Beach coalition plans to fight proposed resort

CORPUS CHRISTI - The Beach Access Coalition said it's ready to fight back if the city decides to extend a beach traffic ban along the seawall. The group has already started a petition drive against the existing ban.

Back in October, the city council passed an ordinance to close the stretch of beach in front of the seawall to traffic. Now they are considering closing off another 1,800 square feet (she means linear feet) on the north end, towards Packery Channel and 1,000 square feet (she means linear feet) on the south end for the development of a half-billion dollar resort. It's a project the Beach Access Coalition said it will fight to the end.

"We propose the mayor and the council honor their commitment, and let the petition process go forward so people can have their say," said committee member John Kelley. He has been fighting to get the original ban issue on the ballot and may face another challenge if city council decides on new traffic restrictions.

The Beach Access Coalition said it's upset to hear that the city may be looking into extending the ban here for traffic along the beach. While they've already collected 7,500 signatures for the current ban, they're willing to start a whole new petition if they have to. Since the current petition doesn't include the tracts of land being considered by the city.

"We're not malicious, we just made a mistake," said Councilman Mark Scott. He said he and other council members didn't realize the traffic ban needed to extend past the seawall until it was too late.

"We have a message for Mr. Scott and the developer. Don't mess with Texas beaches," Kelley said. He said the city is going back on its promise, not to close anymore of the beach to traffic and wants the city to stick to its word.

"I just think we made a mistake and we owe it to ourselves and the community to recognize the error fix it and at the same time have a unique opportunity for a world class resort," Scott said. The Beach Access Coalition plans to present the petition to council on January 10, the group needs a few hundred more signatures to meet the requirement of 8,000.

At this point the city has the option of leaving the petition as is, change the petition, to include the extension, or passing a new separate ordinance for the additional land.

Online Reporter: Roxanne Carrillo


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