CCA Blog and Mail Box

Below you will find an archive of CCA blog posts. The comments from readers and some blog posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the CCA Steering Committee. Sign up to receive these blog posts by e-mail.

Aerial view of West Beach Road, the ocean and salt ponds

Single Family Zoning Ends In Charlestown (Updated)

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UPDATE: Although the Town Council did not make the changes the Planning Commission had strongly advised to limit ADUs to year-round use and to limit lot size, the Zoning Office is interpreting the ordinance in a way that does limit ADUs to year-round use and does limit the lot size to 20,000 square feet for non-family ADUs. There is still no minimum lot size for family ADUs. We have updated this post to reflect the Zoning Office’s January 25 memo.

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Charlestown Beachway

Allen’s Cove-Eastern Ninigret Pond Pilot Watershed Project

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When: Thursday, January 25, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Online ZOOM Meeting – register at this link
Staff from the Town of Charlestown and its partners at URI, the Salt Ponds Coalition, and Save the Bay are working to protect water quality in and around Greater Allen’s Cove and Eastern Ninigret Pond through grant funded septic system replacements, stormwater management improvements, water quality monitoring, and community engagement.

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Photo of Milky Way in Charlestown

Charlestown Town Council Characterizes Information As Lies And Ignores Preferences Of Residents

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Charlestown once rejected partisan divisions and, in turn, enjoyed a decade of smooth, open, good, and responsive government that provided low taxes and good schools while maintaining a high quality of life. Now, the current Town Council characterizes information as lies and is ignoring the preferences of residents expressed in the 2021 Community Survey.

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under the geminid meteors

Geminid Meteor Shower 2023 At Frosty Drew

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When: Wednesday, December 13 from 6:30 pm to Thursday, December 14, at 2:00 am
Where: Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center in Ninigret Park
Cost: $5 Admission per person 5 years and older
The Geminid Meteor Shower is one of the best (if not the best) meteor shower of the year. Geminid Meteors are bright with a (seasonally festive) greenish hue that leave long-lasting dust trails in the sky.

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Aerial view of West Beach Road, the ocean and salt ponds

Attend Meeting To Explain That Number Of Dwelling Units Can Impact Groundwater

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When: Saturday, December 9, from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Where: Cross Mills Library (4417 Old Post Rd, Charlestown)
What: A town hall meeting sponsored by Charlestown’s Senator Victoria Gu to discuss amendments to legislation regulating ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units).
Please attend to explain the importance of local groundwater issues to the sponsors of these bills and that these units need to be placed on lots and in areas that can handle increased septage and to urge that their use as vacation rentals be discouraged.

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Photo of a Yellow Warbler

RI Audubon Strongly Opposes Installation Of Lighting At Ninigret

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As an organization dedicated to the conservation of birds and the habitats they rely on, the Audubon Society of Rhode Island strongly opposes the installation of any novel lighting at Ninigret,  even those deemed to be “dark sky friendly.” A growing body of literature suggests that artificial light at night has the capacity to draw birds off course during migration and increase further the mortality associated with an already high-risk period in a migratory bird’s annual cycle.

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Photo of Sandpipers

Give the Gift of Charlestown this Holiday Season

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We live in a beautiful community, rich in natural resources. Giving your friends and family gift memberships in local environmental organizations, or making year-end gifts directly to these organizations, can help to preserve and protect our local environment. In the post are ideas for holiday gifts that can make a positive difference in our local environment.

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Charlestown Dark Sky by Brian Nieves

ecoRI: Proposed Sports Lighting at Ninigret Park Threatens Night Sky

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Frosty Drew is the most accessible dark-sky area east of the Mississippi. Light pollution poses a serious threat to nocturnal wildlife, as it has negative impacts on plant and animal physiology. It can confuse the migratory patterns of animals, alter competitive interactions of animals, and change predator-prey relations. Full story at ecoRI News …

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photo of Ninigret Park Sign

November 30 Deadline For Final Community Input On Ninigret Park Plan

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When: Thursday, November 30, at 7 pm
Where: Charlestown Elementary School, 363 Carolina Back Rd, Charlestown
Anyone interested in the future of Ninigret Park will want to attend this meeting in person because the draft of the new 2023 Master Plan will be presented and because VHB will gather additional input from the public before it finalizes the 2023 Master Plan for delivery to the town in December.

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Checking watercress at Mill Pond

Charlestown Land Trust’s Virtual Holiday Bazaar

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Where: https://www.32auctions.com/CLT2023Bazaar
When: Friday, December 1, 12:15 a.m. to Sunday, December 3, 8:00 p.m.
Ring in the season of giving with the Charlestown Land Trust’s third annual online holiday auction. The proceeds directly support the protection and stewardship of the open spaces in the Land Trust’s care as well as their outreach efforts and programming.

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Photo of Milky Way over Frosty Drew Observatory by Scott MacNeill

Charlestown’s Dark Skies Important As Well As Beautiful

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The night sky has inspired humanity for thousands of years. Science has progressed because of it. Studying it has shown our place in the Universe and led to more stories, spiritual, philosophical, religious, social and emotional revolutions than any other part of our world. Young students have been inspired by it and have gone on in life to outstanding careers in science, engineering, and technology, which have greatly benefited our society.

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Take The Online Commercial and Village Design Standards Survey

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Even if you missed the November 8 open house about Commercial and Village Design Standards, you can still give your input via a survey. The Committee seeks input for a set of design guidelines and standards for new commercial development in Charlestown. The goal is to achieve a more coherent and aesthetically pleasing view of development occurring in the commercial and village districts. Link to the survey in post.

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Photo of Watchaug Pond

Making Development Decisions Without Understanding Negative Impacts Is Irresponsible

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There has been a recent assertion that the allowed number of dwelling units on any lot north of Rt.1 in Charlestown could be doubled if conventional septic systems were replaced with nitrogen-reducing systems. 

