La Plata, MD – It is refreshing every now and then to witness Democracy in action.
A proposed fishing pier and kayak launch to coincide with the the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland State Highway Administration’s construction of a new bridge brought both the ire and mettle of Cobb Island residents to La Plata Monday night, Feb. 28 for a public hearing before the Charles County Commissioners.
While the concept had merit, where it was proposed—in the middle of a strong current in Neale Sound, where boaters and fishing lines already compete—was voiced many times over as a safety concern.
Cobb Island citizen Danial Millar spoke for most residents in sentiments echoed over and over that the traffic wrought by a fishing pier would compound what is already a significant problem.
“My concern is the kayak launch,” Millar said. “It’s a pretty site. It is not a safe place to launch a kayak. It’s busy. There’s boaters. The current is pretty strong. Ringing the dinner bell for people to come down there to kayak would be irresponsible.
“There’s an issue,” he added. “Neale Sound is not that wide. People throw their fishing lines out and boats run into them. In the warmer months of the year the parking lot is full just from residents. I have no idea where people are coming from, but there’s nowhere to put them. The new bridge will be going toward the market and will take away parking lot space. We’re all scratching our heads at that.”
Millar, like many who followed him, suggested the county focus such efforts at Southern Park, five miles from the island, where there is parking, less traffic and the waters are less dangerous.
“It’s a place to be considered,” he said.
Bob Rice, who owns several businesses next to the current bridge, told county leaders he would be, “One of the individuals most affected by this proposal. I am in support of walking pathways where people can access the water but I am opposed to a fishing pier and kayak launch.
“I own the adjacent property and I am well aware of many problems we have in the fishing area,” Rice added. “I’ve never seen a resident of Cobb Island down there. They come from D.C., Pennsylvania, Virginia, wherever. There is trash, drug paraphernalia, fires, defecation … I don’t understand why the residents of Cobb Island should have to clean that up. This is a community. It’s not a county or state park.”
Charlotte Sampson works with the neighborhood crime watch and Cobb Island Citizens Association. She said summer visitors to the island often live under the current bridge where there are no facilities and stay for days at a time.
“Our Crime Watch members have been told by different officers over the years, do not go under the bridge,” Sampson said. “We do have great officers and they check, but they can’t be there all of the time. The activity is hard to monitor. I’d like to see it fenced off and locked.”
Perhaps the most convincing speaker of the evening, who certainly garnered the loudest applause, was John Bordner, who owns a home in Cobb Island, but lives and work in Alexandria, VA developing parks and sites for tourism. He said in his position they have learned from their mistakes, and offered county leaders the benefit of those errors.
“The Cobb Island Bridge is very critical for emergency response to get on and off the island,” Bordner said. “Activating the waterfront around this critical area is not a good decision. Develop an acceptable strategic plan and get funding to go into the future. Make those improvements where you want and where it makes sense.”
The imploring of the Cobb Islanders was not in vain.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources proposed the fishing pier and kayak launch. Robinson said he was convinced the community did not want it.
“An activist community goes a long way toward dictating policy,” he stated. “I think we have heard convincingly and overwhelmingly that the additional amendments are not supported by the community. Even though we are keeping the record open until the commissioners make a decision March 14, what was said here tonight will have great weight with me. That’s so you folks know at least which direction one commissioner is heading.”
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com