Rehoboth homeowners urge more talks about Deauville Beach

After a failed attempt at negotiations between Rehoboth Beach officials and the state, Deauville Beach will be under the operation of Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environment Control, not Rehoboth Beach, for the first time in nearly 50 years.

In response, the Rehoboth Beach Homeowners’ Association sent officials in Rehoboth Beach and DNREC a letter urging the two government agencies to go back to the negotiation table so the beach can return to city control.

“The Rehoboth Beach Homeowners’ Association Board has been following the discussions regarding the lease at Deauville Beach and we are very concerned by the decision by DNREC to walk away from the lease agreement that has been in effect since the mid-70s,” said Pam Baker, RBHA board president, in the Feb. 28 letter. “By walking away from this lease and insisting on a new lease that would cost the city considerably more than the existing lease, DNREC decided that the concerns of residents and homeowners of Rehoboth were not a consideration.”

A few months ago, after nearly nine months of negotiations, city staff brought forward to commissioners news that the city and DNREC couldn’t reach an agreement on a new lease to oversee Deauville Beach. The city had overseen Deauville, which is owned by the state but falls within city boundaries, ever since a $1-a-year-agreement was signed in 1975. That lease expired about this time last year, but instead of continuing with the same terms, DNREC wanted a portion of the parking revenue generated at Deauville. Commissioners were against that proposal, especially after city staff estimated it spent about $150,000 per year to oversee Deauville and, in doing so, actually lost about $25,000 per year. Ultimately, the two entities couldn’t reach an agreement, and on Feb. 14, DNREC announced it would be assuming the day-to-day operations.

A couple of weeks later, Feb. 28, the RBHA sent its letter.

“The decision by DNREC and the city not to continue negotiations jeopardizes a key reason why our homeowners and visitors are coming to Rehoboth: our beautiful beaches. Deauville Beach is a community asset that should not have been taken out of city control,” said Baker. “The agreement to turn control of the beach over to the state was made without public input or transparency, during the dead of winter when residents and homeowners are likely not following city activities.”

The letter also includes a lengthy list of questions RBHA would like answered. Questions include, but are not limited to, entrance fees; if dogs, surf-fishing, large tents and canopies, and bonfires will be allowed on the beach; if umbrellas and chairs will be available on the beach; and operation of the concession stand.

The letter closes by saying, “RBHA wishes to be a constructive part of the process so residents and homeowners have a voice in determining the fate of this valuable resource that means so much to all of us who have made Rehoboth Beach our home.”

In response to the letter, Mayor Stan Mills said he and city officials continue to be extremely disappointed that an agreement could not be reached with DNREC.

“I certainly understand and empathize with our residents’ disappointment and concerns,” said Mills.

Mills said city staff continues to work cooperatively with DNREC staff to develop a transition plan and respond to citizen concerns. He said DNREC has informed the city that the point of contact for questions related to this transition is Public Information Officer Shauna McVey at shauna.mcvey@delaware.gov.

Looking forward, it’s unclear if the city will ever have Deauville Beach under its control again.

At this time, there are no plans to renegotiate the lease, said Lynne Coan, city spokesperson, in an email March 7. The city and DNREC currently are focused on the transition, she said.

In an email March 7, Michael Globetti, DNREC spokesperson, answered some of the questions raised by the RBHA, beginning with dogs on the beach. Except for service animals, state code says dogs and other domesticated animals are not permitted within division-administered swimming beaches at any time, day or night, from May 1 through Sept. 30 each year, he said.

Additionally, said Globetti, sun canopies will be permitted on the beach, bonfires will not be permitted on the swimming beach, fishing is not permitted in designated swimming areas in state parks, and the Division of Parks and Recreation will provide beach and food concession services at Deauville. The division is compiling a list of frequently asked questions that will be posted on its website soon, he said.

Editor’s note: The online version of this story includes comments from DNREC that were received after the deadline for the print version that ran in the Friday, March 8, edition of the Cape Gazette.