HomeMy WebLinkAboutGotbetter, Marion X13
September 19, 2008
Dear Supervisor Russell, Justice Evans and Councilmen Wickham, Krupski, Ruland and Orlando
Following please find a copy of letter we sent to the Suffolk Times. We'd appreciate it if our
comments and views are considered in your further discussions regarding the jetty at
Goldsmith's Inlet.
We've got the Goldsmith's Inlet Jetty blues. Those who live in Peconic Sound Shores say don't
you touch that jetty. Those who live in Kenney's beach say take down that jetty and give us
back our beach. The consultants and engineers say take down the jetty or part of it. The
Town drags its heels, makes a decision, drags its heels some more and does nothing.
We live in the area of Peconic between the Inlet and the Bittner property. For years we've
been watching the beach in front of the parking lot at Goldsmith's Inlet grow larger and larger.
The sand is now so built up to the west of the jetty that one can walk on the beach to reach
the tip of the jetty without navigating boulders. The beaches to the east of the jetty have
suffered dramatic erosion and the dune system has been devastated.
There have been highly successful public and private preservation efforts in the Peconic dunes,
including the recent acquisition of the Bittner property. All of these efforts are compromised
as the beach erodes, wetlands are damaged and habitat is lost.
It's ironic that as the Town Trustees clamor to save the Bay from additional docks, bulkheads,
etc. that the Town Board continues to allow the jetty to obstruct the natural flow of sand in
the Sound. Why does Jim McMahon dismiss the Army Corps of Engineers study? For over ten
years, there have been more than ample discussions and studies done on this issue. We hope
the Town will continue to look at solutions to keep the inlet open and flowing - obviously the
jetty has not improved this situation. We implore the Town Board to stand by its decision
(made more than 2 years ago we believe), a reasonable compromise, and remove 1/3 of the
jetty. Allow the sand to flow east once more. Our ever diminishing shoreline will be ever so
grateful.
Thank you for your attention and consideration,
Marion Gotbetter RECEIVED
Carmen Ramis
425 Diamond Lane
P.O. Box 524 SEP 2 2 2008
Peconic, NY 11958
Southold Town Clerk