(Washington County, RI)--The Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled Wednesday on a case involving a planned Department of Environmental Management building project in South County.The towns of Exeter and Richmond filed suit in 2017 over a planned natural resources center on the shore of Browning Mill Pond, claiming the state didn't seek permits and the project didn't fit with their comprehensive plans.The Supreme Court's decision yesterday vacated a lower court ruling in favor of the state; now the DEM will have to bring the project before the State Planning Council, and upon approval, would then have to appear before the local zoning board.The State Planning Council is also being ordered to determine if there was compliance with the towns' comprehensive plans.