Resident urges Chambers County to reconsider proposed 24-hour boat ramp at FM1409

A Chambers County resident urged the county to stop design and survey work for a proposed 24-hour public boat ramp at the intersection of FM1409, FM149 and Old River and to relocate any public parking away from nearby homes.

"My name is Ryan uh Frink," the resident told the court, saying he and his neighbors were only made aware of the project after county survey crews requested to pass through their property. He said the planned access road and parking would run up to private property lines and place parking spaces within about 120 feet of his barn and closer than 100 feet to a neighbor’s covered boat storage.

Frink said an ungated, always-open parking lot in direct view of private storage posed a security risk. "I've already had a four-wheeler stolen from me in the last 2 years," he told the court as an example of local theft vulnerabilities.

He also described the parcel as historically part of a family homestead that predated the Lake Wallisville project and said the pasture proposed for parking had been part of that homestead before the Army Corps of Engineers assumed land for the reservoir.

As an alternative, Frink asked the county to consider placing a ramp and parking on the east side of FM1409, across the street from the currently proposed site, which he said would not have residences in close proximity. He said he had spoken with an Army Corps real estate specialist who had not been presented a plan for the east side and therefore had not denied that location.

Frink asked the county to halt further survey and design work for the west-side site and to relocate any planned public boat ramp to the east side if the county proceeds. He displayed photographs marked to show the proximity of the proposed parking to his barn and other nearby buildings.

The court acknowledged the comment and reminded attendees that a public hearing on the item was scheduled later on the agenda.