Referring to SCHMACO, Beach avenue was indeed "open" for many years, however, it was always a no parking road. The town neglected it for years and closed it with intent to abandon it when it became impassable and cars kept getting stuck in the sand. It was referred to as an "attractive nuisance" and the towns response was to simply close the road. Implying that residents pressured the town into closing it is not accurate. Residents asked the town to come up with a solution to an ongoing problem and boulders at the top of the road was what the town came up with. Speaking for myself and knowing the feelings of my neighbors, I'd just like to address an underlying condescension. It feels like people have formed the opinion that harbor residents are making up issues to try to keep the road closed. That truly is not the case and the Conservation Commission stopping the work I think proves that. Do piping plovers not nest in the dunes? Is it not a barrier beach? A selectman stated that "us people", referring to harbor residents, don't want Westport residents to come down to the area. That is ridiculous and also a very irresponsible thing to say. The fact is, people already come down here and have for years. Whether the road is open, closed, flooded or paved. It really makes no difference. If the road is opened and maintained, nothing changes for the property owners in the harbor. They still have their ocean views and beach front property. It really does not change anything so I don't see what the selectman's argument is for implying they don't want people to come down there. If anything, Westport residents are who they'd want coming down because they respect and appreciate the area just as much as everyone who lives there. Opening the road up to only residents is far from a bad thing for property owners in the harbor because it ensures that only Westport residents will be able to use the area, and there will be regulation in regard to access and parking. All good things. We are all a part of Westport and all pay taxes to the town. Harbor residents actually pay a much higher percentage, however, most are not town residents or voters so their opinions don't seem to matter to elected officials. All the residents in the harbor ever asked for was what the towns plan was after opening the road and for the town to work within their legal guidelines. I hope they do and everyone gets to enjoy the area and that, should we pass each other on the beach, we are able to exchange kind greetings as this has never been a "have" vs "have nots" issue as the towns selectmen will have you believe.
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