OPINION/LETTERS: Aquidneck Island is unkept and must be fixed
Aquidneck Island is unkept and must be fixed
I was born and raised on Aquidneck Island leaving after college. I have returned often over the years to visit family and the area, recently returning in July for a 50-year high school reunion in Newport.
I was saddened by the visual condition of the island from what I remembered while growing up and from previous visits over the years. What happened to the white, soft sand of years ago? I was saddened when walking Second Beach to witness the beach unkempt. Children and adults shouldn’t have to walk on all broken shells and stones.
The city should consider a Beach Tech 2800 Sanitizer for daily cleaning of the beaches.
There are limited and maybe no trash receptacles on the island. Which elected officials decided on “bring it in-take it out?” Though this theory is honorable, the reality is people need trash receptacles. I bought a Del’s lemonade at Breton Park, only to have nowhere to dispose of my trash while walking. I had to hold my trash and return to the Del’s truck for disposal to a Del's employee who was kind enough to take my trash (and my family’s).
Trees are not maintained and are overgrown; some are entangled in wires and others hanging over roads. Unsightly as one drives the island.
I brought my grandchildren with us on this trip. There is limited fun for children on the island. The carousel was gone. Trying to find a playground with modern equipment and foam padding for falls was impossible. We settled on a playground with rusty, steel play equipment. We had three injuries and left after 30 minutes.
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the states, especially for seniors. I introduced my nieces and nephews to pickleball, only to find make-shift pickleball courts in a residential area in Middletown. I felt so sorry for the condition of the courts for the seniors trying to enjoy themselves and the residents within proximity to the noise. The island deserves a Pickleball complex with lighting, seating and regulation courts. Build the playground on the same site.
Though myself and my family enjoyed our stay and had a wonderful visit, I want to reach out to the elected representatives of Middletown, Newport and Portsmouth and ask them to pay attention to the beauty of the island. There must be a united vision to maintain the island’s natural beauty.
Please have your city councils for each island city consider an Aquidneck Island Beautification program including resident input to update, upkeep and provide for the islands’ beaches, overgrown trees, outdated playgrounds, trash receptacles, doggie stations and the maintenance of roads and streets.
Paula Dufault, Temescal Valley, California
Talking out of turn on Tiverton gas station proposal
In a recent news article covering the strong opposition expressed by Tiverton residents
to a Seasons 24-hour gas and mini-mart proposal, Tiverton Town Administrator Chris
Cotta stated that the proposal “falls within the legitimate uses allowed for the property
by Tiverton's zoning ordinance and comprehensive community plan.” In doing so, he
usurped the role of the planning board and attempted to substitute his own uninformed
judgment for theirs.
As town administrator, Mr. Cotta should not be making any statements of any kind on
any project that is before the planning board for hearing and decision. The town charter
does not grant him jurisdiction over land use and development, and he is unqualified to
play any role whatsoever. Not only is it obvious that Mr. Cotta has not read the zoning
act, but he clearly has not read the comprehensive plan. It’s also obvious that he did not
even listen to the many residents who spoke at the public hearing on the project and
who pointed out specific sections of the comprehensive plan that the proposed project
violates.
Tiverton development: Why a 24-hour gas station proposed in Tiverton is drawing intense scrutiny from residents
Mr. Cotta’s statement undermines the planning board in its deliberative process, along
with the zoning board, which must rule on the developer’s request for two special use
permits and a dimensional variance for signage for the project. Cotta’s pronouncement
also sends a strong signal to any developer that he is the person to see if you wish to
get something through the regulatory process of the town.
Mr. Cotta needs to withdraw his statement and the town council should publicly censure
his conduct.
Louise Durfee, Tiverton
Middletown's library is in the wrong place. Let's call on the Middletown Center develops to help relocate it.
Having done lengthy research on the proposed positioning of Middletown’s new library there are indeed multiple contentions that justify our fully eliminating the proposed library within “Middletown Center” at 600-740 West Main Road.
To quote developer-partner James Karam from the special meeting on Wednesday, June 29, “If you are too greedy, the partnership is going to break up, and if I am too greedy it’s not going to go forward. We have to work together and make it work for both sides.”
Thus, the diverse response from the audience was our democracy speaking. There are bilateral facts with advantages to both the town of Middletown and the non-residential-developers; Portsmouth’s Christopher Bisho, Tiverton’s James Karam and Newport’s Rocky Kempenaar.
Middletown Center: Should voters decide on Middletown Center development proposal? Town Council says no.
Needless to say, this 15-acre proposed hotel/ complex location on the stagnant traffic end of the West Main Road is not now nor, has it ever been a proper and accessible position for our Middletown Library. This existing Middletown Library was designed as a children's daycare and certainly not a library.
It is well known that accessible libraries become a public gathering place, both inside and outside the libraries. Various activities undoubtedly reinforce the library’s role as a community anchor and attract people by expanding diversified programs.
Because everyone likes to use libraries, they indeed must be accessible, including convenient transit routes, adequate bicycle facilities, walking and without a massive sea of parking spaces located at the back door of a hotel/ et al complex as proposed.
Without a doubt, this new upscale library belongs on town-owned property such as: Plat 113 Lot # 199 is 1,449,427 SF, which is Gaudet School with entrances from Turner Road and Aquidneck Avenues. Additionally, there is Plat 113 Lot # 198A is 439,113 SF. Both lots are walkable/bikeable/etc to and from our Middletown High School, and very convenient to Forest Avenue and Aquidneck schools, as well. Public transportation is clearly available to this desirable central portion of Middletown which, without a doubt, is perfect for the use and safety of all people.
If the three developers instead gave our Middletown the funds needed to build an upscale library to be built on town-owned land, and then our town used the developers' gift funding, to build the library ourselves undoubtedly the developers can receive a major tax incentive over five years which is an ace in the hole for them so states CPA’s and IRS.
James Karam: “ We have to work together and make it work for both sides.”
Carol A. Cummings, Middletown
Middletown Center proposal should go to voters
Regarding the development of the town center in Middletown, please put all related issues to a vote in November. A referendum is necessary to quiet the growing concern about another hotel in town. Creating a center in a town traditionally without a town center is a challenge, especially in the West Main Road area. But expanding a public-friendly development around the school, the library, the athletic fields and the community garden would be wonderful. A pedestrian/cyclist footbridge somewhere nearby connecting both sides of West Main Road should also be given serious consideration to encourage accessibility.
Advocating for a hotel in the center appears to be opportunistic, and will only satisfy the needs of a small group of developers. It will be best for all in Middletown to put the question(s) to a vote. Thank you for considering this email among the others you are receiving.
Tom Perrotti, Middletown
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: LETTERS: Aquidneck Island is unkept and must be fixed
