We are planning to contact Mr. Naik to see if he is willing to negotiate. Previously he has refused, but we will make another attempt. Perhaps, now that his lawyer, John Casey, pulled the proposed dock from the HMC agenda they will be more willing to compromise. What would a compromise look like? There are many opinions here, so I will present my own ideas.

Anybody who doesn't realize that environmental awareness is accelerating at a brisk pace is living under a rock. 

Environmental stewardship applies to everyone including wealthy, influential residents. What is acceptable for a dock and boat now is different than it was 20 years ago. We now understand that ecosystem health extends far beyond the perimeter of a dock and affects all residents in the area. When a waterfront parcel is purchased, the land/water beyond the average high tide is still owned by the public. There are laws/regulations that protect these ecosystems and the right of the public to enjoy these areas. Unfortunately there are always loopholes that citizens can leverage help themselves at the expense of the community. My view is that docks are great, but they need to designed within the context of the location and the public's right to use/enjoy the location.

The location is a shallow cove rich with underwater vegetation, migratory birds, and oysters. At best, it is an appropriate site for a modest dock and boat. It is totally inappropriate for the huge dock designed by the engineering firm Louriero. Historically, large boats have never been kept in the cove; The Sea Ray that my father owned was 24'. I found this boat to be a little too big to be practical in the shallow water and boat wake that can be very bothersome. Here is the site, does it look appropriate for a 40' Sport Fisherman and a houseboat?

An appropriate boat/dock for me is:

1. 21' center console with outboard engines
2. The dock would be std design without handrails and would not be elevated high in the air   
3. Boat and drive should be 12" from bottom at extreme low tides to avoid damage to the habitats and to the boat
4. No houseboat or barge type hull
5. No Marine toilet - People swim, kayak, and fish at the site and there is a commercial oyster bed very close by. Spillage accentual or intentional would create a significant hazard
6. Single vessel capability -
7. Pile separation 12' (appropriate for an 8'6" beam) - bridge clearance 8') i.e no "tuna tower"

If he is concerned that my dock has 2 slips, I will gladly remove one, if allowable by DEEP.  I have never used the second slip. 

Previously Mr. Naik's attorney would not negotiate anything related to pile spacing, which suggested that the primary intent was to have a huge boat and a houseboat. We will see if Mr. Naik is willing to forgo this idea