NEWPORT — Navy officials met last week with local and state leaders to announce the disposition of 350 acres of prime waterfront property as part of the Navy's Base Realignment and Closure Plan (BRAC).

Meeting with local elected officials were Kimberly Kesler, acting deputy assistant secretary of the Navy; Gregory Preston, BRAC base closure manager for the northeast region; and Rich Tenga, project manager for the Office of Economic Adjustment. The trio outlined the Navy's plans regarding property adjacent to Naval Station Newport.

According to Ms. Kesler, the Navy intends to declare the property along Burma Road — commonly referred to as Tank Farms 1, 2, 3 and 4 — along with the former Naval Hospital and Navy Lodge sites, as excess to the needs of the Navy.

Additional property may also be declared excess after review of the soon-to-be-completed Naval Station Newport Master Plan. Officials hope to get fair-market prices for the real estate, but it could be years before any development is realized. Cleanups are required on much of the land due to contamination.

Under the plan, Portsmouth would be the primary beneficiary of any new development, with almost 270 acres of land in that community targeted for sale. Newport and Middletown also stand to benefit with an additional 80 acres brought back on to the tax rolls.

The land disposition is expected to help Aquidneck Island officials move forward in their plans to develop a proposed scenic shoreline drive and mixed-used corridor connecting northern Newport with Middletown and Portsmouth.

In other news, Capt. Michel Poirier, Naval Station commanding officer, announced that the completion of the Naval Station Newport Master Plan has been delayed and is not expected to be released until early June.