By LAURELLE WALSH
Winthrop officials are seeking guidance from the business community to establish ground rules for the placement of public seating along the town’s wooden boardwalk.
Mayor Dave Acheson and Planner Rocklynn Culp appealed to the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce at its meeting last Thursday (July 11) for help in creating a “workable policy … that will hopefully result in a higher level of compliance,” Culp said.
At issue is a variety of tables, chairs, and even a guilty bike rack that have encroached upon the public right of way, at times forcing pedestrians out into the street, according to deputy clerk, Cindy Hicks.
Hicks, who is also the town’s Westernization Architectural Committee administrator, initially fielded complaints from local business owners and residents concerned that the items “weren’t Western,” and hadn’t been approved by the committee which enforces adherence to the town’s Western theme.
“It’s an issue of access,” said Hicks, noting that the existing sidewalk ordinance allows no obstruction of the boardwalk whatsoever, she said.
Hicks passed on the complaints to Mayor Acheson, who, along with Planner Culp decided to enlist the chamber’s help because “the chamber of commerce is a known entity with an investment in seeing Winthrop succeed,” Culp said. “We recognize that it could add value to the business community to have outdoor seating, but we also want people to feel like they can get around,” said Culp.
At the chamber meeting last week, Culp noted that “we want someone with a stroller to be able to get down our boardwalks,” as well as people in wheelchairs or others with reduced mobility.
A notable exception to the prohibition on boardwalk seating is in front of Sheri’s Sweet Shoppe, where the boardwalk traverses owner Doug Mohre’s property, according to Hicks. “We would have to eliminate four or five parking spaces in front of Sheri’s to move the boardwalk into the public right of way,” Hicks said.
One result of the chamber of commerce presentation was the formation of a working group of downtown business owners who will work with Culp to craft “creative ideas” toward a boardwalk solution, the planner said.
“There will be strong opinions on both sides, but we are trying to generate a policy based on input from the business community,” Culp said.
