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Yankee Point Marina ramp approved for board's jurisdiction after resident objects to sediment and flow impacts
Summary
Lancaster County Wetlands Board approved a replacement ramp at Yankee Point Marina for the portion that falls inside the wetlands board's jurisdiction after a resident objected to the length, volume of fill and potential changes to local flows; the objector said he reserves the right to appeal.
The Lancaster County Wetlands Board approved the portion of a replacement boat ramp at Yankee Point Marina that falls within its wetlands jurisdiction, after a resident raised objections about the project's length, the volume of fill it may require and a possible effect on local water flow and sedimentation.
Resident Ken Noll, who said he previously owned Yankee Point Marina for more than 22 years, urged the board to deny or modify the application. Noll told the board that the existing ramp historically was 30 feet long; he said the proposed 85-by-14-foot concrete ramp constitutes a substantial increase, would require large quantities of stone to build out to that length, and could alter the flow path of a stream (Meyer Creek) that runs through the area. Noll said changes in flow could accelerate sedimentation in a nearby shallow bay and require dredging by downstream property owners.
Todd Patterson, current owner of Yankee Point Marina, and the applicant's agent, Scott Wallard of Mack Brothers LLC, said the ramp is deteriorated and too short for modern boat sizes and hauling operations. Patterson said the marina is the only publicly available ramp on the Corrotoman River and is used by commercial watermen, law enforcement and the public. He said the extension is needed so the marina can haul larger boats safely and operate during low and moon tides, and denied the proposal would create a large vertical wall that would change tidal flow. Patterson also said he plans to seek any required dredging permission separately.
Staff and jurisdictional limits
Olivia Hall (staff) and county staff reiterated that the wetlands board's authority is limited to the portion of the project between mean low water and mean high water (and as described in the meeting, 1.5 times that zone). Anything below mean low water would require VMRC or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permitting. Hall told the board there were two comments from a single person in the packet but that staff had found no active wetlands or Chesapeake Bay compliance violations at the site based on the evidence provided.
Board action and public response
After discussion, a board member moved to approve the application for the portion that falls within the wetlands board's jurisdiction; the motion was seconded and carried by the board with all members present voting in favor. Ken Noll stated he reserved the right to appeal the decision.
Why it matters: The ramp serves multiple public uses and local watermen; changes to its footprint and any associated fill can alter nearshore sediment dynamics and navigation depths. The board's approval applies only to the wetlands-board jurisdiction; VMRC and the Army Corps retain permitting authority for state bottom and federal waters.
Next steps
The applicant may pursue VMRC and Army Corps permits for any work below mean low water. The board's approval does not preclude state or federal review, and the objector indicated he may appeal the local decision.
