08/12/04
Councilors accept state permit
for bridge, boardwalk at Gull Crest
The state Department of Environmental Protection will allow construction
of a bridge and boardwalk over the Spurwink River, on the Gull Crest property
off of Spurwink Avenue, as long as the Town respects a 25-foot buffer on
either side of the river.
This was good news for the Town, which in recent months has been lobbying
for DEP permitting for the new construction.
The Town Council unanimously approved the permit offer with buffer requirement
at their meeting Aug. 9.
Initial meetings with the DEP resulted in permitting offer in exchange for
an easement over approximately 75 acres of the site. Town Councilors did
not approve of the condition, however, and instructed staff to research the
possibility of winning an appeal to the Board of Environmental Protection.
Most recent negotiations between Town staff and DEP, however, resulted in
the offer by the DEP to grant a permit in exchange for the 25-foot buffer.
The buffer would be located east of the Spurwink Avenue right-of-way and
eastward to the limit of tidal influence. No alteration of the buffer, covering
approximately 2 acres, would be allowed except for maintenance and replacement
of existing utilities.
Last month, councilors hoped for a DEP permit without conditions under an
exemption for public education facilities. Town Manager Michael McGovern
reported however that the DEP no longer considers that exemption applicable
to the project.
"This is a significant, significant adjustment in what they were earlier
requiring," said McGovern. "I see this as an excellent agreement for the
town," he said.
The state estimates that a permit could be issued by Sept. 1, allowing for
construction this season, McGovern said.
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