Rehoboth Beach Patrol likely staying on Baltimore Avenue

There are still questions related to the footprint of the building and the number of stories, but Rehoboth commissioners appear to have resolved at least one issue related to a new Rehoboth Beach Patrol building – its location.

During a special meeting Nov. 17, a majority of commissioners – Mayor Stan Mills, Commissioner Edward Chrzanowski, Commissioner Toni Sharp and Commissioner Tim Bennett – voiced their support to keep any new beach patrol building in its current location at the Boardwalk end of Baltimore Avenue. The three remaining commissioners – Commissioner Susan Gay, Commissioner Patrick Gossett, and Commissioner Jay Lagree – weren’t specifically against keeping the beach patrol at Baltimore Avenue; they just didn’t voice their opinion one way or the other.

The purpose of the special meeting was to discuss the location of a new beach patrol building. City commissioners have never proposed a move, but members of a city task force created to improve pedestrian access to Wilmington and Baltimore avenues brought up the possibility of moving the beach patrol headquarters north to Maryland Avenue.

Mills began the meeting by reminding everyone the subject of a new beach patrol headquarters and improvements to the public restroom facilities at Baltimore Avenue have been discussed as far back as 2018. The design aspects of the facilities were approved in last year’s budget, so that’s been happening, he said, adding the design has been stalled until a decision on location has been made.

The city has contracted Milford-based Davis, Bowen & Friedel to design the new structure. A representative of the firm said during the meeting that the estimated cost of a new building – with a combined beach patrol and public restroom – is approximately $2.8 million.

Mills said he would like to get this project underway as soon as possible, because in addition to a new beach patrol headquarters, there would be the creation of two year-round family restrooms.

Mills added pedestrians aren’t likely to come off the Boardwalk onto Baltimore Avenue. He said the city needs to focus on making First and Second streets more inviting to encourage pedestrians to move from Rehoboth Avenue to Baltimore.

Some commissioners raised concerns about meeting federal flood area building requirements. However, others countered that requirements fluctuate from block to block, which means a location has to be picked before specific requirements are known.

Beach Patrol Capt. Jeff Giles did not speak at the special meeting, but in the past he has said he would like to keep the headquarters at Baltimore Avenue because, “It’s the center of the beach patrol universe.”

There are nine lifeguard stands each way to the north and south of beach patrol headquarters, he said.

A couple members of the task force spoke during the meeting. Frank Cooper, the member who originally suggested the move, said the commissioners were making a hasty decision. There needs to be big-picture planning, he said.

Howard Menaker said he would like to see the task force, city commissioners and the public have more input on the location and design of the new facility.

Jack Cordrey, a Maryland Avenue resident, said he is adamantly opposed to having the city move the beach patrol building to Maryland Avenue.

While no specific date has been set, commissioners are expected to resume discussion on the building footprint and number of stories in the near future.