Plans to help find best uses for Navy land

Newport Daily News Editorial
March 21, 2008

More than two years ago, the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission released the West Side Master Plan.

The result of years of discussions with local and Navy officials and a number of public hearings, the plan was generated in anticipation of a time when the Navy might declare some of its property along the west side of the island “excess,” initiating a formal process for its release.

That time is upon us.

This week, Navy representatives told local officials they expect to release 350 acres of prime west-side real estate, including the former Naval Hospital in Newport and the former Navy Lodge property in Middletown. The announcement was made in advance of the completion of a master plan for Naval Station Newport in June.

The process for the properties’ eventual release also was outlined during a meeting Wednesday at Newport City Hall. The Navy also indicated it will be seeking fair-market value for the land, much of which is along the waterfront.

“We just wanted to put our cards on the table,” said Capt. Michel T. Poirier, commanding officer of Naval Station Newport. “It’s an exciting process and I don’t think there’s any doubt that we’re all in this together.”

That is in large part because of the process the Navy and local communities already have been through in developing the West Side Master Plan. Each community has mapped out what it would like to see happen with the Navy-owned properties within its borders should they become available. Middletown would like to add the Navy Lodge property to its recreational complex on West Main Road, for example; Portsmouth is interested in additional land to expand the marine trades there.

The Navy’s latest study was initiated after Naval Station Newport was spared cuts — and actually gained positions — during the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process. The master plan will identify current and future uses for properties owned by the Navy, both inside and outside the official gates of Naval Station Newport, as well as those that can be declared excess.

Most of the property expected to be declared excess — some 269 acres — is in Portsmouth, including four former “tank farms,” or fuel storage depots. Another 67 acres sits along Burma Road, also known as Defense Highway, in Portsmouth and Middletown.

“It’s a big announcement and I think the communities are prepared,” said Shawn J. Brown, Middletown’s interim town administrator. “There’s been a lot of discussion and we’ve been preparing for this day for a long time.”

Although it likely will be years before anything does happen — mainly because of the complexity of the process as well as extensive cleanup required at some of the sites — it is good to know that there is a plan in place that has buy-in from the Navy as well as input from local residents.

 

 

© Copyright 2001 - 2008. The Newport Daily News. All Rights Reserved.