Committee forming to take closer look at Urbanna kayak-launching site
by Tom Chillemi –
There was standing room only for the first Urbanna Town Council meeting at its new offices on Feb. 10.
Likely on the minds of most citizens who attended the meeting was the proposed kayak launch pier at the end of Virginia Street — an issue that has divided council and citizens.
Following its January meeting, the Urbanna Planning Commission sent to the town council a “request” that council fund a proposed pier.
At last week’s council meeting, those for and against the pier addressed council during the public comment period, which is limited to three minutes per speaker.
However, Mayor Barbara Hartley broke from the usual format of not letting the public speak after the public comment period was closed. There was much more dialog between citizens and councilors, which led to some fresh ideas during almost two hours of debate.
Private marina
Latane Montague is rebuilding his marina next to the town owned 30-foot wide strip of land at the end of Virginia Street. Montague sent an email to the mayor, councilors, town staff, and the Sentinel the day before the Feb. 10 meeting outlining his concerns.
“The town does not have a permit for a kayak facility,” stated Montague’s email. “The Virginia Street location was permitted (for) Bill Hight in 2013 and the permit expressly stated that it was for the ‘Sole purpose . . . of providing a venue to unload seafood.’ None of the Town’s proposed uses would or should be covered by that permit, and proceeding without a proper permit, could make this project subject to expensive and time-consuming litigation which the town is very experienced with,” wrote Montague, who is an attorney.
Mayor Hartley said the pier permit can be amended for less than $500.
Montague wrote that the town’s proposed pier has not been through a public notice permitting process for a different use than the original permit that was granted by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) in 2013. Since that time, a former hotel was converted to the Urbanna Harbor Condominiums, which has docks that border the town property.
Separation
The Urbanna Planning Commission argued that keeping a kayak launch away from power boats is necessary. The planning commission’s “statement” that was sent to town council states, “Many people want a kayak dock to be located at the town marina, but the VMRC prohibits the mixing of SPV (self propelled vehicles) and motorized vessels together.
Kayakers currently launch from the beach underneath the marina pier and directly in the mix of motorized vessel traffic and this poses safety problems.”
Montague’s email counters this argument by saying, “If power boat safety is truly a concern, then putting a kayak launch at the foot of Virginia Street, between two busy marinas full of power boats is a very bad idea. The town marina would be much safer, and has been proven safe for such use for many years.”
Montague was among the opponents who addressed council at the Feb.10 meeting. He echoed his thoughts that were in his email to town officials.
Late in the meeting, town resident Ricky Longest, who earlier said he opposes the kayak pier, made a suggestion that seemed agreeable to many who were still at the meeting.
Longest’s idea would have the town lease the 30-foot wide strip to Montague for a nominal sum and have Montague pay for and build a kayak launch as part of his new marina, which is under construction. Montague seemed agreeable.
Reconsider
Mayor Hartley commented, “I think maybe we need to reconsider things before we come back in two weeks (to meet). We may want to consider another option which is scrap the whole thing and start over again, building consensus with the neighbors as they have been pounding us all along to ask us to do that. It might be the better thing to do.”
If we work together and form a committee beyond this group maybe we can come up with a better solution,” said Hartley.
Montague commented, there should be a “comprehensive plan” for the waterfront.
Councilor Merri Hanson, who chairs the planning commission, noted that the comprehensive plan update is being worked on by the commission.
Montague also said, “It is not that hard to get a permit if there is consensus.”
The current permit the town has expires in October 2022.
Councilor Larry Chowning made the motion to table the pier, form a committee and work on a comprehensive plan for the waterfront property that the town owns and the neighboring private properties. Council voted unanimously to approve the motion.
Comments
Councilor Steve Hollberg, a kayaker who has indicated he favors the kayak pier, said the estimated cost is about $38,000, since a bulkhead does not have to be built.
Councilor Chowning said that part of the town’s property is “encumbered” due to an emergency access easement to the front of the condominiums.
Councilor Bill Smith said the letters received from citizens indicate that there are three times as many people opposed to the kayak pier as those that favor it.