However, the limiting nutrient in freshwater systems is phosphorus, not nitrogen, and no existing wastewater treatment system, whether nitrogen-reducing or not, removes phosphorus. 



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Image of ducks swimming in a pond with an algal bloom

Blue-Green Algae Bloom at Worden Pond

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The Rhode Island Department of Health and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management are advising people to avoid contact with Worden Pond in South Kingstown due to a blue-green algae (or cyanobacteria) bloom in the pond. Blue-green algae can produce toxins that can harm humans and animals. People who have had contact with these ponds and experience symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.

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CharlestownTrain

FRA Announces Funding For Reboot of High-Speed Rail Planning

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Federal Railroad Administration announced $16.4 billion of funding for passenger rail projects along the Northeast Corridor, and additional funding to reevaluate and finalize high-speed rail options across southeast Connecticut and southern Rhode Island. The study follows up on the “Kenyon to Old Saybrook Bypass” proposal for an inland high speed rail route slated between Kingston, R.I. and Old Saybrook that faced multi-state opposition and was set aside in 2017. 

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Photo of Milky Way over Frosty Drew Observatory by Scott MacNeill

Frosty Drew Director Worries Lighting Will Ruin Breath-Taking View Of Night Sky

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“With the park’s master plan undergoing an update, a potential option is increased lighting. Lighting would ruin the park’s unique view of the night sky, which every year attracts thousands of visitors. Town Council President Carney says, “We hear it about the dark sky, people who value the dark sky,” but she notes the park is for the recreational use of all Charlestown residents.” Read the full story in Nov. 4 Providence Journal.

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GiftBox

Buy Nothing Charlestown Facebook Group Helps You De-Clutter

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Have you made a resolution to de-clutter your home? Do you have something that you want to get rid of, but can’t bear to send to the landfill, or maybe it isn’t quite valuable enough to deal with the hassle of trying to sell it? Well there’s a Facebook group to answer all these questions and it turns out it does more than just remove clutter, it also helps to build community by creating a “gift economy.”

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Dollar General Sign

Commercial And Village Design Event: What Is Your Vision Of Charlestown’s Business Areas?

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When: Wednesday, November 8 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. (come anytime between those hours)
Where: Charlestown Town Hall in the Council Chambers
What: An interactive event with refreshments served
The Commercial and Village Design Standards Advisory Committee seeks input from residents and business owners for a set of design guidelines and standards for new commercial development in Charlestown. The goal is to achieve a more coherent and aesthetically pleasing view of development occurring in the commercial and village districts.

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photo of Ninigret Park Sign

Planning The Future Of Charlestown’s Ninigret Park

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When: Monday, October 30 at 6 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Hall, 4540 South County Trail (Rt. 2)
What: Consultant will present three options for the Ninigret Park Master Plan
Planning for the future of Ninigret Park is well underway, and as part of the process, it is essential to understand how the Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Landing Field (CNALF) came to be Ninigret Park and the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge.

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Image of ducks swimming in a pond with an algal bloom

An Urgent Call For The Town Council To Lobby For Our Groundwater

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As a vacation destination, areas near Watchaug and our saltwater ponds could be especially impacted. Also, developers of new subdivisions would be able to add a second dwelling unit to each lot, doubling the number of houses in their subdivisions. In short, Charlestown’s zoning would be thrown to the wind in favor of state control, and the number of dwelling units possible in town could conceivably double.

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Photo of a Frosty Drew Sunset by Scott MacNeill

Spooky Halloween Views at Frosty Drew Observatory in Ninigret Park

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When: Friday, October 27 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Where: Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center in Ninigret Park
Cost: Tickets are required for visitors to attend this event. Tickets are free, though a suggested donation of $5 per person, either at the event or online, is very much appreciated. Link to get tickets in this post.
Dig out that old costume, put on your mask, and come out to the creepy woodlands of Ninigret Park to celebrate the Eve of All Hallows… If you dare…

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Image of the earth at night showing light pollution on the East Coast

ecoRI: Light Pollution’s Glare Threatens All Kinds of Wildlife

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Global insect populations have declined by as much as 75 percent during the past 50 years, according to scientists, potentially leading to catastrophic impacts on wildlife, the environment and human health. Most studies point to habitat loss, climate change, industrial farming and pesticide use as the main factors driving the loss of insects, but a recent study in the United Kingdom points to another cause: light pollution.

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Photo of a bike

The World Is Out On Their Bicycles

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Bike shops are busier than ever with inventories down and business thriving. It is exciting to see all ages getting healthy exercise, and enjoying nature in an environmentally healthy way. The Block Island Sound Bikeway Committee (BISB) is tasked with making this healthy activity safer here in Charlestown and ultimately connecting the shoreline communities from Westerly to North Kingstown.

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Photo of a Yellow Warbler

Lights Out For 14 Million Birds Migrating Through South County

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Between August and November, an estimated 14 million birds pass through South County on their long fall migration. Many of these migrants are young birds who hatched this year and who have never migrated before. Increasing light pollution is decreasing the number of birds that will survive migration, especially first-time migrants.

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Photo of Milky Way over Frosty Drew Observatory by Scott MacNeill

The Future Of Ninigret Park Can Be Bright While Remaining Dark!

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What was proposed in the 2014 draft? A Performance Venue, Camping, and Lighting—A 19-acre performance area is to be located in an undeveloped area; an 8-acre camping area is to be located north of Little Nini Pond; and lighting will be placed throughout the Park. Parking—Cars, and buses, are to be parked in parking lots and in among the existing recreational facilities in Ninigret Park. Attendees–The baseline is 8,000 people, a number that can be waived for larger, one-time events.

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