Mar-A-Lago's Boat Dock Access: A Comprehensive Overview

Mar-a-Lago, a resort and National Historic Landmark in Palm Beach, Florida, has been at the centre of a dispute between its owner, former US President Donald Trump, and its neighbours. Trump has been seeking to build a boat dock at the resort, which would extend 72 feet into the Lake Worth Lagoon and accommodate four boats. However, this proposal has faced opposition from members of the Palm Beach Town Council and local residents, who have raised concerns about noise, security, and the potential impact on the surrounding estates. The council has stated that it will not allow the dock without legal protections for neighbours and tight controls on noise, lights, and hours of operation. The dispute has also raised questions about Trump's residency at Mar-a-Lago, as there are restrictions on how long he can stay at the resort, which is officially designated as a private club rather than a residence.

Mar-a-Lago's dock proposal was withdrawn due to the pandemic

Mar-a-Lago, a resort and National Historic Landmark in Palm Beach, Florida, has been owned by Donald Trump since 1985 and was his primary residence from 2019. The estate does not have a dock, despite being surrounded by water on two sides, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Lake Worth Lagoon to the west.

In 2020, Trump withdrew his proposal to build a dock at Mar-a-Lago, citing "extraordinary circumstances" as the reason for the decision. The proposal had been controversial, with local attorneys and Trump's Palm Beach neighbours arguing that agreements he had entered into with the town prevented him from living at the resort and may have invalidated his registration to vote in Florida.

Trump's lawyer, Harvey Oyer III, sent a letter to the Palm Beach mayor and town council, stating that the proposal was being withdrawn due to the "extraordinary circumstances that we find ourselves in". While Oyer did not mention the pandemic specifically, the context suggests that it was a significant contributing factor. The letter was sent during a time when the town council was navigating remote meetings and limited public input due to the pandemic.

The dock proposal had also faced opposition from neighbours, including the DeMoss family, who live immediately north of Mar-a-Lago. They and other neighbours had concerns about the potential impact of the dock on the peace and quiet of the neighbourhood, as well as possible security violations.

Trump's decision to withdraw the proposal was likely influenced by a combination of legal tensions, public criticism, and the challenges posed by the pandemic. The pandemic may have made it more difficult to navigate the regulatory process and public discussions, leading to the proposal being put on hold.

It is worth noting that the battle over the dock proposal has a longer history, dating back to 2018, and there have been multiple withdrawals and amendments to the proposal. The outcome remains uncertain, as Trump indicated that he would revisit the proposal once the council resumes regular meetings.

Neighbours raised concerns about noise and security

Neighbours of Mar-a-Lago have raised concerns about noise and security in relation to a proposed boat dock at the resort. The proposal was put forward by former US President Donald Trump, who owns the resort and has used it as his primary residence since 2019.

The dock would extend 72 feet into the Lake Worth Lagoon and accommodate four boats. It would be located at the northwest corner of the property, near the boundary with the neighbour to the north, Nancy Demoss, at 185 Woodbridge Road.

One neighbour, Elizabeth Demoss, Nancy Demoss' daughter, expressed concerns about protecting the peace and quiet of the neighbourhood and possible security violations, such as vandalism, whenever the president and the agencies that protect him are away. Another neighbour, Nader Kazeminy, questioned how the proposed restrictions on boat traffic would be enforced, as the traffic would be using the navigation channel that passes his parents' home.

The Town Council has stated that it will not allow a dock at Mar-a-Lago without legal protections for neighbours, including tight controls on noise, lights, hours of operation, and assurances that there will be no commercial use, future expansion, or jet skis. The council has also requested that any agreement must be amended to include these conditions before it will vote on whether to allow the dock.

The proposal has caused controversy, with some neighbours expressing frustration that Trump is moving forward with the dock request while the town council navigates remote meetings with limited public input. In response, Trump's attorney, Harvey Oyer III, has temporarily withdrawn the proposal, citing "extraordinary circumstances" and stating that the president will revisit the proposal once the council can conduct regular meetings with high civic engagement.

The dock would have been T-shaped and extended 72 feet

Mar-a-Lago is a resort and National Historic Landmark on a barrier island in Palm Beach, Florida. It has been owned by Donald Trump since 1985 and was his primary residence from 2019 until 2021. The name Mar-a-Lago means "sea to lake" in Spanish, reflecting the fact that the estate extends from one end of Palm Beach Island to the other, touching the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Lake Worth Lagoon on the west.

