Friends of the Waterfront, harbormaster praise planned harbor walk and urge a recorded easement

Advocates for public waterfront access and the city's harbormaster described the planned harbor walk as a significant public amenity and urged the board to condition approval on protections that preserve full public access.

Linda Stevenson, president of Friends of the Waterfront (speaker 21), said the group has advocated for public shoreline access for more than four decades and described the proposed harbor-walk extension from Paraty Park to Bowen's Wharf as "huge" for both residents and visitors. On the record she requested that the applicant file and record a permanent easement guaranteeing public use and limiting private events or closures that could reduce hours or public availability.

Harbormaster Steve Land (speaker 22) described prior coordination with the applicant and the city's plan to rebuild Paraty Park's bulkhead. He explained the city will be replacing the bulkhead and that moving the harbor-master building back 10 feet was discussed with the applicant to allow the new public connection; he said the bulkhead project is proceeding and demolition of the existing building is tentatively scheduled next November as part of the multi-stage waterfront improvement program.

The board included a recorded-easement requirement as a condition of approval, directing the applicant to work with staff and appropriate departments on easement language and maintenance arrangements. Friends of the Waterfront said it will continue to work with the city on hours and permitting so the harbor walk remains genuinely public, not available only by private reservation.