STONE HARBOR — Council’s consideration to allow leashed dogs between 80th and 82nd streets from dawn to 9 a.m. and again from 6 p.m. to dusk has people talking on both sides of the dais as dog owners begin to scout out the area with their pets.
Council passed ordinance to amend general code by resolution May 6. Officials said if the change is not successful it could easily be rescinded. The resolution did not appear on the agenda at council’s most recent June 3 meeting.
June 1 marked the first day the area was expected to be legally open to dogs and some long-time residents told the Herald the inevitable has already hit the sand.
It is currently illegal to have a dog on the beach at anytime, though Public Works has already erected signs at the 81st Street entrance to warn visitors of hazardous animal waste and provide dog owners with cleanup bags while advising of a $50 fine for not picking up after their pooch.
Business Administrator Kenneth Hawk said the signs would most likely be covered until council finalizes code and regulations. Councilman Karl Giulian, who supports the dog-friendly beach area, said the signs were prematurely setup most likely due to a communication mishap.
“Many residents have dogs and may take them to the beach anyway. With this, we can provide an avenue for a large constituent base to legally take their dogs to the beach. It’s an experiment but we are optimistic.
I really think they will police themselves. There’re many positive things about it: it’s an experimental, no cost, pilot program to see how it goes.”
Council member Anne Wannen has continuously voted against the resolution.
Wannen said the dog-friendly beach area conflicts with some anticipated recreation activities, including surf camp and yoga classes, at the June 3 meeting.
“I don’t believe anyone wants to lay a yoga mat down in dog urine,” she later told the Herald.
Wannen said she is not in favor of dogs on the beach during the summer because “the beach should be for our visitors, not dogs. Dogs can walk all over other areas on the island.”
She said she is not opposed to dogs on the beach in the winter months because it is self-cleaning through high tides and storms but mostly because it doesn’t interfere with visitors.
William Craig, a resident on 82nd Street, said he’s not against the dog-friendly area.
“I haven’t heard any complaints about the dogs and it seems like everyone is cleaning up,” Craig said.
“I think the dog area would get more use down by the 122nd Street catamarans because people could let dogs loose and there is a large parking area,” Craig said.
Craig said the 82nd Street beach is one of the busiest beaches in the borough, second only to the 96th Street beach.
“Overall it’s a good idea but it would be enhanced down at the other end because it’s more desolate,” Craig said. “Here we have many hotels and the beach is still busy after dinner and into the evening.”
The resolution may be addressed, with opportunity for public comment, at council’s next meeting June 17.
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck cmcherald.com.