In 2019, Mar-a-Lago proposed the construction of a dock that would extend 72 feet into the Lake Worth Lagoon. The dock would have been T-shaped and would have been able to accommodate up-to four boats. The dock would have been located at the northwest corner of the property, near the boundary with the neighbour to the north, Nancy Demoss at 185 Woodbridge Road.

The proposal for the dock faced opposition from members of the Palm Beach Town Council and local residents. The Town Council stated that it would not allow a dock at Mar-a-Lago without legal protections for neighbours, with at least one resident voicing concerns about security and noise. The council wanted tight controls on noise, lights, hours of operation, and assurances that there would be no commercial use, no future expansion, and no jet skis. The council also wanted to amend the 1993 declaration-of-use agreement, which did not allow a dock on the property due to concerns about the impact on the surrounding estates.

The proposed dock would have been much smaller than some of the neighbouring docks and would have been used only by club members and the Trump family, with no commercial use. The dock would have accommodated small recreational boats and would have helped law enforcement agencies to better secure the property, according to Harvey Oyer, the lawyer representing Mar-a-Lago.

However, due to the opposition and concerns raised, Mar-a-Lago withdrew its proposal to build the dock in 2019. The club could resubmit its proposal after six months, and there was a possibility of constructing a dock on the south end of the property with a different design.

A 1993 agreement prevents Trump from living at Mar-a-Lago

Mar-a-Lago is a resort and National Historic Landmark in Palm Beach, Florida. It has been owned by Donald Trump since 1985 and became his primary residence in 2019.

In 1993, Trump signed an agreement with the Town of Palm Beach to convert the property from a private residence into a private club. The agreement specified that Trump and other members could only stay at the club for three non-consecutive weeks per year, or seven consecutive days and 21 days total per year, according to some sources.

Trump's decision to move into Mar-a-Lago after leaving office in 2021 raised concerns among neighbours and local authorities about a possible violation of this agreement. Attorney Reginald Stambaugh, representing the DeMoss family, who live next to Mar-a-Lago, sent a letter to the town demanding that it enforce the agreement's residency clause. Stambaugh argued that Trump's residency would decrease property values in the area.

The Town Manager of Palm Beach, Kirk Blouin, stated that the town was examining its options and that the matter might be discussed at the town council's February meeting. However, the Trump Organization denied the existence of any agreement prohibiting Trump from using Mar-a-Lago as his residence.

Despite the controversy, it is unclear whether the Town of Palm Beach took any further action to enforce the agreement or prevent Trump from residing at Mar-a-Lago.

The dock would have been for small recreational boats

Mar-a-Lago is a resort and National Historic Landmark in Palm Beach, Florida, United States. It was built for businesswoman and socialite Marjorie Merriweather Post between 1924 and 1927. Since 1985, it has been owned by former US President Donald Trump, who designated the estate as his primary residence in 2019.

The dock in question was proposed by Trump in 2020, during his first term as president. The dock would have been an "accessory dock" extending 72 feet into the Lake Worth Lagoon, accommodating four small recreational boats. It would have been T-shaped and located at the northwest corner of the property.

The proposal was met with resistance from the Town Council and local residents. The council stated that it would not allow the dock without legal protections for neighbours, who had concerns about security, noise, and the potential commercial use of the dock. The council wanted tight controls on noise, lights, and hours of operation, and assurances that there would be no jet skis.

The proposal also faced legal challenges, as it was argued that it violated agreements Trump had made when he converted Mar-a-Lago from a private residence to a club in 1993. According to these agreements, Trump was only allowed to stay at Mar-a-Lago for three non-consecutive seven-day periods, and the addition of a dock could be seen as a violation of these restrictions.

Due to the controversy and legal tensions, Trump temporarily dropped the proposal in 2020. His lawyer, Harvey Oyer III, cited "extraordinary circumstances" and the ongoing pandemic as reasons for the withdrawal, stating that the proposal would be revisited once the council could conduct regular meetings again.

The dock at Mar-a-Lago would have been a small-scale structure accommodating recreational boats for club members and the Trump family. It faced opposition due to concerns about noise, security, and potential commercial use, highlighting the impact on the surrounding neighbourhood.

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