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New dock facility set for pirate ship at John’s Pass
State to expand submerged land lease
By WAYNE AYERS
Article published on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008 |
MADEIRA BEACH – New docking facilities will be built for the pirate ship at John’s Pass that its owners say will make the boat safer and its location more pleasing visually.
The City Commission took action at the Jan. 22 regular meeting to allow the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to extend a submerged land lease on the property.
The extension will permit the construction of two finger piers and tie poles at 194 Boardwalk Place, in front of Sculley’s restaurant. The large pirate ship will dock at one pier and the other will be used by a smaller dolphin watch cruise boat.
Currently, the pirate ship is crammed into dock space along with a casino ship, fishing boats, a parasail operation and 15 wave runners, according to Tracey Kennedy, the ship’s owner.
The situation presents a safety issue for the families that patronize the pirate ship, Kennedy said. The cruise ship sticks out, forcing the pirate ship to go out into strong and potentially dangerous currents while maneuvering out of the dock space, she said.
The new dock will “spread us out a little bit” and also allow direct access to the boat from the boardwalk, Kennedy said.
Hubbard’s Marina executive Patricia Hubbard said relocation of the pirate ship would be a much safer situation.
“The boat is very big,” Hubbard said. “(The new pier) will make it more secure, and easier for people to get off and on.”
The matter came before the commission because the city owns property adjacent to the proposed new pier, and is being asked to issue a “letter of no objection.” City Attorney Michael Connolly said he had no legal objections to the arrangement, which calls for property owner Joseph Dagostino to give up part of the submerged land lease in exchange for the dock space. Interim City Manager Michael Maxemow said he had no problem with it, either.
Kennedy told Commissioner John Wolbert that the city’s agreeing to the letter of no objection to the extension of the submerged land lease agreement was “mandatory to the success of the project.”
The commission unanimously voted yes.
A related request by Dag Brothers, on behalf of the pirate ship business which is their new long-term tenant, sought approval to install a staircase from the Boardwalk to the pier for the pirate ship. That issue won a narrow approval from the commission.
Mayor Charles Parker and Commissioners Arnold Alloway and John Wolbert voted in favor of the staircase, while Commissioners Steve Kochick and Nancy Oakley voted no. Kochick and Oakley expressed concerns that the city is giving up too much to property owners along the Boardwalk.
Kochick told Joseph Dagostino of Dag Brothers that he wanted the staircase because “you don’t want people walking through your restaurant.”
Kennedy said the stairs were needed to give people easy access to the dock and avoid lines forming on the Boardwalk. Connolly pointed out that the property owner (Dagostino) is responsible for maintenance of the staircase.
Review process begins for boat slips
The commission voted 4-1 to obtain a submerged land lease for proposed boat slips around the ball field adjacent to City Hall.
Oakley, who cast the dissenting vote, objected to spending funds to start the process of obtaining the submerged land lease without first looking at other aspects of the project, including projected costs, parking and restroom facilities.
“We haven’t talked about anything but putting in the docks. We need to know more about what is going to take place,” she said.
Oakley’s concerns were not shared by the other commission members. Alloway pointed out that the submerged land lease could take up to two years to get. Kochick said that stopping the process now “would muddle everything up.”
Connolly said fewer marinas are available to the general public due to condominium development.
“If we have a public marina, demand will grow more rapidly than the supply of marina slips,” he said.
Connolly urged the commission to take advantage of the opportunity.
Maxemow said the marina could be developed in stages, with the city proceeding as need and funds warrant.
Oakley continued to object to spending money for the project “without getting some idea of where we’re headed.”
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Article published on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008
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