Article from the Spring 2003 Community Newsletter
As has been detailed in the Fall 2002 newsletter and the July 2002 letter to all property owners, your Board of Directors has been taking steps to ensure that the narrow Dune Road right of way is cleared for the upcoming summer season. Primarily for Emergency Access issues, your Board has determined that it is essential that it gain absolute control of all commonly owned portions of the community, and that this property be kept as clear as practical of all obstructions.
Dune Road is the narrowest of all streets in Middlesex Beach; the right of way is only 30 feet wide and any obstructions in the way of bushes/trees, planters, trash can holders and mailboxes can effectively narrow it further. It is essential that any emergency vehicles that need to access any part of the community be able to do so quickly. Equally critical is keeping any obstructions away from the recently installed fire hydrants along Dune Road. The Bethany Fire Department has been consulted extensively during this project, and recommends that a 6’ clearance be maintained around all fire hydrants.
In response to our pleas, several property owners have cut back their bushes and moved items already, and we thank you for helping us with this project. In late January, all property corners on the Beach Side were staked out by a surveyor, verifying the boundaries between private and MB common property. Wilgus took digital photographs and will be sending letters to the appropriate home owners requesting their cooperation in trimming back their landscaping in a manner they see appropriate.
The community trash can holders at each beach walkway will be relocated from Dune Road to each walkway’s actual 10’ wide right of way. As much existing landscaping as possible would remain in place unless the space is needed for relocated trashcan holders or bicycle racks. Many community members ride their bicycles to the beach, and the existing bicycle racks do not provide enough space for all who wish to use them, with the result being bicycles haphazardly leaning against fences, signposts, etc. Our current intentions are to put bicycle racks in the 10’ wide pathway, but of course out of the way of beachgoers using the boarded walkway. Possibly some new landscaping would be done where necessary. In the future, wider walkways are envisioned, but this is a lower budgetary priority, especially since the President’s Weekend storm left us with damage to three walkways.
The west side of Dune Road was greatly impacted by the Artesian Water project
in 2001. The sand at the side of the
road is much looser than before the project, so vehicles can’t pull off as far
to the side as previously. Plans are in
the works to stabilize the soil in this area to make it easier to park in the
available space off the side of the road, without risking vehicles getting
stuck in the sand.