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It is with heavy hearts that we must report the passing of Jan Knost. Jan passed away on Sunday, August 22, just as Hurricane Henri made landfall in Charlestown and knocked the power out. Jan’s passing was coincidental to the storm, but there is some symbolism in this great light of our community, Jan Knost, being lost at the same time all our lights went out.
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Town Council member Deb Carney recounted assurances from Amtrak CEO William Flynn at the August 10 Town Council Meeting that the most likely new route for a high-speed rail connection from New Haven to Providence would be along the I-95 corridor. As far as NEC Future is concerned, the route “more parallel to Route 95” is the Kenyon to Old Saybrook Bypass. And if we are to believe the verbal assurances of Flynn, rail officials are once again on a collision course with eastern Connecticut and southern Rhode Island.
We ask that the Town Council and our State Government Officials inform the Federal Railroad Administration that Charlestown should have a seat at the table on the New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study; that there be a complete environmental impact study; and that we remain opposed to the Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass.
At their July 28 meeting, the Charlestown Planning Commission voted to approve the Village Walk application on a vote of 4 in favor and 1 opposed based on findings of fact and conditions of approval. The applicant’s attorney claimed that the conditions of approval amounted to a denial.
Cynthia Drummond reports on the pace of growth in Charlestown and the impacts on everything from the Zoning Department, to the Planning Commission, to our Coastal Ponds and even drinking water.
Charlestown’s Administrator and its Department of Public Works Director have moved to narrow the widths of the travel lanes on Charlestown Beach Road and plan to do the same on East and West Beach roads.
When: Wednesday, July 28 at 7 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Hall
On the Charlestown Planning Commission’s July 28th meeting agenda are Master Plans for two major land developments – “Village Walk” and “Charlestown Commons”.
When: Wednesday, July 28 at 7 PM
Where: The Quonnie Grange, 5662 Post Rd, (Rt. 1) between East and West Beach Rd., next to Dunn’s Corners Fire Station (location map of the Quonnie Grange in post)
Why: Learn how the Charlestown Naval Airbase almost became a nuclear power plant and the environmental impacts of nuclear energy.
Presenter: Art Ganz, Marine Biologist
On July 16th the Connecticut Examiner reported that both of Connecticut’s senators support the just-announced Connect NEC 2035 that implements the first phase of the Federal Railroad Administration’s NEC Future plan. No mention was made of continued opposition to the Bypass. What was offered instead was a promise from Connecticut’s US Senator Chris Murphy to be “sensitive to existing communities that live by the rail.” This letter, written by Ruth Platner, was published in the CT Examiner as a response.
In 2016, the Federal Railway Administration released a plan to bisect Charlestown with a new high-speed track known as the “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass”. The Northeast Corridor Commission has now released Connect NEC 2035. This plan does not include the Bypass, but what the maps in the release do have is a giant circle covering our region, indicating that high-speed rail in our area will be studied. The “New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study” is on the table, and that is extremely important and potentially dangerous for our town.
Artificial light at night may be one of the main drivers of firefly declines. These species are active at dusk or after dark, and artificial lights that are on at this time can make it harder for them to see each other. It may also make fireflies more vulnerable to predators that would otherwise be repelled by their light. The resulting decreases in reproduction and survival could have severe consequences for firefly populations.
Charlestown is seeing a surge in development applications that will result in a level of growth not seen in over 20 years. We may reach a level of development applications that will be impossible for the Planning Department and Planning Commission to review. Impossible or not, state law requires that we review and make decisions within a set number of days.
On the Charlestown Planning Commission’s July 7th meeting agenda are two major subdivisions – “Summer Winds”, and “Summer Winds”. That isn’t a typo! The developers of the Summer Winds subdivision, are now proposing a Major Subdivision Comprehensive Permit on the same land as the Summer Winds subdivision and also calling it Summer Winds. They haven’t withdrawn the original Summer Winds, so for now there are two different proposals, with the same name, by the same developer, for the same parcel of land.
The Charlestown Be-Fit Road Bike Trail is a bike tour of our beautiful town and was conceived and developed by the Charlestown Parks and Recreation Commission. The trail passes many of our town’s pristine conserved lands along with Historic Cemeteries, ponds, streams and inviting businesses.
Most of our readers are signed up to receive the CCA newsletter which is handcrafted and sent about once a week from our website. A smaller group of subscribers receive an automated email with all of the previous day’s blog posts whenever there is new content. All of our readers who were receiving the “daily” automated email will be transferred to a new email list.
On the Charlestown Planning Commission’s June 23rd meeting agenda are three major land developments – “Village Walk”, “Summer Winds”, and “Rippy’s Garages” – along with other applications. You can join the live Webex meeting on June 23 at 7 p.m.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries since the 1940s. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects. High PFAS levels are often found at former military sites like Ninigret Park. The wells with elevated PFAS are not used for drinking water.
Thanks to Carla Ricci for this video of a snapping turtle laying its eggs near Carolina Rhode Island.
The Breachway Bikers Club is a community bicycle group that explores our beautiful part of the world at a leisurely pace. You can join them on Saturday mornings at 8:00 am and Wednesday nights at 5:00 pm for a non-competitive bike ride throughout our beautiful area. Details in post.
A full list of recreation offerings in Charlestown with event dates, including recreation programs for children and adults, movies, concerts, nature trails, beaches and more.
On Friday, May 21, at approximately 10:30 a.m. an explosion was heard across Charlestown from the border with Richmond, to South Kingstown, to Westerly. Because of the way sound travels and where people were, whether in their homes or outdoors, not everyone heard the noise or felt the shock wave. What is remarkable is how far people who did feel and/or hear the explosion were from the source.
Only In Your State‘s travel writers create articles highlighting the hidden gems, little-known attractions, and natural wonders of each state. They describe Charlestown as “a tiny town that represents a slower kind of life centered on the natural beauty of the area.”
Now thanks to Charlestown’s open space, regulatory standards, and the hard work of Charlestown Building Official Joseph Warner and other town staff, home owners will receive a 20% discount on flood insurance.
Village Walk will be on the May 26th meeting. This is a continuation of the discussion of Village Walk that took place April 28. The meeting packet contains a peer review report from an architect explaining ways the Village Walk buildings and layout could be modified to better fit into the village.
When: Saturday, May 29th, from 8am to 1pm
Where: St. Andrew Lutheran Church Parking Lot, 15 East Beach Road, Charlestown
Hanging baskets, annuals, perennials, and mixed containers.
Now that the plan has been approved, the Planning Commission can begin the process of addressing issues that the town faces along with residents’ concerns. The staff, boards, commissions and committees now have a solid footing for making their decisions. State agencies still have to make final approval of the plan, but their reviews so far have been extremely good.
Bob Petrone, who has provided some beautiful drone videos recently of our beaches, will take a break once the summer starts and the beaches fill with people. In the meantime, enjoy this 90 second drone flight taken May 2nd, 2021, heading west on East Beach.
On the Charlestown Planning Commission’s April 28th meeting agenda are two major land developments – “Summer Winds” and “Village Walk” and other proposals. Links to review all the materials submitted by the applicants, the agenda for the entire April 28 meeting, and a link to join the live Webex meeting on April 28 at 7 p.m. where these applications will be reviewed are in this post.
In 2013 and 2016, the Rhode Island Legislature passed bills that allow unbuildable perimeter wetlands and steeply sloped land to be included in determining buildable lot sizes. Lots that have large areas of wetland buffer have smaller buildable areas and create conflicts with wetland protection.