HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-07-31
Beach Management Advisory Committee
Land Bank Conference Room
31 July 2008
4:15 p.m.
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Members Present: Maureen Beck, Chair, Tom Dickson, John Johnson
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Guests: Jeff Willet, Jamie Ranney, Upton Shipley, Tom Quigley
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Mrs. Beck convened the meeting at 4:15 pm. She recognized Mr. Willett, who commented on the
incidents at Nobadeer Beach on July 4 and on the conditions at that beach in general. Mrs. Beck asked if
the DPW intended to restore the concrete posts at the bluff to their upright positions. Mr. Willett stated
that he assumed that was a task for the Beach Manager but would be glad to assist him if he needed
equipment or tools.
Mr. Willett said that the DPW did not have the resources to handle the trash accumulated on Nobadeer
during the July 4 holiday. It was estimated that between 5000 and 6000 people filled the beach that
day. He recommended that BMAC suggest to the Town Manager that forfuture holidays a Town staff
from the various departments, like the Police, Firemen, DPW, and the Beach Manager be assembled to
anticipate such an extraordinary crowd. He also stated that to cope with the trash more than just
barrels are needed, that dumpsters labeled for recycling would be best. He went on to say that
separating trash and recyclable litter is a huge problem.
Mr. Johnson remarked that such crowds become unruly visitors to those who live along the South
Shore.
Mr. Ranney recommended that the litter laws be aggressively enforced at such a time, with police
writing a lot of tickets for violations.
Mr. Willett said that the Town Manager could develop this sort of team and enforcement at the weekly
staff meetings, not only for July 4th but for Labor Day as well.
The Committee thanked Mr. Willett for coming and offering these suggestions. He pointed out that
since BMAC is an advisory group, it can recommend Town action only through the Town Manager.
Mr. Ranney introduced his client, Mr. Upton Shipley, to present his proposal to operate a kite boarding
instruction business on private property on Coatue. Arguments for his proposal at that location were
the need for developing skills in this dangerous sport and the safety of Third Point as a locus for such
teaching because of the shallow water and isolated area allowing room for flights.
Mr. Shipley plans to meet clients at the Town Dock and motor them by boat to Third Point. After a brief
land instruction most of the teaching would be done in the water off the beach or from his boat. He
anticipates hiring two other instructors to work one on one with a maximum of three students per day.
He would probably limit his clients to a span from teen to middle age. If parents accompany children,
they could not stay on the beach but would have to remain on his boat.
Mr. Ranney followed the Town's regulations for kite boarding in drafting his client's proposal and
determined that there was no zoning issue in using this private property for a business. The rights of
way rules for boats in the water apply also to kite boarders. Both he and Mr. Shipley expect to talk
further with abutting property owners, who object to this undertaking. Mrs. Beck suggested he also get
in touch with the Director of the Trustees of Reservations, who control that area and may have concerns
about the activity and bird populations. He has also contacted the Kite Boarding Association, who is
positive about the plan.
The Bas will hold a public hearing on Wednesday August 6. Mr. Ranney hopes that BMAC will offer
some favorable comment on his client's behalf there. Mrs. Beck thanked Mr. Ranney and Mr. Shipley
for coming and asked that the members remain to discuss the proposal further.
Mrs. Beck stated that she saw no need for composing a written comment for the proposal. The
members agreed that the plan seemed carefully developed, that the Harbormaster thought the training
was a safe way to ensure responsible kite boarding and that using the boat rather than the beach for
most of the training eliminated another concern. Mr. Dickson made one strong statement that he
would never stand for Pocomo being used for anything but a children's beach as it is right now. Mrs.
Beck worried that there were few other spots on the island for such a sport should its popularity grow.
The members finished the meeting with a few brief remarks about the draft of the Annual Report. Mr.
Johnson will send Mrs. Beck his proposed draft. She will in turn compile the additional remarks with the
earlier draft and hope to have it approved at the next meeting on August 7 when AI Peterson from the
Airport is guest.
Respectfully submitted, with notes from John Johnson,
Maureen Beck, Chair