here are five rinks in Rhode Island to skate at this winter.

Providence Rink

Located in the heart of downtown Providence is BankNewport City Center’s Providence Rink, an outdoor winter sports venue that offers both ice skating and ice bumper cars against a backdrop of the city skyline. The rink was recently renovated.

Tickets cost $13 for shared bumper cars, $16 for full bumper cars, $9 for adult skating and $6 for child skating. Skate rentals and season passes are also available.

When: Ice skating is open daily from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. through early March.

Where: 2 Kennedy Plaza, Providence

Thayer/Warburton Arena

Warwick’s Thayer and Warburton ice arenas offer year-round indoor ice skating for competitive, recreational, resident and non-resident skaters. Along with public skating hours, this venue offers adult-only skate time, private group rentals and skating lessons.

Skating costs $5 per person, and skates can be rented from the Sandy Lane Sports store across the street.

When: From January through March, public skate hours are 3:15-5:15 p.m. on Fridays and 12:50-2:30 p.m. on Sundays, and adult skate hours are 8-11:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Where: 975 Sandy Ln., Warwick

RI attractions: 8 things to do in Rhode Island during winter when you want to get outside

Washington Trust Community Skating Center

This outdoor rink offers 12,000 sq. ft. of real ice to skate on, with options including free skate, skating lessons, hockey and Rock N Skate, a fun-filled event with skating and music, every Saturday night. Food concessions are also available outside the rink.

The price to skate at the Washington Trust Community Skating Center is $10 for adults or $7 for both children 13 or under and seniors 60 or over. Guests can rent skates for $7 and get the blades sharpened for $5.

When: Westerly’s community ice rink is open for public skating from 3-4:50 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10-11:50 a.m. and 3-6:50 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m.-5:50 p.m. on Saturdays and 1-4:50 p.m. on Sundays. A full schedule of all events can be found on the town of Westerly’s website.

Where: 61 Main St., Westerly

Cranston Veterans Memorial Ice Rink

The Cranston Veterans Memorial Ice Rink has not one, but two NHL regulation size rinks, where skaters can enjoy public skating, public hockey, skating with stick and puck or skating lessons.

Outside the rink, this venue has a Pro Shop, arcade games and a concession stand, stocked with snacks like pizza, popcorn and slushies.

Skating costs $10 for adults or $5 for children and senior citizens, and skate rentals are available for $10. The Cranston rink only accepts cash.

When: Public skating is open daily from 12:10-2 p.m.

Where: 900 Phenix Ave., Cranston

Looking for a night out this winter? Check out these hot concerts around RI

Smithfield Municipal Ice Rink

Along with hosting various sports groups and teams, Smithfield’s indoor ice rink offers both public skating and public hockey.

Tickets to skate, which can only be bought in person with cash, cost $5 per person, and skate rentals cost an additional $5.

When: Smithfield’s public skating hours are 12-1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

Where: 109 Pleasant View Ave., Greenville

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Office of Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos announced she traveled to Israel on Monday to meet with the Consulate General of Israel to New England.

The meeting was planned as part of a legislative delegation to strengthen the relationship between Rhode Island and Israel.

Lieutenant Governor Matos is set to return from Israel on Jan. 31.

Matos’ office said no taxpayer funds were used for the travel.