Coral Bay boaters fight eviction

The Planning and Natural Resources Department has told owners of about four dozen boats in Johnson Bay they must move out. The government says the Bay is not a legitimate mooring area, despite its being used as such for more than 10 years. Some boaters say they, in fact, do have mooring permits issued by DPNR. “How you can have a mistake going on for 10 years is amazing,” said Morgan MacDonald, a naval architect who has moored his boat in Johnson Bay for almost two years. The department expects to set a final date for boaters to leave after one more meeting with owners of the crafts, set for Monday, Sept. 20, in the Emmaus Moravian Church fellowship hall. MacDonald has headed up boaters’ efforts to form the Coral Bay Association for Marine Planning but says, “DPNR has refused to engage in any discussion with the boaters.”