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Some 31 people showed up for the meeting Friday at the Gaston Pointe Conference Center. They included owners and representatives from businesses around the lake, Dominion Power officials, homeowners and the people representing East Oaks, LLC, the company hoping to build the new marina.
East Oaks - a limited liability corporation group - includes attorney John Petrelli, who purchased the land from former Eaton Ferry Marina owner and operator Duane White, who sat beside Petrelli during the meeting, but made no comment.
Other than Petrelli, White, The Kerr Environmental Services group and the Dominion Power representatives, most of the those attending the meeting were against the project.
Some of the project opponents included adjoining property owners - Morningstar Marina and the Eaton Crossing, a planned urban development under construction. Both groups came ready to discuss their opposition to the project, but were told no public comments would be taken during the meeting.
Kristen Shacochis-Brown of Kerr Environmental Services told the audience any objections they had must be sent in writing to N.C. Dominion Power within 15 days of the meeting. (The deadline would be Friday, July 11.)
Shacochis-Brown presented the environmental impact study done by her company and did her best to keep any public comments by the opposition to a minimum.
After outlining the study, which showed there would be no impact on the environment in areas like water quality, and terrestrial and aquatic life, Shacochis-Brown began hearing comments from the crowd when her study showed there would be no impact to navigation and public and private interests.
“This is not a public hearing,” Shacochis-Brown told the audience repeatedly. Finally, Jim Thornton, of Dominion Power stood and told the audience they should send their written comments to Dominion. “Once we get all the comments, we will respond to them and they will have to be addressed (by East Oaks) at that time,” Thornton said.
Petrelli purchased the land for the proposed project from Duane White, prior to White's arrest and conviction for fraud. He eventually filed bankruptcy and is awaiting sentencing on the conviction. The property consists of 10 acres, only three of which are zoned commercial.
Petrelli said he is only trying to re-gain water access for the dry dock storage facility on the property. Water access to the property was lost when White's other property was sold at auction to satisfy creditors during his bankruptcy proceedings.
Morningstar Marinas purchased the property, which was the former Eaton Ferry Marina. Dave Bluestone of Morningstar Marinas said East Oaks already has water access at the public boat ramp located next door on Morningstar's property, and that the proposed boat launching site to be located directly across the cove from Morningstar's gas pumps and public docks would create a hazard to navigation.
The next step in the permitting process will come after all written comments are considered by the Kerr Environmental group and any necessary changes to their study are made.
At that time East Oaks and Kerr Environmental will make their pitch to Dominion Power, which will ultimately make the decision whether the project can move forward.
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