Controversy At Davis Street - 1980  

Culver Citizen
Aug. 14, 1980
Controversy At Davis Street
By Jean Williams

Culver - Heated debate has been smoldering for weeks between summer residents near the lake end of Davis Street and the West Shore Property Owners, a matter which may now be settled in the court room.

Here with their families for the summer, residents on the south side can't understand why swimming at Davis Street is denied when they and their forebears have always used this access.

But the West Shore Property Owners have negotiated to purchase the railroad land running along the west shore, including the Davis Street end.

Appeals at Town Board meetings have put Town Officials in the very middle of the dispute since their jurisdiction includes all of Davis Street to its dedicated end, but not across the railroad strip into the lake.

It has been the West Shore Property Owners' original intention to deed the Davis Street strip to the town. Last fall they began plans with the former Town Board to do this providing there was agreement about two stipulations: namely, that no pier would be permitted at the access, and that the access would be available for use only by local citizens.

The Town Board felt that the latter restriction would be impossible to enforce but agreed to accept the access at such time as a final offer was made. However, since it will take two years before details of their title are complete, the West Shore Property Owners decided to withdraw their offer to the town until a later date, but still agreed to permit local people to swim at the Davis Street access until a definite decision was finalized.

The West Shore Property owners had many concerns about Davis Street. How would it be maintained? Would it be under police protection? Would there be a lifeguard? What about toilets? How to keep the access from being used for boat launching while permitting citizens to swim? How restrict undesirables?

Town Officials had some questions also. How to meet the demands of the West Shore Property Owners on a budget already strained by commitments to the Park. Of particular concern and responsibility is continuous access to the lake for fire protection.

The summer residents and several of those who live in Culver the year around feel that they should be able to continue the convenience and enjoyment of the Davis Street access as always, where together, a pier had for years been put out and where families had assumed their own liabilities. They feel that they shouldn't have to drive to the Town Park for swimming when they have already driving from their winter homes to enjoy the proximity of the lake to their summer residence.

Stories are confused about what has been happening at Davis Street this summer. The heat was one when local people were ordered off the Davis Street access, and when local people insisted upon putting out a pier at the site.

At the last Town Board meeting, Town Trustees were asked why they felt they had an interest in Washington Street but not in the Davis Street access. he answer is evident. Without the offer of an easement into the park at Washington Street, the entire town would be cut off from that entrance to the park. Without it, how would emergency vehicles get in? The Washington Street easement ordinance is now under consideration as proposed John Deery, owner of that access.

Town Officials proposed recently, that the West Shore Property Owners offer to sell or dedicate the Davis Street access to the public, but negotiation has not been possible during the fracas.

If the suit is filed, as threatened, it will be up to the court to decide whether the 'people' can exercise their traditional right to lake access, or whether the West Shore Property Owners can make their own decision about the future of Davis Street.