STEPS TOWARD AMPHITHEATER PAVILION — On Friday, Naples Board of Selectmen, town staff including Code Enforcement Officer Renee Carter, and Causeway Renovation Committee Members took a site walk of the amphitheater area with Department of Environmental Protection Regional Coordinator for Shoreland Zoning, Mike Morse. (De Busk Photo)

By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — Many members of the community have known for years that an amphitheater located in the Causeway’s greenspace could draw entertainment and crowds to Naples.

But, those amphitheater details had never been etched in stone.

Now, as the earth and granite rock have been placed to create benches and stairs for an outdoor seating area, the Causeway Restoration Committee (CRC) has identified the need for a pavilion-style stage.

However, not granted were the environmental permits necessary for that type of construction that close to the water. After all, the pavilion was not part of the original blueprint.

During a recent Naples Board of Selectmen meeting, CRC Chairman Bob Neault brought forward some solutions that would allow the pavilion to be built.

Also during that Nov. 24 meeting, Neault said a year round pavilion was the best bet — even though a temporary one would not require any permitting by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

On Friday, selectmen, town staff, and CRC members took a site walk of the Causeway area with DEP’s Regional Coordinator for Shoreland Zoning, Mike Morse.

The amphitheater has been built into the earth on the south side of the Bay of Naples Bridge. The amphitheater seating faces south, toward Brandy Pond; and it is located in the roadway space that was formerly Route 302. Therefore, the location for the pavilion is less than 25 feet from the high-water mark.

The solution is a Shoreland Zoning Ordinance amendment that addresses both municipally-owned property and replacing an existing structure, according to Naples Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) Renee Carter.

“Basically not having a structure within 25 feet of a water tributary won’t apply to municipal structures,” Carter said on Tuesday.

This week, Carter drafted the proposed amendment. In order to be adopted, the ordinance amendment will go before the selectmen, and then must be passed by a majority of voters at a Special Town Meeting, she said.

The proposed amendment states that the setbacks for a water tributary shall not apply to a municipally-owned structure within the reclaimed Route 302 and Naples Bridge project,” Carter said.