LETTER: In NK, Water Rights are For Favored Developers

Granted, that clean drinkable water is an essential resource but; are you aware that our water supply is diminishing while demand is increasing? As a resource that rightly belongs to everyone, water protection and fair distribution is the responsibility of our public officials. The same holds true for North Kingstown (NK) where it is well known that the domestic water supply is already stressed. According to a USGS study, the Hunt-Annaquatucket-Pettasquamcutt River recharge areas for the NK wells have a limited capacity to supply existing and future development. It is the responsibility of NK town officials to protect existing water recharge areas while ensuring that water distribution is allocated fairly without bias. The NK Town Council republican majority along with various boards, commissions and departments have set a pattern of supporting and approving developments that put North Kingstown drinking water at risk. Here are three recent examples:

First; the Rolling Greens development was outside of the NK Water Service Area (WSA). As a favored developer, this project was approved and included in the WSA via NK town officials amending the WSA map. Ironically, in order to justify adding this development to the WSA 74 percent of NK was removed from the same WSA. It should also be noted that while many lost their water rights this favored developer’s Dry Bridge gravel pit retained water rights while most of the surrounding properties were removed. Did you lose your water rights?

Second; The Mere Farm, a development yet again by a favored developer, was allocated NK public water even though it was outside the WSA. How is the reduction of water consumption justified when this is allowed? Also, although directly over our drinking water the favored developer is allowed to install conventional septic systems rather than eco- friendly De-Nyte septic systems.

Third; Mr. Tarbox submitted a Pre-application to the NK Planning Department correctly indicating his Hyundai project as a Major Land Development project within the NK GW1 reservoir area. Upon discovering that new car dealerships are no longer allowed directly over our drinking water, NK town officials saw fit to change Mr. Tarbox’s property from GW1 to GW2 while official NK water maps continue to indicate this area as GW1. It should also be noted that the Tarbox Hyundai project has initiated unauthorized earth removal from the Tarbox site to fill at Mr. Bestwick’s property at 4019 Quaker Lane, and related construction operations without required zoning and planning approvals and permits.

These three examples display a pattern of bias for favored developers and manipulation of the regulations by various NK town officials whereas water and its lack of protection and fair allocation is the common denominator. It is imperative that NK residents attend the upcoming NK Planning Commission meeting for the Rolling Greens development to protect your water rights on October 4, 2016 at the NK Senior Center.

Signed,

Frank DiGregorio, Exeter

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