War On The Shore

By Pat Peterson Reporter

Published: Tue, December 04, 2007 - 4:55 pm Last Updated: Tue, December 04, 2007 - 8:29 pm

Pat Peterson

An environmental group in Orange Beach is against the city's plan to build a new, multi-million dollar boat launch. The Perdido Key Preservation Committee says the new launch would damage the local environment.

"We understand the city needs a new boat launch and we're not against that," says Carolyn Huppertz, co-chairman of the Perdido Key Preservation Committee. "We just don't want the launch right here near us."

The boat launch would be built on Perdido Beach Boulevard near Ono Island on state land.

"The beach mouse lives there," says Larry Chamblee with the Perdido Key Preservation Committee. "And other wildlife could be damaged or affected. It's also an issue of preservation. This is beautiful land here and we want to keep it that way for future generations."

City leaders say the new launch would have little or no environmental impact.

"We've taken great care to minimize these impacts," says Phillip West.

"We've tried to address every issue and every concern to make it a showplace of boat launches, one that everyone will be proud of," says City Administrator Jeff Moon.

The new boat launch is a long way from becoming a reality. City leaders are currently trying to get the necessary permits from the state to begin the project.