Future of Island Wharf management remains uncertain

MARION — Controversy surrounding a grassy area on Island Wharf dominated a joint meeting between the Select Board and Marine Resources Commission on Tuesday, May 5.

The two groups met at the Music Hall to discuss the area’s management and to gather public input, with many residents upset about the open space being used for parking instead of recreation.

The grass in the area is often used as overflow parking when the paved lot is full, and is sometimes used by customers of the nearby boatyard.

When the town received the property, it was specified that the area be used for recreational, not commercial, use. Select Board members were split on what exactly defines commercial use, questioning if customers using the parking would be included in the definition.

Select Board member John Hoagland argued boaters preparing their boats to set sail using the area is reasonable, even if it involves a business.  

“I see that as neighborhood use for a business that doesn't have the property to make that happen,” he said. “We are a harbor community, and boating and sailing is one of the economic drivers of this town. I think that, to me, is not commercial use.”

Fellow member Norman Hills said while the boatyard needs additional space to operate, intrusive use by boaters should not be allowed.  

“There's no question boaters need something, but in my opinion, parking tractor trailers out there, or boats stacked there for weeks on end, is a commercial use of our space,” Hills said.

Resident Eileen Marum said the current use of the space as additional parking goes against its original intention for the town. She also accused the Select Board of silencing resident voices about the issue by removing a proposal regarding Island Wharf from the Town Meeting agenda. 

Hoagland responded the item was removed because it had not been appropriately discussed by the Select Board and would preclude the board from having further conversations with the Marine Resource Commission before taking action. He denied the Select Board avoided public deliberation on the subject, pointing to the evening’s well-attended meeting. 

“Eileen, you can see this evening, those claims are just plain wrong,” Hoagland said.

Resident Margie Baldwin urged the town to consider how changing use of the lawn could harm area businesses and make already limited parking more difficult. 

“We need to find some middle ground,” Baldwin said. “There are many competing interests for that space, and I think we just need to work on solutions, and how we're going to come to those solutions.”