Pine Island: More than just a camp
AND ON THE NINTH DAY ... SOMEONE IN CREATED BUILDING REGULATIONS ... AND ON THE TENTH DAY THEY REVISED AND EXTENDED BY CREATING 'FINES' AND REVENUE SOURCE ... AND ON THE ELEVENTH DAY, ELEVEN LADIES DANCING, TEN PIPERS PIPING, NINE DRUMMERS DRUMMING, EIGHT MAIDS A-MILKING, SEVEN SWANS A-SWIMMING, SIX GEESE A-LAYING,FIVE GOLD RINGS, FOUR COLLY BIRDS, THREE FRENCH HENS, TWO TURTLE DOVES, AND THE TSA IN CHARGE OF PAT DOWNS TO ENTER THE ISLAND . . .
Town and lake officials believe campsite owners on Candlewood Lake's Pine Island in New Fairfield have been setting up more than just camp.
New Fairfield First Selectman John Hodge said, "It now appears that over at least the last two decades, maybe even longer, property owners have kind of taken what's supposed to be nothing more than a camp site -- because by and large none of the parcels out there are building lots -- (and) they've expanded them to far more then camp sites."
Pine Island is a small island across from Candlewood Isle.
Multiple property owners have camp sites on the island.
Hodge said the town is currently working hand in hand with FirstLight Power Resources, which owns the lake, to examine what structures are in violation of town or lake regulations.
Among the structures the town believes are in violation are large decks without railings, multiple docks, outhouses and elaborate, almost cabinlike structures.
Hodge said some of the structures in question, including many of the docks, would likely be in compliance with regulations if they had been built following proper permit procedures.
The structures went unnoticed for years because of the island's thick vegetation and hilly terrain.
The issue came to the attention of the town at a Candlewood Lake Authority meeting in June, when a resident of the shoreline complained about the island after a noisy Memorial Day party took place there.
Town and FirstLight officials have been examining the island and working on documenting the structures.
They will be contacting property owners with the goal of having all the structures comply with the building code by next spring.
"Some of them may have to be removed. Some of them may have to be changed to comply with building code. Some may be allowed to stay just because they've been there for such a long period of time," Hodge said.
"It's going to have to involve a one-on-one process with the property owners."
Hodge added, "We're trying to determine roughly when (the structures) were built. No matter when they were built, if they don't meet current building code they're going to have to brought up to code for safety reasons."
He said the Department of Health will examine the outhouses to ensure they are installed properly.
Charles B. Burnham, a spokesman for FirstLight, said in an e-mailed statement that "FirstLight, as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licensee for the Housatonic River Project which includes Candlewood Lake and its shoreline, has a responsibility to regulate all land use and occupancy within the FERC Project (Boundary)."
He added, "FirstLight has been working for several months in cooperation with the town of New Fairfield to ensure Pine Island land owners comply with local and federal land-use regulations and to issue permits for those uses within the boundary that meet permit requirements." ... AND THE BATTLE CRY WILL GO FORTH, "DON'T TOUCH MY JUNK!"