Cynthia Trowbridge: Respect our beaches

Regarding the Aug. 27 news article “Emerald Isle lawsuit may define beach access”: The beachfront lawsuit filed by Gregory and Diane Nies defies all logic.

As North Carolina residents since 1975, we consider the public beaches an uncompromising asset of our state. Our Northern relatives visit us yearly at the N.C. shore.

Being familiar with New Jersey beaches, they often remark on the openness and beautiful natural dunes on our N.C. beaches rather than the overcrowding and seawalls in New Jersey. There, sections of beach are privately owned allowing no public access.

Claiming property rights beyond the dune – why? To build a private cabana or hotel that destroys the natural dune and blocks public and emergency vehicle access at high tide?

Let’s keep our beautiful beaches public and continue to encourage sensible beach development and let the Nieses go back to New Jersey.

This story was originally published September 3, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Cynthia Trowbridge: Respect our beaches."