Residents, property owners press Lake Lure council over Mallard Cove ramp as design contract approved

A group of homeowners and a local attorney urged the Town of Lake Lure to reconsider plans related to a proposed Mallard Cove deep water access ramp and associated staging area, saying the site is residential, environmentally sensitive and legally problematic. Attorney Billy Clark (representing Luring Properties LLC) said he has outstanding public-records requests and warned the town he will "insist that any town records on this project, including emails and text messages are to be provided to us. And if not, we'll have to pursue legal remedies."

Homeowner Carmen Scott told council the proposal is inconsistent with residential zoning and raised concerns about setbacks and property impacts, saying, "It is unfortunate that we must be here tonight because we have been trying to deal with the town and express the issues that we believe prevent this project from moving forward since January." James Scott added environmental concerns, including wetlands, steep slopes and a possible presence of endangered turtles, and warned the ramp proposal would turn the cove into "effectively a port."

Despite those objections, council authorized Labella Task 27 — a design contract priced at $76,300 plus an optional $15,000 for permitting and construction support — and approved staff to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding with Camp Lurecrest to secure easement access for drawdown work. Town staff said design and permitting will be completed prior to the next scheduled drawdown window and that the MOU is intended to secure temporary construction access rather than permanent rezoning.