When I was growing up in Lake Charles, one of the most protected and revered views the city offered was the wonderful panoramic view across the lake from Shell Beach Drive. Now, it’s mostly gone.

I was under the impression that this land falls under the riparian principle. This allows small wharves, docks and launches to be built.

How and why have we allowed these overbearing and unsightly structures to take this one-time visual pleasure for all away from the entire city?

An attorney general’s opinion released in 2014 said no law mandates that waterfront landowners leave the view of the lake unobstructed from adjacent areas.

But it noted that city officials have some say in what is built along the banks.

“While there is no ‘servitude of public view’ of Lake Charles under Louisiana law,” reads the opinion, requested by then-Mayor Randy Roach, “the City does have the authority to regulate the construction of wharves, piers, and boathouses on navigable lakes and rivers under its home rule charter and statutory authority, as provided in the Louisiana Constitution.”

In response to the question, city spokesman Matt Young referred in an email to the 2014 opinion and noted that residents 11 years ago “voted to preserve public access along the Lakefront Promenade (behind the Civic Center) and to the north of the lake (along the interstate).”

“These public areas are highly used by residents, visitors and tourists,” Young wrote. 

“This lakefront referendum ensures that public access along the water’s edge will be maintained along city-owned property that abuts the water and that this access would extend to any future development along the lakefront.”

For more info: www.ag.state.la.us.

 

Notification given via opt-in service

Why were some Sulphur residents called and informed about the water boil advisory on Saturday and some were not called? 

We are usually called about street closures and City Hall closures, etc., but were not called about the boil advisory. Some of my friends were not called either.

Sulphur Mayor Chris Duncan said city officials sent residents word of the boil advisory — via an opt-in notification service — at 2:21 p.m. Jan. 6 through 3,280 emails, 4,688 text messages and 4,737 phone calls.

Duncan said the city last year switched from the Blackboard Connect mass-notification service to Regroup. He said officials notified Blackboard registrants of the imminent change on June 9.

The notifications, which went out by phone, email and text message, directed registrants to sign up with the new service. 

Additionally, Duncan said, residents are given an opportunity to sign up for notifications when they open water and sewer service accounts. 

For more info: www.sulphur.org.

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The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.