Big Lake Community Council

Purpose

 To investigate, prioritize and resolve public use issues around lake and land access points within the Big Lake Comprehensive Planning Area as provided by established easements and right-of-way.

Methodology

The goal of opening access points/right-of-way to public use is often the cause of much concern to private property owners. Each project under consideration will involve these conflicting values.

This committee will act as a public forum for access issues and bring together all stake holders to resolve those issues in a balanced manner. It will work with the adjoining property owners, the neighborhood, the Borough or any other appropriate entity to resolve conflicts and assure access is open for use by the public.

Priorities

The following priority projects were identified:

1.  West Lakes Access – This access is currently open for winter use. The shoreline and slope of the land are in need of modification to ensure easy use in both the summer and the winter.  Work on this access has been stalled due to conflicts regarding the use of Right of Way (ROW) and the Utility Easement.

2.  Road Extension across Stewart Lake – The extension across Stewart Lake is a critical first step to achieving the vision of a North Loop Road around Big Lake, Mud Lake and Flat Lake as supported in the 2009 Comprehensive Plan. The use of this ROW has been in dispute for 6 years or more. A usable, yet narrow road has been constructed over Stewart Lake along this ROW. Although useable, the road has been deemed unsafe for public use due to the absence of guardrails and other alleged construction defects.

3.  Pursue and obtain trail easements - Many of our present trails cross Mental Health and private land.

Contact: Dan Mayfield, Chair    biglaketrails@gmail.com