Beaufort County contracts public boat-launch facility | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Boaters, give thanks! The Beaufort County Board of Commissioners wants to make it easier and cheaper for you access the local creeks and rivers you so enjoy.

    At Monday night’s meeting, the commissioners unanimously voted that Beaufort County would purchase a specific tract of waterfront land for the purpose of providing the public free water access on the south side of the Pamlico River.
A crowd gathered for the Public Hearing portion of Monday night's Beaufort County Board of Commissioners meeting in Washington.

    The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has drawn up a site plan, which includes fishing and pedestrian piers, two boat-launch ramps, paddle launching facilities and parking for up to 61 vehicles. The Wildlife Resources Commission is set to develop the facility within the next two years, and will cover all associated development and maintenance expenses.

    The purchased lot is 8.0 acres in size and is located on Blount’s Creek near Crisp Landing and Cotton Patch roads. It was purchased by Beaufort County for its appraised value of $470,000. The county has been guaranteed assistance with 75 percent of the purchase price by the N.C. Division of Coastal Management via a CAMA Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access grant. A potential Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Grant could assist with a portion of the remainder.

    “The county commission felt that the grant opportunities out there were there for a reason,” said Beaufort County Manager Paul Spruill. “In the worst-case scenario, the county taxpayers would suffer a 25-percent expense.”

    Beaufort County could also be responsible for ongoing acquisition costs beyond said purchase price, said Spruill.

    Under the terms of the option to purchase, Beaufort County was required to hold a Public Hearing before making their final decision. The public turned out and filled the meeting room with residents, who shared a mixture of concern and enthusiasm.

    The most common thread of concern was voiced by nearby property owners, worried about the increased boat and automobile traffic.

    Pam Daniels, who owns an adjacent lot with a private ramp and tackle shop, said she was worried about how the increased frequency of large-boat wakes will affect the fun and safety of her paddling patrons. The no-wake zone in front of her lot is already being disrespected by the current passing boaters, she said, and there are few patrol boats ever around to monitor the situation.

    “We want to make sure that the no-wake zone is patrolled,” said Daniels.

    “If the county is considering investing in the property, they might want to consider investing in gas for the wildlife people, too,” said Annabelle Baker, a Blount’s Creek resident also worried about the potential for increased violations of the no-wake zone.

    But Baker was more apprehensive about the safety of her property value, than any other kind of safety.

    “With more boat traffic on the creek, we’re going to continue to lose waterfront footage from washout,” she said.

    The Bay Harbour community of Chocowinity wrote a formal letter to Spruill in which they asked for reassurance from Beaufort County and NC DOT that Old Blount’s Creek, Clay Bottom School and Cotton Patch roads and Rowe Drive would be “improved and maintained to handle the increased traffic.”

    Russell Morgan, also of Blount’s Creek, shared a more buoyant outlook for the neighborhood project. He, like others living along the creek, recommended enforcement of the no-wake zone; but, instead of stopping there, he highlighted the project’s potential for attracting tourists and economic activity.

    “If it’s done correctly it can be a benefit for everybody,” said Morgan.

    “Boaters will see the new boat ramps on the map and will come to Beaufort County,” he said. “They’ll think, ‘Hey, we can put in here!’”

    Whatever the sentiments of the crowd may have been, Republican and Democratic commissioners, alike, agreed that providing the public with water access is going to be a good thing. The parcel boundary and tax card for the property can be viewed at www.co.beaufort.nc.us/prop.htm.
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