Controversial Crystal Beach Dock Proposal Discussed at Public Hearing Tuesday

Do you have an opinion about the controversial proposal to build a private dock in Crystal Beach? If so, you'll be able to tell Pinellas County Commissioners what you think about it during a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Crystal Beach residents Glenn and Leah Bergoffen want to build a private 296-foot-long dock on county-owned property. The Bergoffen's home on Maryland Avenue overlooks a public-access waterfront parcel on St. Joseph Sound. A popular walking path which locals call "the shell path" is located on the property.

This is the second time the couple is making the request. The first request was denied by the county in April of 2008. Back then, the county suggested the Bergoffens consider building a public dock, however they rejected the idea, according to documents obtained by Palm Harbor Patch.

In the current request, the Bergoffens are asking the county to give them ownership of a strip of land so they can access the dock they want to build. The proposed area is shaped almost like a "T" and is about 90 feet long and 6 feet wide. If they were to be granted ownership, the Bergoffens would then grant an easement to allow public use of the land, according to David Walker at Pinellas County's Department of Environmental Infrastructure.

Crystal Beach resident Chuck Demean, 63, has lived in Crystal Beach for five years. He was so upset about the proposal, he put up a sign in front of his home suggesting that people show up at the commission meeting to speak their mind about the dock.

"It should not be touched. There should be no development. There is no development going on," he said.

This basically in my opinion opens up the situation where anybody along that beach could take the same application and then be in the same position."

A couple weeks ago, a group of citizens opposed to the dock held a protest walk with their dogs on the shell path.

"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," Mickie Flinner, 78, told Palm Harbor Patch.  

Glenn Bergoffen watched the protesters from across the street. He 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," he said.

The Crystal Beach protesters are not the only opposition to the project. Various county departments were asked to review the plan, including the Planning Department and the Department of Environment and Infrastructure Watershed and Stormwater Departments.

Paul Sacco, Director of Pinellas County's Department of Real Estate Management outlined in a document the reasons why county staff recommends that county commissioners should deny the proposed dock-

"Gulf Drive is a rare amenity in the county in that it provides a scenic public road along a waterfront (in this case, St. Joseph Sound) that is completely in the public realm, with two exceptions where private docks are located. The Gulf Drive right-of-way is used by the immediate and larger community, and provides the public with scenic views of the sound and beyond, and contributes to the quality of life of the entire Crystal Beach community. With much of the county's waterfront in private ownership, the board adopted the above objectives and their related policies in the Comprehensive Plan to protect and maintain those areas that currently provide public waterfront access and scenic views. Vacating the public right-of-way for this one lot would set a precedent for similar vacations up and down this portion of Gulf Drive, resulting in numerous docks in St. Joseph Sound. The resulting multiple vacations and docks are likely to blur the distinction between public and private space, where currently Gulf Drive is a distinctly public area.

The Department of Environment and Infrastructure's (DEl) main objection to the request is a similar issue raised by the Planning Department. The original developer of this subdivision set aside the waterfront for public use and enjoyment and it has remained so since that time... The remainder of the shoreline is completely open to the public in its natural state. Environmental assets in the area of the requested vacation that would be impacted include extensive sea grass beds and the mangroves and associated wetland species that form a vegetated buffer that prevents erosion loss of the shoreline and filters runoff from the adjacent community... Due to the shallowness of this area, docks would have to be in the neighborhood of 300 ft. in length and will directly shade out those sea grasses beneath them. Also, the addition of more boats to this shoreline creates the potential for unlimited additional impacts from prop dredging."

The public hearing will be held during the Pinellas County Commission meeting at 9:30 a.m. on April 9, 2013. The meeting will be held in the Pinellas County Board of Commissoners Chambers which on the 5th floor of 315 Court Street in Clearwater.

No time to attend the meeting? Let us know what you think by casting your vote-

• Poll: Should Crystal Beach Homeowners Be Allowed to Build a Private Dock on County Property?

Related-

• Dogs Join Protest Against Private Dock in Crystal Beach

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