Public input is necessary on issue of beach access
“Much has been written in recent weeks about the problematic situation concerning York’s beaches. It appears the town owns at least one, but not the rest. Parts of Long Sands Beach are apparently owned by multiple people, the rest by just one family. York Harbor Beach is apparently in private and public nonprofit hands. A Cape Neddick man claims to own part of Cape Neddick Beach. Most recently, selectmen Chairman Ron Nowell has said taking beaches by eminent domain appears to be the easiest way for towns to protect public access, though he has yet to put this forward as a good idea for York.
This all arises out of a recent Maine Supreme Court decision disallowing the public from Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport. The decision is seen to have a major bearing on the Cliff Walk in York, and Nowell — rightly — raised the larger issue: If private property owners can block public access to the Cliff Walk, perhaps they can do the same at York’s beaches.”
Seacoast Online 2 April 2014.