PORTSMOUTH — The owner of property in Island Park that’s being targeted for a commercial sports complex is seeking a variance from state regulations to install and operate an onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS).
In an application to the R.I. Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), AP Enterprise, LLC (APE) of Wakefield is listed as the owner of the property, which was used as the town’s landfill until it closed in the early 1970s. APE is the same company that’s been capping the former dumpsite.
According to a concept plan presented to the Planning Board last year, APE’s proposal calls for a multi-sport club with an outdoor arena with bleachers. The complex would feature open-air ice hockey, beach volleyball, beach soccer, public ice skating and platform and clay court tennis. The plans also call for parking for 300 to 400 people.
The Town Council learned of the proposed septic variance through a Dec. 2 letter from DiPrete Engineering, the project designer, to Building Official George Medeiros. (The letter and application for the variance can be read here.)
The letter was included on the Dec. 14 council agenda under correspondence, which is normally accepted and placed on filed.
Local resident Larry Fitzmorris, however, request that the council move the item to the main business agenda so the town could take action on it. He noted that comments on the proposal are due to the R.I. Department of Environmental Management this month.
“I think it’s an important matter and shouldn’t have been in the correspondence in the first place,” Mr. Fitzmorris said. “We’re talking about a major facility.”
Although the property contains a mix of residential and commercially zoned land, according to Mr. Fitzmorris the sports complex’s wastewater treatment system would be located in an R-10 zoned lot. “You would be acquiescing a change in zoning,” he said.
Island Park resident Peter Roberts agreed that the town needed to take a strong stance against the proposed variance. “We need you on our side,” he said.
Council President Keith Hamilton, however, said the matter was out of the council’s jurisdiction. “It’s DEM’s job to work on septic systems, not ours,” he said.
Mr. Fitzmorris replied that the process elicited the town’s response to DEM. Council member Elizabeth Pedro said she also believed the council should act on the letter, but the council took no action.
Ms. Pedro urged residents who had concerns about the proposed OWTS variance to do so by the Dec. 27 deadline. Residents wishing to submit written comments should include the application number (0127-0328) and send a letter to:
R.I. Department of Environmental Management
Division of Water Resources
OWTS Section
235 Promenade St., Room 260
Providence, RI 02908-5767
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