As the Quonset Gateway project takes shape, the QDC and State Planning Board should pay carefull attention to Rocky Point. If things continue as planned a portion of RP will be set aside as a natural park with one mile of waterfront. “When you think about an entire mile of shoreline, you’re not going to find that anywhere,” said Lisa Primiano, head of the land conservation program for the state DEM. “Having the ability to protect that for the State of RI is a once in a lifetime chance we have right now.” As much QP waterfront as possible should be set aside for public use. LET'S NOT LET A "ONCE IN A LIFETIME CHANCE" AT QUONSET SLIP AWAY!!!

This scheme of economic use is significantly below the highest and best use of this potentialy wonderful, economic resource. We will be, if allowed to go forward,settling for uses which are far-below the job-generating potential of higher uses by suggesting low-paying, clerical, and seasonal jobs. This is the governor's pay-off to the local elite communities who responded to his pandering for votes in the past two elections. Consider that there are more than enough big boxes and cutesy malls and office parks in the neighboring areas, which will eventually relegate this proposed use of big-box, mall stores, and seasonal businesses to mediocre economic returns at best. All for the purpose of surrepticiously barring the real "highest and best use", based on factual and empirical data garnered from several- million dollar economic studies of that facility. Now, after massaging a bad design-and use-proposal, essentially the local "vested" interests and the "blue blazer/white pants" gang along the waterfront, yes, even down along Saunderstown, have effectively taken the port project, in any size context, away from warranted and appropriate consideration.
It's up to the General Assembly to put a pause to this mammoth,albeit subtle, proposal until a renewed look-see at various port scenarios can be equally and objectively compared in a similar evaluation context,( comparing all used-proposals) rather than having this low-paying jobs proposal forced upon the citizens of Rhode Island. Because, after all, is this wonderful facilty not a state resource? Or does this belong to only the towns surrounding the Quonset Davisville facility??

What appened to The Saratoga Project ?
Miss Your Dad Georgie

George, the local communities do not want the big box stores at Quonset. They will damage, more likely put out of business, the small local stores, some of which have been here for generations. And the big box stores will add only minimum wage jobs, which are already going begging here.
You're right that we do not want an expanded port, not only would it be bad environmentally but all objective surveys have shown that it would fail economically, more of our tax dollars down the drain.
Don't forget that we have to live next to whatever happens here, you apparently don't. That certainly gives us more say in the matter. More to the point, the QDC is a terrible neighbor, and badly run. It needs management that will carry out the plan of good jobs and shoreline access for the public. If it did that, the neighbors and the rest of the state's residents would be happy.