BRISTOL - A late storm of controversy clouding Stone Harbour Development's proposal to build a 39-slip marina in Bristol Harbor wasn't enough to halt its approval. On Tuesday night, the Coastal Resources Management Council's 17-member board granted unanimous approval of the project, despite pleas from Bristol residents to deny the application. The approval came with the stipulation that the developer may not increase the number of slips in its marina.

More than a dozen Bristol residents and town officials made the commute to the Narragansett Bay Commission building in Providence to protest the marina. Many came not to prevent the marina's construction, but to minimize the area it would consume in Bristol Harbor.

Despite objections from local residents, the board unanimously approves the 39-slip marina.

"We didn't care how they brought it in. We just wanted it closer to shore," said Harbor Commission Chairman Domenic Franco, who requested Stone Harbour bring the marina's outer reaches 100 feet closer to shore. According to Mr. Franco, space in the harbor is becoming scarce and the town fears it cannot handle the congestion of a 39-slip marina that extends 215 feet into the harbor.

The Harbor Commission — despite having no jurisdiction over the marina — initially gave the plan a positive recommendation in January, but backpedaled off that stance last month and recommended the marina be downsized to minimize its impact on Bristol Harbor.

Stone Harbour's marina would allow for boats up to 60 feet in length, leaving some in town concerned with navigation issues and boater safety in the crowded harbor. Others argued that the marina's effects will reach further than just the boating community.

"This is impacting more than just space and opportunity, it's affecting the aesthetic value of Bristol," said Hope Street resident Michael Rossi.

CRMC board members, particularly Chairman Michael Tikoian and state Representative Jan Malik, said condominium residents don't have lesser rights than the current residents who already have a mooring in Bristol.

"This is America, I thought," Mr. Tikoian said.

Working with the town

Every Bristol resident who spoke at Tuesday's hearing opposed the scope of the project, but some emphasized the cooperation of Stone Harbour, which reduced the marina from 44 slips originally.

"I think Stone Harbour has done everything possible," said James Dollins, a harbor commission member. But Mr. Dollins, like many others, remained uncomfortable with the project's magnitude.

Kristen Sherman, the attorney for Stone Harbour Development, called the dissent "eleventh-hour objections." She cited to the upcoming election as a reason for the late controversy surrounding the project.

"In the past 90 days the political winds in Bristol have changed," Ms. Sherman said.

Stanley White of Ocean & Coastal Consultants was hired by the town to look into the marina's technical feasibility. Mr. White testified on Stone Harbour's behalf that the project meets marina standards and did not recommend a further size reduction, as residents were calling for.

Ms. Sherman said that not only the slips were reduced, but the marina was shifted north and a 7,785-square-foot public boardwalk added to the plans. The developer also increased the amount of parking available, a major concern of the Bristol Planning Board.

Stamp of approval

Mr. Tikoian emphasized the developer's site clean up and applauded their contributions to the town.

According to Mr. Tikoian, 70 percent of Rhode Island waters are classified as type 1 or 2, which prohibit marinas. But since Bristol Harbor is classified as type 5 waters — or waters in high priority use — there are less restrictions CRMC can enforce.

According to Bristol's harbor management plan, the harbor can handle up to 500 boats. Residents testified that the town already has 491 and 39 additional boats would exceed the harbor's capacity. If Bristol Harbor is overcrowded, as testimonies suggested, Mr. Tikoian said that fault rests with the town — not CRMC or the developer.

Project executive Christopher Reynolds said Stone Harbour has no intentions of future expansion of its marina.

"We want the best project for Bristol, because our residents will be Bristolians," Ms. Sherman said.

Marina by the numbers

Bristol's harbor commission opposes Stone Harbour's marina plans. Bristol's planning board had some concerns and many residents spoke against it at this week's CRMC hearing. Despite those objections, CRMC approved marina plans unanimously.

* 39 slips (44 originally)

* 12 x 40-foot pier

* 4 floating docks

* 19 finger floats

* 215 feet into harbor

* 276 feet from nearest Bristol mooring

* 7,785-square-foot public boardwalk

* 60-foot boats or less

* 40 parking spaces (26 originally)

by jason turcotte

jturcotte@eastbaynewspapers.com