Letters

I write in response to your recent story “Hidden Cove Marina in Noyac Undergoes a Major Transformation,” [27east.com, September 5], which was clearly based on a press release from the new marina operator and does not present a full picture of the operation’s impacts.

Since the marina changed hands in June, the new operator has brought in a fleet of boats, some exceeding 50 and 60 feet. It appears that the operator has little regard for town codes and the neighborhoods surrounding Mill Creek in Noyac.

The Town of Southampton provides a dock and boat ramp for public use, and these public facilities are adjacent to the marina’s private property. The new operator has regularly tied up his giant boats at the town dock for durations longer than the posted two-hour limit. They regularly position their large boats within the marina such that they block access to the adjacent properties, including the town dock/boat ramp and the private property owner’s dock on the other side. They put large boat fenders on the town dock, but these were removed by the Marine Patrol — whereupon they installed permanent fenders on the town dock pilings, which constitutes a “taking” of public property.

They have docked their 62-foot boat across the end of the 24-foot wide town dock. Picture a 62-foot boat overhanging the pier by 19 feet on either end and being kept in place against using its bow thrusters, because the bow and stern lines aren’t long enough to secure the boat to the dock.

Add to this picture the shocking sight of a large, heavy fuel truck driven out onto the town dock and running a hose to the 62-foot boat to fuel it, without spill containment or firefighting measures in place. You can’t make up this insane stuff up, but I witnessed it with my own eyes.

The new marina operator made what he calls improvements to the parking lot by installing noncompliant impervious Belgian block aprons and curbs along Pine Neck Avenue and Dock Road. There is now puddling on Pine Neck Avenue after it rains. They also added pebbles to their parking lot; the new stones were dumped on Dock Road right in front of the town boat launch ramp, blocking the ramp for most of that day, until the rocks were shoveled into the parking lot.

I note that these inconsiderate, unsafe and in some cases illegal activities are occurring in a densely populated family neighborhood.

This has to stop.

Barbara Lamb

Noyac