The state DEM has received more than 20 responses to its recent call for ideas on the eventual redevelopment of the former Chase Marina on Riverside Drive in Tiverton. And while he acknowledged that the road ahead will be long, a DEM administrator said this week that based on the responses, he is more optimistic about the vacant marina's future than ever.

"We're thrilled with what we've received; very impressed with the quality and quantity of responses we've gotten," said Bob Ballou, assistant to the director of the DEM. "It's not necessarily going to be an easy route going forward, but we certainly have a lot of promise and opportunity at this site."

The DEM has owned the vacant marina, its slips, and the quarter acre property on which it sits since the completion of the new Sakonnet River Bridge. Over the summer, officials sent out a call for informal proposals that jibe with their concept for the site: Redeveloping it via a public/private partnership into a first class port, fishing and commercial facility. The state currently has $1.3 million in state funds earmarked for the development and is seeking more through Rhode Island's federal congressional delegation.

While the state currently runs two commercial ports — one in Galilee and the other, Pier 9 in Newport — officials have long sought a third in the East Bay area, Ballou said:

"We envision this as the third leg of a three-legged stool," he said — "a new state commercial port facility (and) the first ever in the East Bay."

Though responses are being kept confidential, Ballou said Tuesday that "a majority aligned with the vision we have."

Input and proposals came from individuals, commercial interests, at least one university, and public officials, Ballou sid. Themes found among them include:

• Ideas that support commercial fishing, shellfish farming operations and others that "re-establish the site as a working waterfront."

• Supporting local consumer interests "via retail seafood sales opportunities at the facility," Ballou said.

• Providing support for workforce training, education and other opportunities tied to the state's 'blue economy'" — "there was a lot of sentiment along those lines."

• Supporting recreational and for hire boating and fishing, as well as water quality protection in the area. This could include establishing a pumpout facility, or accommodating a pumpout boat at the site, something sought in a public response from the Tiverton Harbor Commission (see below for more).

Next steps

With the first public outreach portion of the redevelopment out of the way, Ballou said the next steps will include setting up a meeting with the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA), which owns the property to the north, so each agency is aware of what the other is up to.

From there, DEM officials plan to develop a draft concept plan, "taking what we've offered up as our vision and refining it a little bit."

That could be done as early as the end of the year, Ballou said.

One thing noted in many responses, he said, was a desire to keep the process as open and transparent as possible as it moves forward. To that end, Ballou said DEM plans to stay in regular contact with the public about where the project stands.

Once the draft concept plan is in, DEM will "report back to the community as to where we are, and where we're looking to go. There will be further vetting of the plan with the community and stakeholders; we heard that loud and clear that people want to be involved in the process."

As the project takes shape, DEM will then design a plan for the marina, come up with a list of upgrades and improvements to the building and shoreside location, continue looking for federal funding, and then send out a formal RFP (Request for Proposals) with the aim of finding one or more leaseholders to work with the state on the marina's redevelopment.

While all that is unfolding, he said one major challenge will be shaping the vision into something that the site can accommodate. He said there were concerns from some about the lack of parking in the area, and other infrastructural issues that will need to be reckoned with and accommodated:

"We need to be aware of that and not move forward with something that won't work," he said. "We want to move forward with this in a very pragmatic way."

Harbor commission responds

Though responses were mostly kept confidential, one, a written letter from the Tiverton Harbor Commission, is public. The commission sent the letter out in late September, and in it vice chairman Dave Stewart summed up the commission's take in issues including access, pumpout and other facilities that benefit the public and private uses of the site, and supporting Rhode Island-based businesses:

"We agree that the Chase building should be leased to businesses that support the Blue Economy, whether recreational or commercial fishing or both,"  Stewart wrote. "Priority in leasing should go to Rhode Island based businesses."

The building and land have been off the tax rolls since it was acquired by the state, and Stewart wrote that commission members would like to see financial consideration given to the town, possibly through a "commercial triple net lease, where the tenant, rather than keeping extra profit, makes a contribution to the town in lieu of the taxes" that the site would have generated were it privately owned.

Other important considerations include making sure that parking in the area is adequate, as will be determining which law enforcement agency — state or Tiverton police — have jurisdiction over Riverside Drive.

"A public safety agreement between Tiverton police, RIDEM, state police, and the DOT/Bridge and Turnpike Authority concerning jurisdictional issues should be discussed and entered into prior to tenant selection."

Another major issue is sanitation at the RITBA lot next door, and that needs to change, he wrote:

"Litter and human waste are prevalent issues," Stewart wrote. "We would like to see the state support these essential fishing spots by providing adequate exterior trash receptacles, restroom facilities, and the maintenance of both."