The councilor is Larry McCavitt, and the marina belongs to the Waterside group aka Steve Karp and the Lagasses. We wrote about McCavitt's opposition to expansion of the marina behind the Black Cow a month or so ago.
No time to revisit the details of the case. But in yesterday's News Stephen Tait writes that McCavitt is positioning himself to be an enormous thorn in the side of the Waterside Group. His main contention--at least at the moment--is that by adding to the marina the developers are trying to develop the Waterside parcels piecemeal. He'd prefer they present an comprehensive vision for the waterfront.
"I believe their unstated goal is to wrap up the edges before they get to the back of it," McCavitt said, referring to Waterside West. "By then it's too late.
"If we don't get a comprehensive look at the development we'll get nickeled and dimed," he said.
Hmm. I'm really of two minds here. On one hand, I'm told that under our zoning Karp & Co. really have no legal responsibility to present a big picture here. They could develop piece-by-piece if they so choose. But I have the feeling they're not going to go that route. Just a gut feeling. But Karp seems to prefer doing large, interwoven projects in other towns.
But I'm really glad McCavitt is on top of this. Perhaps he is fear monger as some in the article suggested, but he wouldn't be selling if folks weren't buying. People are worried. Mayor Moak says the planning department can handle it. I suppose it can, but I'm glad to see another pair of eyes on this project.
As an aside, Chuck Lagasse didn't exactly bolster the case with his statement about the state encouraging waterfront development of marinas.
"Who could envision a more public situation?" Lagasse said. "These aren't owned slips. They can be rented by the month, by the season by anyone in the public."
I suppose get his point, but I'm not really interested in ponying up a seasonal fee to park my beach chair on the dock. I just want to be able to walk along the river unimpeded by gates and fences.
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