Lower’s Beach Access Plan To Be Unveiled in February

VILLAS – Lower Township Council met Dec. 21 and provided updates to the beach access project and the newly-formed Healthy Youth Coalition, funded by a White House grant. It is meant to safeguard youth from a lifetime of substance abuse. 
Township Administrator James Ridgway introduced Steven Morey of Hatch Mott MacDonald, who advised council that his firm had completed photographic and sketch surveys of beach areas.
It has identified 33 existing beach access points that would become part of the overall concept of upgrading to permit better foot access as well as emergency vehicle access when needed.
Morey stated that there would be 11 access points south of Cox Hall, and 22 points beginning at Hollywood Road, extending north to Ocean Avenue in Villas.
Morey also announced that a design presentation will be made at the first regular council meeting in February that will detail recommendations by his firm.
Stephen Selby, of Lower Township Healthy Youth Coalition and Cape Assist, announced that there will be a public forum at a special Feb. 3 meeting at 7 p.m. at Township Hall. That meeting will describe the overall program, and steps to be taken by the coalition to make the community a better place to live. He urged everyone to attend.
Mayor Michael Beck questioned Solicitor David Stefankewicz about a resolution that would approve lease of township property at Seaview and Rochester avenues in Diamond Beach to a hotel.
The lease between Achristavest Inc. and the township contained language concerning use of the lot which Beck felt was imprecise.
Beck noted that the language seems to allow the lot to be used primarily for parking, but contained additional language that the lot may be used for “any purpose as long as it is legal.” Beck was concerned about that phrase and asked if the hotel could use the lot for purposes other than parking that neighbors might find objectionable.
Stefankewicz agreed that the language could be “tightened up” with little difficulty. Beck repeated that he wanted to be sure residents were protected.
All council members agreed that the resolution should be tabled until the language was adjusted.
Deputy Mayor Norris Clark provided an update on the Delaware Bayshore Council that recently met. The group was formed to create a united force to protect Delaware Bay beaches from storm damage, while protecting business and environmental interests.
Clark commented on the entity’s success in bringing together two conflicting interests. He noted that there are agricultural concerns in the bay area that have been in conflict with environmental issues that seek to safeguard birds such as the Red Knot.
Clark informed that the two groups had found compromise areas that could be identified as serving agricultural and environmental concerns.
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.