Many of our neighbors asked about the mid-gate at the Annual Meeting.  This is the pair of gates between 31 and 33 MBD, that are temporarily open as a test. The camera at the mid-gate is still functioning.

The discussion about the mid-gate at the Annual Meeting was only the start of a community dialog on the topic. Nothing has been decided.  The Board is in an information gathering phase.  They are utilizing Patrol, who are actively reviewing traffic in that area and within the entire association.  They are not only eyes within the community, but able to provide data to the Board. 

Recent History of the Mid-gate: Prior to COVID, and during the construction of the new entry and park, the intersection of Monarch Bay Drive and Beach Club Drive was open to enable resident and outside traffic through the community. Despite the large number of construction vehicles and non-resident cars, there were no reports of security problems.

Then, at the outbreak of COVID, when the club parking lot was closed, the board decided to put up the current gate.  It was done primarily to stop guests from the larger side of the community from driving to the beach and parking in the Mall streets.

Since then, several points of view have been expressed:

• There is still the argument that the gate is needed to keep outsiders, who are allowed into the large part of Monarch Bay, from accessing the Mall streets and beach.
• There are others who want visitors to the Mall and beach blocked from driving into the remainder of the community, for security reasons.
• It has been argued that if a gate is important to keep outside cars, returning from the Club, from turning left off Beach Club Drive into one side of the community, why don’t we have a similar gate to keep them from turning right into the Mall? 
• Some believe that there just should not be a barrier dividing the community. It is a nuisance for delivery vendors with stops on both sides and for homeowners in some instances.
• The gate is a costly maintenance problem and an eyesore inappropriate to this community of luxury homes. Some lean towards replacing it with something approximating the front entry.

Unlike in 2020, the Board has every intention to have full community input prior to any decision regarding the gate. The arms, which have been open frequently due to repair needs resulting from equipment failure, being hit or vandalized, now have been intentionally opened as a test. The discussion has only begun and comments are invited. Please send them to Elizabeth Reed at [email protected].