Sunset Beach, NC “Where is our BOAT RAMP”
Four years have gone by and the town of Sunset Beach, NC is still without a boat ramp. An informal boat launch on the island causeway was closed in June 2008 to make way for the new $44 million high-rise bridge that opened in November, 2010.
At a recent town meeting, Sunset Beach Town Administrator Gary Parker “guesstimates” the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is “poised” to start construction of the planned waterway facility located across the street from Twin Lakes Restaurant later this year. Projected completion will be next summer, 2012.
During the August 1st Sunset Beach Town Council meeting an agreement was approved with the Wildlife Resources Commission to develop the 1.2 acre site as a public boat launching facility and public water access.
Wildlife Resources Commission will be responsible for installing launching ramps, docks, parking areas, access roads and any necessary improvements.
Issues prevail with comments from the public concerning the “redundancy of a fishing pier and boat ramp in the area”. Concerns were also voiced about the facility “taking up the best part of the land with a required stormwater retention pond that will wipe out the historic oak trees in the area”
Gary Parker, Sunset Beach Town Administrator advised the public that the pier would be built on “our own nickel,” estimating the cost to be about $30,000 or “1.5% of the entire project’s cost, 98% of which is land acquistion and construction of the facility. “Retaining trees has always been part of the plan, and a retention pond has to go there.”
Fishing is available across the high-rise bridge on the Island of Sunset Beach at the Sunset Beach Fishing Pier located next to the Gazebo and FREE PUBLIC PARKING.
Parking is not free in the Sunset Beach Fishing Pier Parking Lot.
