Dogs Join Protest Against Private Dock in Crystal Beach

Some of Crystal Beach's canine residents are now apparently among those opposed to the construction of a private dock that's causing quite a ruckus in this quiet waterfront community.

About 20 dogs joined 40 Crystal Beach residents Saturday morning for a walk along a public path in protest of a homeowner's proposal to build a 296-foot dock on county-owned waterfront property overlooking St. Joseph Sound. 

The residents carried signs that said things like, "Dogs Grr.. Against the Dock," "Bark Loud Enough for Commissioners to Hear," "Down Boy! Down with the Land Grab!" "Preserve Public Places," and "We Love Crystal Beach and Our Beach Trail."

Glenn Bergoffen, the man who wants to build the dock, stood on a sidewalk across the street from his home and watched the parade with some friends; one held a cat wearing a harness and leash, while another pal brought a well-behaved boxer. 

"We're the anti-protesters," said his friends.

Bergoffen lives in a 12,266-square-foot home at the corner of South Gulf Drive and Maryland Avenue. His home, which is assessed by Pinellas County at more than $1.5 million, towers over the public shell path that the protesters and their dogs walked on Saturday. The shell path is public property owned by the county, along with the rest of the land along the shore.

Bergoffen wants the county to give him ownership of a strip of land so he can access the dock he wants to build. The proposed area is shaped almost like a "T" and is about 90 feet long and 6 feet wide, according to documents obtained by Palm Harbor Patch.

If he were to be granted ownership, Bergoffen would then grant an easement to allow public use of the land, according to David Walker at Pinellas County's Department of Environmental Infrastructure.

Bergoffen says some of those who are opposed to the project are misinformed.

"I think that it's ridiculous in that there is so much misinformation that has just been spread since the very beginning of this. The petition that they've asked people to sign, which I have a copy of, says that I'm going to interfere with people's use of the land. Which is 100 percent wrong. We're going to do nothing to interfere with anyone's use of the land," said Bergoffen as he watched protesters Saturday.

Some people opposed to the dock think that if the county gives Bergoffen the land and allows him to build the dock, other homeowners will do the same, which could eventually lead to the loss of public access to the shell path and waterfront property.

"We think the pier would start a domino effect and other people would build piers, and we'd lose the nature that is so wonderful. It would no longer be the peaceful, quiet path that we enjoy," said Jan Gibson, a 12-year-resident of Crystal Beach who brought her dog, Samantha, to the protest.

"That would open up a can of worms. Even property that doesn't have a dock can go out and ask for the same thing," said Mickie Flinner, 78, who has lived in Crystal Beach for 31 years and carried a hot pink sign that said "Dogs Against the Dock."

"I'm concerned we'd have to give up public land," said Ken Clarke, who moved to Crystal Beach in 2006 and wore a giant billboard sign asking people to sign the petition. "Why can't we just keep it as it is?" he added.

Pinellas County Commissioners will likely hear from many of the protesters and Bergoffen about the dock when the proposal is presented at the April 9 commission meeting.

"I just want permission to build a dock. There was a dock there. It was there from I believe the 1940s through the 1980s and it got blown away. I want to replace it," said Bergoffen.

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