Waterfront Study - Greenwich Cove

The Town is in the final stages of a comprehensive waterfront study of the downtown and shoreline area adjacent to East Greenwich Cove. The plan aims to assess the current conditions and recommend improvements to enhance the waterfront area in an effort to be more resilient, increase public access, and improve walkability.

East Greenwich's Professional Staff with support and advice of its advisory Cove Management Commission (“CMC”) worked for several years to advance ideas for improving the Town’s recreational, commercial, residential and underutilized areas of the waterfront area. In the Fall of 2016, the Town sponsored several joint workshops, including a boat tour of the Cove, to formulate a recommendation to the Town Council for developing an East Greenwich Waterfront Enhancement and Plan (“Waterfront Plan”).

The Town recognized that the waterfront area has the potential to greatly enhance the Town as a whole and augment the experience and quality of life for all residents. In order for its potential to be fully realized, certain land uses should likely be terminated and new water-based land uses beneficial to the Town’s residents should be considered. A cohesive Waterfront Plan should lead to enhanced use and enjoyment of the waterfront for residents and visitors alike and should make the waterfront a year-round destination while generating much-needed revenue for the Town and improved access and safety for all that visit this special area of Town.

Although the Town’s waterfront runs from Division St at the Town’s northern boundary to the southern tip of Scalloptown Park, certain parcels should be prioritized in the Waterfront Plan. These are the existing municipally-owned properties totaling approximately 950’ of Cove frontage, specifically: 21 Crompton Avenue, (Map 75 AP 3 Lot 247), 78 Crompton Avenue, (Map 75 AP3 Lot 245), 21 Crompton Avenue (Lot 247) is currently comprised of the Barbara Tufts Playground, the London Street Coastal Resources Management Council right of way, the Town’s Waste Water Treatment Facility (“WWTF”), the Parks & Grounds Department building, and the Transfer Station, and 78 Crompton Avenue (Lot 245) consists of a Town owned boat ramp and dock, a state-funded ferry dock, a parking overlook, concrete steps, and dinghy racks.

The establishment of an East Greenwich Waterfront Plan that includes an assessment of the above-described elements is extremely important to the future of the Town. Such a Plan shall be prepared with input from Town Departments as well as the Cove Commission and Planning Board who will advance a final draft to the Town Council for general acceptance. The basis of this effort is important for the following reasons: (a) the Plan empowers the Town to improve the quality of life for its residents; (b) the Plan will cohesively address appropriate waterfront and water-dependent land uses thus yielding superior facilities that are better located and managed; (c) the waterfront would be dramatically enhanced following plan implementation so as to become a year-round destination; (d) the enhanced waterfront could generate additional revenue for the Town; and (e) better integration of the waterfront district with the Main Street commercial corridor will be possible as a result of an integrated and proactive planning process.