Barnstable agrees to buy land for $1.1 million clearing way for marina expansion

Boaters will have more access to the water at Prince Cove Marina after Barnstable Town Council’s near unanimous approval on July 18 to spend $1.1 million to buy the property next door, town officials said.

The purchase of the property at 211 Cedar Tree Neck Road in Marstons Mills will be paid for with Community Preservation Act money , including $450,000 from the CPA’s open space and recreation fund and $700,000 from its undesignated fund.

On June 17, the Community Preservation Committee voted unanimously to recommend buying the .6-acre property that includes a 1,370-square-foot single-family home. CPC Chair Lindsey Counsell said the property would allow for a phased expansion of the town-owned marina, provide additional public access to the water and support multiple recreational uses.

The action “will be getting more folks out on the water” Derek Lawson, director of Marine and Environmental Affairs for the town, said at the meeting. Lawson also cited safety concerns because the marina now has only one road in and out for boats and trailers.

“The idea is to have a separate entrance,” he said, which would alleviate long backups of boat trailers every morning. Lawson called the marina “a very popular deep water boat ramp to get big vessels in.”

He said he considers it the best marina in Barnstable and his personal favorite.

Councilor Paul Neary commented that “this is quite a nice property” that he wouldn’t mind having himself. He asked how the two-bedroom house would be used for the marina. Lawson said it would be used for building the docks, but that “anything is on the board,” as his department has not explored that subject.

Councilor Paula Schnepp votes no

Councilor Paula Schnepp cast the only no vote against what she called “a significant investment.”

“I’m not sure this is a great use of CPC funds. I’m not seeing it serving a large part of the population,” Schnepp said. “I don’t know if there was sufficient planning of how it is going to be used.”

Lawson replied that the marina expansion would also help kayaks and small vessels get easier access. He said the extra property would create more parking that could also be used by people with beach stickers and there is no charge for two ramps for kayaks and smaller boats to enter the water.

“I think there is potential, even for the long term,” he said. Funding for any future expansions at the marina will be provided by the Marina Enterprise Fund. Boat owners pay fees to that fund for day or seasonal passes, Lawson said.

Schnepp asked if that fund could have been used to buy the property.

“We would have to look into that,” Lawson replied.

Councilor Kris Clark suggested the marina area could be expanded for aquaculture and Counsell agreed that would be a good use.

There were no comments from the public during the initial public hearing.

The appropriation has no impact on the General Fund operating budget. The final two-thirds required vote was 11-1. Money left unused will be returned to the CPA fund.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Barnstable agrees to buy land for $1.1 million clearing way for marina expansion