York Town News
Revised surf ordinance ready for selectmen
By Melissa Wood
YORK BEACH - After three revisions and several months of collaboration among the town, surfers and other members of the community, the surf ordinance is ready to be submitted to the Board of Selectmen for possible inclusion on the May ballot.The latest draft will be presented to the selectmen at a public hearing on Feb. 26. This draft does not call for a doubling of the zone, as did two previous drafts, but does allow for flexibility in its enforcement.
"I truly believe it is the answer," said Parks and Recreation Director Mike Sullivan. "I feel good about it. I can support it and fight for it."
If the revised ordinance is accepted by the selectmen and passed by the voters, the surf zone would remain the same size and in the same spot on Long Sands Beach but could be increased to the Sun-n-Surf on days when wave conditions make surfing ideal. The entire beach could also be open to surfing on cold, rainy days when there are few beachgoers.
Sullivan said he heard from many property owners who were concerned about previous drafts to double the size of the zone. He said the additional flexibility means the zone should meet the needs of surfers and swimmers.
"I believe it's a situation we should be managing day by day," he said. "We have no interest other than good, smooth operations at the beach."
Sullivan said the Recreation Department supports the many types of recreation at the beach.
"There's a place for surfing," he said. "Why not give them surf when surf's there? It's not there very often."
David Ballou, a local attorney and avid surfer who has served as the informal secretary of the small group working to update the ordinance, said the revised draft represents a collaboration of interests.
"It just reflects our best effort at this point," he said, calling the revision "a well thought out effort to find a solution to what problems we have, using the beach in a way that makes sense."
The revised ordinance also moves the start of the zone's enforcement from Memorial Day to Flag Day, June 14.
Ballou said he, like other serious surfers, surfs before and after work, but the revised ordinance would benefit younger surfers in the community. The current ordinance restricts surfing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except in the area of the surf zone. It does not allow any flexibility in enforcement.
Revisions to the ordinance began after Labor Day, when big waves brought a large number of surfers to the beach and led to some unfortunate clashes between lifeguards and surfers. An informational meeting was held on Nov. 30 and two drafts have been presented that called for doubling the size to 240 yards and allowing for expansion of the zone on big wave days or during times of bad weather. The first draft moved the zone closer to the Sun-n-Surf, while the second kept the original area.
Both drafts have been posted on the Recreation Department's website with a forum where people can post comments. Some residents from the Juniper Park Association had posted concerns over an increase in the zone's size.
Ballou has forwarded the latest draft to members in the surf community and said that a number of surfers have gotten back to him with support, but added that some could find it woefully inadequate.
"I think everyone was congenial through the process," Sullivan said, adding, "I'm not saying at all there won't be any opposition … There probably will be."
