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St. Mary's County holds hearing on closing portion of Bayfront Drive amid residents' concerns over beach access
Summary
The St. Mary's County commissioners held a public hearing on proposals to close an unimproved section of Bayfront Drive. County attorneys cited erosion and liability; neighbors and property owners urged preserving public access to the beach and raised questions about legal access to lots 23 and 24.
St. Mary's County commissioners on Oct. 12 opened a public hearing on a proposal to close an unimproved portion of Bayfront Drive in the Scotland Beach area, a move county attorneys said would reduce liability tied to a narrow, eroded stretch of road but that residents fear could jeopardize long-standing pedestrian access to the community beach.
County Attorney George Farley told the board the county received the roadway from the State Highway Administration in 1988 and that the segment under discussion includes a paved portion that serves the neighborhood and an unpaved portion that has “gradually eroded” to “perhaps 10 feet in width at its narrowest portion.” “My recommendation is that the county close the portion of that road so as to remove that liability that attaches to the issues of maintenance of public streets,” Farley said. He emphasized that, if…
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