Two partners who had proposed a 2.69-acre oyster farm just north of Seapowet bridge have withdrawn their application to the Coastal Resources Management Council, but said Monday they may re-submit a new plan at some point.

Bradly Boehringer and Travis Lundgren, of Galilee and Point Judith, respectively, informed the CRMC recently that they are withdrawing their plan without prejudice, which means it can be re-submitted at a later date. Bruce Cox, the chairman of the Harbor Commission, was contacted by CRMC about the development Monday and announced the news at that night's commission meeting.

Boehringer, who called in to the Zoom meeting with his partner, said he and Lundgren decided to withdraw after speaking with CRMC representatives about the agency's review process.

"We decided it would be best, mostly because they redesigned ... their application process and we figured we would try to start from scratch ... and re-approach."

"There's a lot more outreach that's happened and a lot of public notice that's visible. There's been a lot of talk about wanting aquaculture and supporting it, but not necessarily in certain areas. We would like to get as much input from you guys as possible, moving forward. It just seems like a good idea to re-approach this."

Recent changes to CRMC regulations now require applicants to provide a list of property owners within 1,000 feet of the proposed farm, so CRMC can notify those owners when proposals are submitted. In addition, CRMC has added new guidelines for submerged and floating oyster gear, as well as other outreach measures to keep the public better-informed about the progress of applications.

The partners were one of two outfits proposing oyster farms in the Seapowet area. The other, proposed by brothers John and Patrick Bowen of Little Compton, is still making its way through the CRMC process.