Rosenthal: No Public Access To Beach Until ’06

By John Voket

Despite Wednesday’s closing during which the town became the owner of a beach and marina complex on Lake Zoar, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal is appealing to residents to steer clear until next season. Newtown taxpayers approved a bond March 9 to cover the cost of purchasing two parcels fronting Lake Zoar, and Newtown legal representatives completed the purchase transaction on one of those parcels July 20.

Eichler’s Cove, located off Route 34 near the Monroe town line in the area of Stevenson, will remain in the hands of its current owners until the end of the 2005 season, primarily because of existing rental contracts in force on cottages and boat slips in a marina on the property, Mr Rosenthal said.

The private recreational area bordered by Old Bridge Road and the Halfway River is on a 10.53-acre parcel, and includes the marina, which has been operated successfully by family owners for more than 35 years. The first selectman said the town will likely continue operation of the facility, which currently provides about 160 boat slips to seasonal tenants.

But it continues to be the modest beach area, picnic groves, and rental cottages that have been drawing trespassers to the area since the town announced its intention to negotiate to acquire the land in early January.

“We want the public to understand that this location will continue to function as a private business until next spring,” Mr Rosenthal said. “We respectfully request the public avoid trespassing there until such time that town is overseeing the operation in 2006.”

In the days following the announced intent to purchase the property, Newtown Parks and Recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian told The Bee it would be a wonderful recreational opportunity for townspeople, but she did not expect her department would be prepared to take over management of such a facility this summer. But given time, she said it might be a logical move for her department to eventually take over management of what would become a town-owned beach and marina operation.

Mr Rosenthal said other options may include permitting the existing owners to stay on as managers, or to entertain other offers by independent management entities with experience in marina and beach facilities.

In April, the town first began its appeal for residents to avoid the area unless they are legitimate rental or boat slip tenants of the business. During a stretch of warm weather during the early spring, several local individuals, and even entire families, apparently showed up with coolers and blankets to take advantage of the beach.

“Part of the agreement is to allow the current owner to complete his current seasonal management of the facility so we still don’t want anyone going down there unless they have legitimate business with the current operator,” Mr Rosenthal said.