Concerns about overflowing parking at town-owned Collins Beach during the summer came before the Edgartown selectmen this week, who agreed to look into the issue.
The small harborfront beach off an extension of Cooke street is used as a launching area for commercial and recreational fishermen, and frequented by many who work on the waterfront.
Steve Ewing, owner of Aquamarine Dock Builders, told selectmen that during the height of summer cars overwhelm the beach parking area, making boat launching difficult.
Neighbors have also complained about the situation, Mr. Ewing said. The issue has been discussed before the town marine advisory committee over the past year and a half.
“Many of the cars have no business on the harbor, the owners work in town,” Mr. Ewing said.
He suggested that the selectmen take some kind of action, ranging from prohibiting all parking in the area from mid-June until Labor Day or allowing attended parking or permit parking only. “Or leave as is, where anyone parks wherever they want for as long as they want,” Mr. Ewing said.
Town harbor master Charlie Blair said he was prepared in case the selectmen opted for permit parking, with signs already made by highway superintendent Stuart Fuller.
Police chief David Rossi has agreed to do enforce whatever selectmen decided, he said, adding that he thought permits should be limited to commercial marine license holders.
“I am open,” the chief said. “It’s a really difficult subject. Collins Beach, it’s precious . . . this town just loves the place. So whatever we do we have no really happy solutions but we know come August we have cars parked all over the sand. They shouldn’t be there regardless of who they are.”
Selectmen agreed that there was an issue, but disagreed about a course of action.
“This is something we’ve been dealing with for years,” said selectman Arthur Smadback, who said he would be in favor of limiting parking to those with marine licenses.
But selectman Michael Donaroma said he was against turning the area into private parking or favoring one group, though he too is committed to protecting the area’s marine use. “I don’t like the permit idea at all,” Mr. Donaroma said, noting that people who want to park and sit on the beach, go fishing, or launch a boat should be able to do so. “That’s all great and what’s been going on,” he said. “It’s just these few cars that pile up in July and August, the shoppers and storekeepers.”
Selectmen also considered the idea of monitoring the parking area during the summer, agreed to think about the issue and revisit it at a later time.
In other business, selectmen approved the appointment of several town police officers as assistant harbor masters. The officers have completed training with the marine unit.
Selectmen also appointed several seasonal special officers and traffic officers for the police department, and approved the appointment of Jonathan Searle as a sergeant at the police department.
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