5.4
Vineyard Point to Tuttles Point
Existing Resources
This region extends from Vineyard Point to Tuttles Point. The region includes the
Indian Cove, Mulberry Point, and Tuttles Point Associations. Named places
include Indian Cove, Long Cove, Mulberry Point, and Tuttles Point.
Coastal resources include all of those
recognized by the State of Connecticut,
although some are quite limited in
extent. A small municipal beach is
located at the head of Indian Cove. This
is the only substantial beach in the
region, as developed and rocky
shorefronts are dominant. Long Cove is
the primary estuarine embayment of the
region, and it supports an extensive tidal
marsh inland as far as Route 146. A
small tidal wetland system is also
located between Tuttles Point and
Mulberry Point, traversed by Tuttle
Road.
Picnic area
Coastal Issues in the 21st Century
Tear-downs, coastal hazards, and public access concerns are the primary issues
facing this region:
Tear-downs have impacted the character
of the neighborhoods in the three
associations, as lots are relatively small
and homes are close together.
Coastal hazards are an important concern
for the residents of this region, as portions
of Route 146 to the west and east are
below the elevation of the 100-year flood.
With Sachems Head Road and Mulberry
Point Road providing the only means of
evacuation, residents would encounter
impassable portions of Route 146 upon
turning east or west. Indian Cove Road
and Tuttles Point Road at Indian Cove
Recent residential project
Existing seawalls and other structures
Beach at Indian Cove
would also be impassable under flooding conditions. While structures on
rocky shorefronts may be relatively safe from sea level rise, the access to and
from these structures will be increasingly vulnerable to flooding. An
additional concern in this area, where seawalls and bulkheads are abundant, is
the need to keep these structures in good condition even as permitting can be
arduous.
Only two small areas of public access are available in the region, at the head
of Indian Cove and at Mulberry Point. Suggestions were received from the
public regarding parking, boat launching, and jet ski usage and trailer access
at the Indian Cove beach Recommendations included improving parking at
the beach, discouraging the use of boat launch access, preventing jet skis, and
preventing trailers from having access at the site.
The end of Mulberry Point Road is publicly-owned. However, a suggestion
was given to discourage the use of public access at the end of Mulberry Point
Road. Given that the road is public, discouraging or limiting access could be
unlawful. As a result, the Town must seek to work with the residents of the
Mulberry Point neighborhood in order to meet at a common ground. As with
the easement in the Vineyard Point area, access is clearly very limited and its
availability needs to be defined.
Recommendations
Four specific recommendations are proposed for this region:
Maintain existing hard structures in good condition, including the seawalls at
Indian Cove.
Elevate key roadways to keep up with increasing coastal flood depths and sea
level rise. Evacuation routes should be prioritized, and Route 146 should be
the highest priority of the evacuation routes. Potential inundation areas at the
West River, Long Cove, and Leete's Island must be elevated to maintain
Route 146 as a viable evacuation route. In addition, Daniel Avenue, Indian
Cove Road, and Tuttles Point Road should be improved as needed to ensure
that Indian Cove residents can evacuate via Mulberry Point when access to
Vineyard Point Road is flooded.
For improved access at Indian Cove Beach, develop a few formal parking
spaces, incorporate signage and design elements to then limit parking to the
spaces, limit the size of boats that can access the cove to those that arrive on
car tops, and prohibit access of boats on trailers.
The Town should ensure that the
narrow public easement at the
end of Mulberry Point Road
remains set aside for future
consideration as shoreline access,
rather than succumbing to
development or restriction by
adjoining residents.
The end of Mulberry Point Road
Additional recommendations that are applicable to mitigating the impact of teardowns are applicable to many coastal neighborhoods in Guilford, and would be
applicable in this region.
Proposed Land Use and Zone Changes
Changes in land use and the zoning map are not
proposed. Current zoning is adequate for future
development.
Construction in the Tuttles Point