Prime Hook Beach concrete dune crossing built

The owner of a property in Prime Hook Beach has submitted an application to the state for approval of a 10-foot-wide, 118-foot-long concrete dune crossing that’s already been built.

The concrete dune crossover was constructed without approval from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, said Michael Globetti, DNREC spokesperson, in an email Dec. 15. It’s an unusual situation and something DNREC typically does not allow, he said.

The state’s Division of Watershed Stewardship issued a public notice Dec. 10 on the crossover off Clifton Shores Drive.

According to a letter submitted to the state that’s included with the notice, applicant David Heffernan said there was a 4-foot-wide wooden crossover, but the wood doesn’t last. More recently, he said, family and guests have wanted to bring small trailers over the dune to carry small boats and beach supplies down to the beach.

To protect the dunes and allow launching of personal watercraft, a 10-foot-wide crossover is needed, said Heffernan. This is an asset for special needs guests, he said.

“I am committed to keeping the ramp to the highest standards,” said Heffernan, who added he uses the home several times a year for vacations, and it is also rented out much of the year. “To best protect the dunes from the thoughtlessness of tenants, we do our best to make the property ‘idiot proof.’ That’s one of the drivers behind the wider crossover.”

The dune crossing was brought to the attention of DNREC when a member of the public asked if this type of structure was allowed by the regulations, Globetti said. The inquiry prompted a site inspection that revealed the structure had already been built, he said.

According to Globetti, there isn’t another concrete dune crossing like it at a private residence along any other Delaware Bay dune.

As of now, the property owners have not been fined or reprimanded in any way, said Globetti. However, he said, if the application is denied, removal of the structure and restoration of the dune will be required, and there could also be fines.

DNREC officials declined to comment if they have any concerns related to the new walkway setting a precedent for the type of dune crossings that are allowed to be built.

Because this is a pending application, that question cannot be answered at this time, said Globetti.

As built, according to a hand-drawn set of blueprints included with the application, the crossover is 10 feet wide and six inches thick. It’s roughly 118 feet long – with two areas of concrete block supports that are three feet deep, two feet thick and 10 feet wide. There are a dozen 18-inch-wide, 2-foot-deep holes down the center line filled with concrete to act as footers and prevent shifting.

The ramp does not extend into the water, there is no construction channelward of the mean high water line, there is no dock and no fill is needed, said Heffernan, who added that the neighbors are on board with the project. He also offers use of the crossover to the Milton Fire Department and the state when needed.

The application also includes a letter from the Milton Fire Department in support of the ramp, and attached photos show a department vehicle on it.

“The ramp will provide an important official public function of providing access to the beach for emergency vehicles. It is directly connected to the applicant’s driveway and therefore a very convenient way to quickly get to the beach without damaging the dunes,” said Milton Fire Department Chief John Hopkins.

For more information, call the Division of Watershed Stewardship at 302-739-9921 or email Jennifer Luoma Pongratz, an environmental scientist for the state, at Jennifer.Pongratz@delaware.gov.

Comments are due no later than Thursday, Dec. 25.