2025 Trial Bluffs Golf Cart Parking Plan
Neighborly Compromise To Be Discussed At Public Meeting May 28
A number of important Lordship Improvement Association (LIA) projects will be discussed at the next quarterly Committees Meeting, May 28, from 7 to 8pm at St. Joseph’s of Stratford Church, 1300 Stratford Road, Stratford.
Open to the public, the Committees Meetings include updates from committee chairs and LIA member discussions on current activities and plans for LIA Lordship beautification, environmental and educational projects.
The full agenda is here: https://www.lordshipct.org/meetings-minutes.
Your opinion counts! There will be a sign-up sheet for LIA members (who have donated a minimum $50 in the past 12 months) who would like to speak. If you are not able to attend the meeting, or would like to comment on any issue privately, please email your comment any time to LordshipIA@gmail.com.
The May 28 agenda includes a discussion about driving and parking golf carts on the Lordship Bluffs, and the LIA Board of Governors’ trial compromise with golf cart owners to allow limited golf cart parking in designated entry points inside the Park Blvd guardrail.
Through a land trust, the LIA manages and maintains the Lordship Bluffs and Russian Beach for the enjoyment of Lordship residents. And as recorded in the background info below, golf cart parking is an issue that the Board and community has grappled with for several years.
Many LIA members request a ban of golf carts from the Bluffs, while golf cart owners desire continued parking on the Bluffs for access to Russian Beach. In addition, the LIA Board’s concerns are erosion from parking at the edge of the Bluffs, potential harm to the Bluffs from vehicular traffic, and the LIA’s insurance policy, which does not cover incidents related to motorized vehicles.
The accompanying diagrams show the locations of the 2025 Trial Bluffs Golf Cart Parking Plan areas. These are: Four (4) spaces each at the foot of Lordship Road and Maple Street, and six (6) spaces each at Victoria Lawn and Margherita Lawn. These spots are located immediately inside the guardrail fence, delineated by rails laid on the ground. There will be no paving or other alteration of these areas.
The Board thanks you for your cooperation and understanding in arranging a neighborly solution to this issue.
LIA Board: Background of 2025 Trial Bluffs Golf Cart Parking Plan
· In the 1970s, a pole rail fence was placed along Park Blvd to prevent motor vehicles from driving on the Bluffs.
· In 2007, the pole fence was upgraded to a rail fence with signs indicating motorized vehicles were not allowed.
· In 2021, golf carts were approved for use on Stratford roads with speed limits of 25mph and less.
· At the 2023 LIA Annual Meeting, members voiced objection to the parking of golf carts on the Bluffs. At that time, it was hoped that the novelty would wear off and golf carts on the Bluffs would not remain an issue.
· Through 2023-24, increased golf cart driving/parking on the Bluffs prompted increased calls, emails and donation card notes calling on the LIA to enforce the motorized vehicle prohibition.
· These comments noted that Long and Short Beach offer 2.5 miles of motorized vehicle accessible beach, while the Bluffs represent only 0.25 miles of conservation area prohibiting motorized vehicle access.
· They also emphasized that the LIA Board of Governors bears liability for a golf cart accident if further action is not taken to prevent motorized vehicle access. A review of our insurance policy confirmed that insurance is for “Land parcel with pedestrian access to beach.” The insurance company requested photos of signs at renewal.
· During the summer of 2024, a “Can Am” vehicle was driven on the Bluffs, leaving deep ruts.
· At the LIA 2024 Annual Meeting, the Board proposed extending the rail fence from the existing ends to the Bluff edge to prevent motorized vehicles from accessing the potentially dangerous area. There was no objection to the proposed plan, and its estimated $5,000 cost.
· Two weeks after the 2024 Annual Meeting, LIA received an anonymous donation of $5000 “for the improvement, maintenance and upkeep of the fence and any other boundary protection established for the Bluffs and/or for any other uses serving to preserve, restore or protect the Bluffs.”
· The LIA Board contracted with M&M Fencing to install extensions of the rail fence to the Bluffs east and west boundaries.
· The permit for extending the fence was denied because the Town of Stratford holds a right of way 50’ inward from Park Blvd.
· The Town’s Traffic Authority Committee heard LIA’s concern regarding motorized vehicles on Bluffs in January 2025 – and no action was taken. However, a May 2025 letter from the Police Department regarding golf cart registration explicitly stated that golf carts are not allowed to be driven on the Bluffs.
· Town officials also suggested that if the LIA wanted more town involvement in this matter, it might be determined by the Town that the existing fence be removed from the right of way.
· At the LIA March 2025 Committees Meeting, golf cart advocates pressed for cart operation on the Bluffs. No attendees other than LIA Board members voiced continued opposition to golf carts on the Bluffs. The Board restated its safety and environmental concerns and asked the cart proponents to caucus and propose a solution that would satisfy them and the Board’s concerns.
· LIA Board members and neighbors worked together to create a 2025 Trial Bluffs Golf Cart Parking Plan, allowing limited golf cart parking in designated entry points inside the Park Blvd guardrail.
· In early May, the proposed parking spaces were laid out and photographed. The insurance company concurred with this plan.