County officials plan to appeal boat ramp denial

Published: Monday, June 11, 2012 at 7:10 a.m. Last Modified: Monday, June 11, 2012 at 7:10 a.m.

BARTOW - Polk County officials will appeal this week's denial of a zoning permit for a new boat ramp park on Lake Juliana, County Manager Jim Freeman said Friday.

The Polk County Planning Commission voted 5-1 Wednesday to deny Polk County Parks and Natural Resources' request for a zoning permit to develop the new park on a 1.8-acre site off State Road 559 north of Auburndale.

No date has been set for the appeal hearing before the county commissioners.

Planning commissioners sided with lakefront property owners who argued the ramp was unneeded, posed a safety hazard and was a waste of public money.

Parks advocates maintain it's important to expand the public park system and lake access in general, adding the funds for development of the park, which come from a share of boat registration fees, cannot be used for any other purpose.

County parks officials had been working on the project for more than three years as part of an effort to establish public boat ramps on more of the larger lakes in the county at the direction of the Lakes Access Advisory Committee. Freeman announced the decision following Friday morning's budget work session with commissioners.

"Wouldn't it have been better to talk to commissioners individually before making the decision?" Commission Chairman Sam Johnson asked.

Freeman said he made the decision after conferring with County Attorney Michael Craig.

He said it probably wouldn't have been proper to talk to commissioners beforehand since they're the body that will be hearing the appeal.

Go here to see the original:
County officials plan to appeal boat ramp denial