To the editor:

I wish to correct several misrepresentations in Attorney Campbell’s letter to the Sakonnet Times. While it is true that we’ve spent a lot of money on legal fees and certainly the site is not as pretty as we’d like, whose fault are both of those? We’re now on our third set of plans, but our abutters have blocked us at every turn. (Our present design has less square footage than the third floor of the original clubhouse.) Of course, it costs Attorney Campbell nothing to appeal our every move to every board in town and when he gets no satisfaction there, he appeals to Superior Court. This past week he appealed to the Tiverton Building Code Board of Appeals the decision of the building official to give us a permit for a temporary bathroom so we could continue to operate our swim program (12th appeal on that issue alone). Next week we go before Superior Court again (fifth time) as Campbell is now trying to shut the club down, claiming our pre-existing non conforming status is no longer valid since we are trying to re-zone the area.

Campbell states that if re-zoned, property values of the neighborhood will be reduced by 20 percent and create a "marina row." This is pure speculation and one could as easily speculate that property values will go up. With all the vacant slips in RI marinas and the new 75-slip marina planned across the street from Mr. Campbell, a "marina row" appears highly unlikely.

It is true that the re-zoning will have most immediate benefit to TYC, namely it will get Attorney Campbell off our back and allow us to go back to pre-fire operations. Upon advice we value, we extended the re-zoned area to more than our lot to avoid the spot zoning claim.

As for parking, Tiverton has never had a requirement for marina parking. Campbell suggests we be held to the same standard as commercial users. The town requires one car space for every 250 square feet of commercial floor space. A marina has no floor space. The club proposes to require marinas to meet CRMC requirements which are that a marina must have 2 spaces for every 3 slips. We meet that requirement by leasing off-site parking which is permissible by CRMC.

Attorney Campbell states that "State policy is to restrict development within the coastal zone." But under CRMC regulations, Tiverton Basin is identified as "Class 3 waters, high intensity boating" For such areas, Section 200.3 of their regulations states, " The Council’s goal is to preserve, protect and where possible to enhance Type 3 areas for high intensity boating." Curiously, Campbell did not object to the 75-slip Trinity Marina, with three levels of dry boat storage immediately across from his house.

Attorney Campbell, states that encouraging development in a coastal zone is not consistent with the Town’s Comprehensive Development Plan. Yet, the 2006 update of the Plan states: "The harbor management plan for the Tiverton Basin encourages the incorporation of water dependent and related uses along waterfront land." It would appear that our proposed zoning amendment is consistent with both the town’s Comprehensive Plan and CRMC policy. The Tiverton Harbor Commission has endorsed the zone change.

Attorney Campbell states that TYC has wasted all its money on attorney fees and has insufficient funds to rebuild its clubhouse. I assure your readers that the TYC has significant cash balance in spite of Campbell’s efforts to deplete it. Furthermore, we have no outstanding bills, and have over $400,000 equity in our land and marina. Lastly, some of our members (myself included) will donate funds to build a new clubhouse.

Campbell states that the neighbors do not oppose the re-building or the continued operation of TYC. That is not consistent with the above facts. When I was physically assaulted some years back (reported in the Times), my assailant said, "You will never rebuild the club" We’ll see!

Campbell is overly concerned that members who have slips are charged less than the commercial rate. Clearly this is none of his business. Club dues and fees are voted on by the membership. It’s common in all "do-it-yourself" yacht clubs to have slip rates less than commercial rates. Our members built our floats, repair them, install them, and take them out at season’s end. Our marina is a major source of funds with which we run our junior programs.

Attorney Campbell suggested locations where we could re-establish our club. However, Standish Boat Yard is not for sale according to the owners. The Villages at Mount Hope Bay area is in class 6 waters which are designated by CRMC for large commercial operations, tug boats, tankers etc. The wide open nature of the area is suitable only for moorings, not slips. Lastly, the Seapowet Area is designated as Class 2 waters which are more pristine than Tiverton Basin. CRMC would not support a marina there. Furthermore the area is unprotected from certain wind directions. Campbell’s suggestion that we sell out to Trinity Marina is interesting and makes me wonder if that’s what this is all about. Apparently he has no problem with a marina being there, he just doesn’t want TYC to operate it.

Lastly, TYC doesn’t want to impose its will on anyone. We just want to return to pre-fire conditions and the zoning change may be our best way to do so.

John F. Brady, PhD

Fleet Captain TYC

Portsmouth