New Shoreham meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

New Shoreham boards weigh restaurant license, road work, new home

No decisions have been published from the three New Shoreham meetings held between July 27 and Aug. 3; minutes are not yet available. The most consequential item on those agendas was a $289,500 road improvement bid before the Town Council.

Town Council

At its Aug. 3 meeting, the Town Council had on its agenda a $289,500 bid award for 2027 Roadway Improvements from Grace's Cove to Ocean State Sitework & Hauling, LLC. The council also was set to hold a public hearing on a new outdoor entertainment license for OneBI Steak & Oyster at 212 Water Street, discuss a 99-year lease with Block Island Post No. 36 American Legion, and consider amendments to the Zoning Ordinance on Development Plan Review, Special Use Permits, and Performance Standards. The council also held a closed session to discuss the Town Manager's job performance, citing Rhode Island General Laws 42-46-1(a)(1). No votes or outcomes were reported.

License Commission

On July 29, the Board of License Commissioners held a show cause hearing for TMG BI Operating LLC, doing business as OneBI Steak & Oyster at 212 Water Street. The business is accused of allowing outdoor entertainment or sound amplification outside permitted hours of Monday through Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. The board was to consider revoking, canceling, suspending the license, or imposing fines. No outcome was reported.

Historic District Commission

The Historic District Commission met July 27 to review two applications: a new single-family dwelling by Casa Ladera, LLC on Old Town Road (Plat 6, Lot 2-3), and a screening fence for a dumpster by the Town of New Shoreham and BIMI at 119 Ocean Ave (Plat 5, Lot 64-2). The commission also was to approve minutes from three prior meetings. Public comment was limited to exterior design and site issues.

Coming up

The Police Advisory Commission will meet Aug. 13 to elect officers, review minutes from Jan. 12, 2026, discuss community feedback, and receive an update from Police Chief Paul Deane. The meeting is open to the public and will set the next meeting date.

New Shoreham agendas: $289,500 Grace's Cove contract, zoning amendments, and license hearings on the docket

The New Shoreham Town Council has scheduled votes and public hearings on items ranging from a $289,500 roadway-improvement contract to zoning-ordinance amendments and several license requests. However, minutes have not yet been published for any of the recent meetings listed below, so outcomes — including whether votes passed — are not yet confirmed in the public record.

Town Council — July 7, 2026

The council's July 7 agenda included a public hearing on General Ordinances Chapter 8, Article II, sections 8-18 and 8-21, covering amusement license conditions and restrictions.

Other items on the agenda:

• A proposed $10,000 allocation for the Block Island Ticks and Tick-borne Pathogen Surveillance Pilot Program.
• Award of on-call engineering services to four firms: James J. Geremia & Associates, Inc.; VHB, Inc.; Foth Infrastructure & Environmental, LLC; and GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.
• A special temporary permit request for habitation trailers at 777 Mitchell Lane and 967 West Beach Road.
• A mobile food establishment permit for Payne's Killer Donuts at Plat 5, Lot 104, Ocean Avenue.

Minutes for this meeting have not been published, so it is not yet confirmed which items were approved, continued, or tabled.

Town Council — July 15, 2026

The July 15 agenda listed a vote on a $289,500 contract award to Ocean State Sitework & Hauling, LLC for 2027 Grace's Cove roadway improvements. Whether the council approved the award is not confirmed without published minutes.

The agenda also included:

• A closed-session discussion on collective-bargaining negotiations with the International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 720.
• A public hearing on an outdoor entertainment license for TMG BI Operating, LLC, d/b/a OneBI Steak & Oyster, at 212 Water Street.
• A proposed zoning-ordinance amendment adding "Game Rooms" to the Old Harbor Commercial Zone.
• A proposed amendment to General Ordinance Chapter 8, Article X, covering Special Events.

Zoning Board of Review — hearing set for July 22

The Zoning Board of Review has scheduled a public hearing for July 22, 2026, at Town Hall, 16 Old Town Road, Block Island. The agenda lists two public-hearing items:

• Christopher J. Gorayeb — Special Use Permit for a secondary dwelling.
• The Family Trust of Demos — Variance for a home addition.

The agenda also includes approval of previous meeting minutes.

What this means for residents

The Grace's Cove roadway-improvement contract, if approved, would commit $289,500 to road work planned for 2027. The zoning amendments — including the proposed addition of "Game Rooms" to the Old Harbor Commercial Zone and changes to amusement-license rules — could affect what activities are permitted and where. License requests for outdoor entertainment and mobile food sales, if granted, would allow specific businesses to operate under stated conditions. Residents who want to weigh in on the Zoning Board's July 22 hearing can attend at Town Hall.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days. The Zoning Board of Review public hearing scheduled for July 22, 2026, at Town Hall, 16 Old Town Road, was noted in the July 14 agenda posting and may be the next opportunity for public participation. Residents should confirm with the town clerk whether additional meetings are added.