05/22/2007: "CC Cancels Public Hearing On Road To Beach"

If Public Works had hoped the County Council would hold a public hearing today (May 22), and adopt an ordinance that would establishing “Lafarge County Road” to the man-made beach at the former LaFarge gravel pit, they have been disappointed.

The stated intent of the ordinance was to build a road to County standards from the existing County road down to the edge of the fill material that is left over from the sand and gravel operation when LaFarge owned the property. According to the ordinance, “The County Road will provide public access forever from Pear Point County Road Number 6 to the waters of Griffin Bay.

But once again, the plans by Public Works may have run up against the Comprehensive Plan and the land use regulations of the County and the State (Past permit issues). The land use designation does not allow development without permits -even if the applicant is the County. The Island Guardian could not find an application for the proposed road construction, and no reason was stated in the official cancellation of the public hearing, but unofficial reports indicate that the County became aware of the lack of permit applications, and canceled the hearing until it could be reviewed for compliance issues.

The property was purchased by the County, and then given to SJI Parks and Recreation (( link to past stories), but so far a firm decision has yet to be made as to what use the land will be put to. It is clear however that Public Works has some ideas on the subject, and has been using the beach as a barge landing and storage area.