The Westerly Sun — CRMC to homeowner: Take down the ropes and signs

A large section of beachfront at East Beach in Watch Hill, in front of 10 Bluff Ave., has been roped off. The state Coastal Resources Management Council has issued a cease and desist order to the property owner mandating removal of the ropes and posts. Harold Hanka, The Westerly Sun

Jun 22, 2020

By Dale P Faulkner

WESTERLY — A newly roped-off area on East Beach has drawn the attention of both state and local officials.

The spot is adjacent to the Bluff Avenue entrance to the beach, where a public right of way, or path, is used to get on the beach. On the ropes are signs that suggest the roped-off area is a dune-restoration project. In the bottom right corner of the signs is the East Beach Association emblem, but an association official on Friday said the association has no involvement with the signs or the rope barrier. The association is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization that has cleaned the beach for decades and was created to provide stewardship over the beach.

The state Coastal Resources Management Council issued a cease-and-desist order to Paul Cappuccio, the owner of 10 Bluff Ave., for installing the "post and rope fence on the coastal feature of your property ... located at 10 Bluff Ave. without benefit of a CRMC assent or in violation of a council order," the order reads. CRMC regulations require plans for proposed construction, grading, filling and other alterations within 200 feet of a coastal feature, such as a dune, to be submitted to the council for review, evaluation and comment prior to the activity commencing.

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