Sherman has a Dock Rumors Problem

March 28th 2025

Sherman, Connecticut, is actively pursuing a project to enhance its town park and boat docks. As of May 28, 2024, First Selectman Don Lowe reported that the initiative is progressing towards submitting an application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which oversees such developments on the lake. The town has allocated $10,000 from its capital fund to cover the application fee for this expansion. Detailed site drawings and further information about the proposed updates are now available.

In the Town Tribune, the First Selectman published "From the Desk of the First Selectman" on March 3, 2025 concerning recent rumors spreading through the Holiday Point Community regarding the proposed docks.

Last week I wrote quite a bit about the proposal to add 10 to 14 dock slips at the Town Beach Park. That spawned some errant information currently circulating through the Holiday Point community that I’d like to clear up. Apparently someone wrote a letter to the Holiday Point Association that the Town’s proposal to add dock slips in the Town Park would increase the current 53 dock slips to 107 slips.

Understandably, this would be very provocative to people who live on Holiday Point as many live right along the cove where the docks are proposed. The letter appropriately outlined concerns for safety and watercraft congestion, but it was wrong concerning the number of slips proposed. As I said previously, the new proposal is applying for 10 to 14 additional dock slips. The total number of slips, if approved, will likely be about 65, possibly 67, but maybe even a couple less than 65 slips. They are all north of the beach swimming area where the dock slips currently are.

The letter’s error in the number of dock slips is also somewhat understandable too as the plans show dock slips south of the beach. At the suggestion of First Light, and because we will probably never have an opportunity to apply again for an increase in slips, they suggested we take a stab at getting those approved in case we should, way into the future, want to build more. For one, it is unlikely those will be approved, and, two, even if they are approved, we are not building them in the current plan.

I should add that building any slips requires approval at a Town Meeting. On that note, if we indeed receive approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the currently proposed project, the Town still needs to go to a Town Meeting (possibly a referendum) for a vote of approval. And prior to that, there will be Town informational forums on the subject. In other words, for those who have expressed concerns and for those who have expressed support, there will be ample opportunity for the public to weigh in on this important issue.

The current proposal shows existing dock slips, but much more densely packed, as well as two additional dock structures to the south of the town beach for a total of 67 slips. The slips are currently awarded on a first come first serve basis and selected at random. The town collects $1200 per year per slip [source] for total possible $80,400 in yearly revenue. Saw Mill Road is the only access road to the beach and boats slips and it would experience an increase in traffic after the docks are enhanced. This is an ongoing point of contention between the town and the neighbors of Saw Mill Rd.

Update Mar 30th 2025: Parks and Rec has indicated boat slip rental fees are increasing by $200 per year, for a total rental cost of $1400 yearly. [source]