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Lancaster County presents Taylor Creek Park shoreline plan; wetlands board permits shoreline elements
Summary
Lancaster County, represented by Bay Design Group, presented a multi-component shoreline stabilization and public-access plan for Taylor Creek Park. The wetlands board voted to approve the shoreline elements after staff and public comment.
Lancaster County, through Bay Design Group senior engineer Ben Burton, presented a joint permit application for shoreline stabilization and marine access as part of the planned 11-acre Taylor Creek Park.
Burton described a multi-element proposal that includes two rip-rap breakwaters, about 3,394 square feet of beach nourishment, approximately 744 square feet of living shoreline, two reef/breakwater structures totaling about 135 linear feet, and boardwalk and dock components including a 96-foot compost-boardwalk, an accessible gangway and a 376-foot floating dock intended to provide an ADA-compliant kayak launch. Burton said these marine improvements are a component of the larger county park and that the county had advertised the construction bid the same day.
Ben Burton said, “This may be one of the most involved JPAs that the wetlands board has had to consider in a long time,” and walked the board through exhibits showing boardwalk and dock connections, living shoreline elements and areas of steep, eroding bank where stabilization is proposed.
There was one written objection filed by Gary Rall and Kimberly McKenzie, but Burton read the county’s response into the record and said the letter’s concerns related to park amenity siting (for example, shelter and restroom locations) rather than the shoreline work that requires wetlands board review. The county’s response noted the shelter is approximately 200 feet from the commenter’s pool deck and that fencing and amenity siting are not elements decided through the wetlands permit process. The county also argued that the project’s nature-based shore treatments will improve water quality by reducing nutrient loading.
Olivia (staff member) said, “We typically permit county parks,” and noted public boat ramps and other public-access facilities are commonly permitted by the board. After public comment in support from resident Rick Wineland and no sustained opposition to the shoreline elements, a board member moved that the board “follow the law and… approve that part of this project that deals with the shoreline,” a motion that was seconded and carried.
The board’s action was limited to the shoreline and marine components that fall within its jurisdiction. The county and applicant will proceed with the shoreline permit conditions recorded under VMRC application number 25-1767.
