Parking of RV's, buses, vehicles over 22 feet prohibited

The Empire Village beach project is getting closer to completion, but final paving may not be applied until sometime this fall.

At the Village Council meeting Tuesday, beach project subcommittee chair Linda Payment said delays by Consumers Energy in getting power lines buried, has pushed back Kal Excavating’s schedule to pave the beach area parking areas and Niagara Street until the utility work is completed.

“The Consumers people tell me it will take two to three more weeks for them to complete the work, so we have to wait for them,” she said.

Payment said phone and cable lines were buried by CenturyTel and Charter Communications earlier this month.

Payment also sought the council’s approval to place signs that state which vehicles can use the parking spaces at the beach. On a 4-3 vote, with trustees Karen Baja, Sue Michener and Nate Gray opposed, the council approved prohibiting recreation vehicles, buses, or vehicles over 22 feet long from parking at the beach.

The council had previously prohibited vehicles over 18 feet long from parking at the beach. Payment said since then she has heard from pickup truck owners that they would not be able to park at the beach, even though they are not recreational vehicles.

“A lot of newer pick-up trucks are 19 to 20 feet long,” she said.

The beach subcommittee had previously recommended limiting vehicle lengths to 18 feet, based on a recommendation from a consultant. However, council members wanted the restriction lengthened to 22 feet, which is how long each angled parking spot will be. Some vehicle and boat trailer parking space will be available, but no RV vehicle parking will be allowed at the beach lots. Motorists may drive RVs to the beach and drop off passengers, but can’t park at the beach.

In a related matter, the council again discussed new playground equipment at the beach. At its June 26 meeting, the council received a request from an Empire Township man to consider moving the equipment to another spot on the beach that would not obstruct the view from the parking lot.

At the meeting, 20 letters were read and entered into the record by the council with 18 in favor of keeping the equipment where it is and two supporting it be relocated. Council president Sue Carpenter said Tuesday that while there was discussion on June 26, the council never took a formal stance on the man’s request.

Payment said moving the entire playscape, would cost $11,500. The expense for relocating the climbing wall was estimated at $2,000, and removing the plastic roof tops on part of the playscape would cost $2,500.

Payment said the beach subcommittee discussed the matter more at a meeting earlier this month. She said if a group of citizens wanted to put together a plan and raise money for moving the equipment, she was willing to listen. Carpenter voiced the same opinion.

In other business during its three-hour, 15-minute meeting, the council:

• Heard a request from Carpenter that council members bring questions and concerns to its September regular meeting for inclusion in a possible citizens survey. She said the village has been confronted on some big issues over the last year, such as sewer needs, managing growth, and the beach project. Carpenter said the council should develop a survey and find out what people think on the issues.

Trustee Ashlea Walter said many of the issues were brought up during the village planning commission’s Envision Empire planning sessions held in 2003. She said ideas such as a village-wide sewer and beach improvement project were suggested by village residents.

Michener said the village should also let its seasonal residents know the council is looking for ideas or questions to include in the proposed survey before they leave for season.