Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Borden Light Marina - Open to the Public?

Way back in the 1980's before the Lunds built Borden Light Marina, they had to get permission from the state and city to build on Fall River's waterfront. More specifically, for permission to build, the Lunds had to get a waterways license from the state. The Marina was successful in getting this license, however, it binds them to the maintenance of certain conditions, and allows the state to revoke the license if the conditions are not met.

In the waterways license agreement, the following conditions are placed on Borden Light Marina's operation:

Boat Ramps -
The Licensee shall make the boat ramp available for public use during normal business hours of marina operation for a reasonable fee. Is this being done?

Parking -
The Licensee shall maintain 25 parking spaces for the use of the general public during the period of October 15 through April 14th of each year. Said spaces shall be available from 8AM to sunset and there shall be no fee for said spaces. The licensee shall place signage indicating the availability of these spaces. The licensee shall maintain 156 parking spaces for the use of the general public on filled private and Commonwealth tidelands for the use of the general public during the period of April 15 to October 14th (excluding "special event" days as defined by the state). Said spaces shall be available from 8AM to sunset and there shall be no fee for said spaces. Is this being done?

Public Restrooms
The Licensee shall construct and maintain public restrooms in the marina office...Said restrooms shall be made available to the public during normal hours of marina operation. ??

Sewage pumpout
The Licensee shall provide a sewage pumpout system for the pumpout of sanitation on recreational boating vessels. The licensee shall actively promote the use of this system by marina patrons and other boaters. ??

Another interesting part of the agreement is this requirement, "The structures and fill authorized hereby are limited to the following uses: commercial recreational boating facilities." Does a bar on a barge qualify as a commercial recreational boating facility?

Access the Borden Light agreement HERE

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was under the impression that the Marina was private land. There are no signs stated that the public is allowed.

Anonymous said...

Appears that we could all go there and park and have a party- it looks like it is public land!!

Anonymous said...

Saturday is supposed to be nice, count me in!

Anonymous said...

I have parked down there many times and ate my lunch in my car. No one ever bothered or questioned me. I seen two porto potties right inside the entrance and used them a few times. Most Marina's have a bar and its open to the public. I'm from out of town and have no interest in Borden Light Marina but you obviously want to punish them for some imagined thing. Before they where there it was old broken down shacks and looked like hell. I think they are doing a good job.

WJB said...

You think Lund is doing a good job? You must be from out of town. Lemme guess, Tiverton sounds about right. Your last name wouldn't happen to rhyme with "Blaram", would it?

RJR said...

WJB you have me curious! What is Lund not doing at the Borden Light Marina?

Are all these conditions being met? I have no idea. Certainly the Marina doesn't appear 'open to the public'.

I guess you can eat lunch there but I agree a sign would be nice!

Anonymous said...

It seems easy enough to find out if the checklist shamrock posted is being done.

WJB said...

I was referring to the Bang Up Crackerjack job he does on the City Council. He's initiated....well, at least of thought of....nope can think of a single contribution!

just anonymous said...

It seems to me that valid points were brought up in the post. These are questions that should be asked and need to be answered.

I do not see this as being any type of punishment toward the Lund family. This agreement must be followed and if the city is not going to be sure it is, then it is up to the citizens of the city to do so.

I think we are all lucky to have someone like Shamrock, who does his research and informs the public.

Thank you Shamrock.

Anonymous said...

how come no one is infroming the media??

Anonymous said...

informing

Anonymous said...

ya. thank god I now know I can park at the marina during the winter when the only 2 cars there are owned by Mike and his brother. Scamrock is running out of steam

Anonymous said...

you again miss the point anonymous friend of Lund

Anonymous said...

whats is the point? did they secretly hide these conditions? Or is it a case of the have nots looking for any reason to criticize people who work hard to get ahead? Go use your 75% subsidized healthcare and sleep at your desk until the pension kicks in

Anonymous said...

The issue is that the Lunds have a contract that specifies certain conditions for the Borden Light Marina and those conditions are probably not being adhered to.

Sure the Lunds work hard, but they should adhere to the conditions of the contract. It's certainly easier to make to make big bucks when you don't follow the rules. Just look at Wall Street.

shamrock said...

I don't begrudge the success of the Lunds, I am sure Mike works hard. I DO begrudge people that circumvent laws/regulations/contractual obligations...etc, to line their pockets.

Perhaps there is something I am missing but it appears as though Lund is ONLY allowed to use that property for "commercial recreational boating" which would likely prohibit him from having a bar.

Anonymous said...

have you been notified of anyone that has been turned away from using the boat ramp or you just guessing?

Anonymous said...

so anyone who makes big bucks breaks the rules in blogger world?

Tom Paine said...

Unless he has amended the deal with the state to allow him to open a bar there. That is a possibility.

shamrock said...

Anon 11:29

While the boat ramp is just one of the many requirements I listed, it is the one Lund is allowed to charge people for. To answer your question, no I have not heard that he is denying people the right to pay him to use the boat ramp.

Anon 11:30

No one said that. Furthermore, that is just dumb.

Anonymous said...

, along with the 1.5-mile bike bath and sidewalk that


From the Herald News...what's a "bike bath?"

Anonymous said...

I only buy The Sterile Snooze on Monday to read Marc Dion

Anonymous said...

that's a waste of 50 cents.

Anonymous said...

You mean 75 cents, guess it's been a while for you!

Anonymous said...

wow really, yeah a really long time when did it go up?!

Anonymous said...

bike bath? not much quality control at the sterile news