Everyone knows about the public boat ramp at Columbia River Park, but there’s another boat ramp – less well known – that’s also open to the public. Anyone wishing to use it simply needs to follow Union Street past the intersection with Front Street, then across the railroad tracks and towards the river.
The ramp is a bit unkempt but paved well enough to allow a vehicle and trailer access to the river. According to a representative of the borough’s highway department, this lower section of Union Street is public, as is access to the river via the ramp. Potential confusion is created by two PRIVATE PROPERTY signs standing on both sides of the road, several yards past the railroad tracks. The signs, which designate property owners’ private tracts may have been strategically placed to discourage traffic on this block of Union – and to the river.
Columbia Spy has also been informed that, under federal law, access to the shoreline is a public right. In other words, you may walk along it, despite property lines, where physically possible. Rivers are subject to federal navigational servitude, including federal navigational easement, as explained HERE and HERE.
Here’s a view not everyone gets to enjoy. This photo was taken from the boat ramp.
Columbia Spy 
What is the matter with the people in this town making such a issue about those cottages they have been there for years and will be there for many more years to come why don't you all find better things to do and worry about more important things that go on in town and not those cottages those people also have the right to sell who they want to or keep it in the family because you have the right to sell your house to every you want to or give it to a family member
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Thats right!! All others had to be taken down!!
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^ found a cottage owner.
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Safe harbor paid the land tax the owners or renters paid the improvements tax now the owners pay all the taxes
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If your docks are in the water, they are no longer on private property.
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I am sick of hearing about the horrible people at the river. I know cabins sold within the last 15 years. where were you when they were for sale. you could have purchased one yourself. The cabin owners spend a lot of time and money to keep those properties. It's not being entitled it's taking advantage of an opportunity and paying for it not expecting the taxpayers to pay for it. You people expect Colombia taxes to put something down there for you not do anything for yourself.
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What a simple “retraction”after all the chit you started.Congrats!
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Everyone here speaking against cottage owners themselves are a bunch of ignorant, uneducated dipwads that don't know what they're talking about. Those cottages have been in the owner's families for generations upon generations. It doesn't matter where your permanent residence is or anything like that. If you don't like it, blow it out your a**
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Please understand that the families have had to pay safe harbor for years in order to place docks in the water. WE DO NOT OWN THE WATER SAFE HARBOR DOES. if WE are paying to place OUR docks in the water then we should be allowed to tell the public to not use them. Every family has made their dock themselves and Whether its in the water or not it is still a peice of their property
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That 3 story under construction belongs to a close friend of mine. He and his neighbor(who is a carpenter/contractor so dont worry) are renovating that with their own money and supplies. If they own the land and the building then it'd be no different than making a tool shed in your backyard.
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As am I. And I agree with him. We have had the same opportunities as any homeowner in town. Simply because we live in a different location does not mean we have some sort of advantage over anyone. I will agree though that some of the trespassing signs can be confusing
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Hey keyboard lawyers. Just like taxes that everyone else pays the cabin owners pay a yearly fee to LEGALLY have a dock. I wouldn't expect any keyboard warrior to actually know facts before spewing their mindless jealous drivel.
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Actually everyone DID have a chance!!! I know countless places down there that went up for sale and were bought outside of the family. But guess what SO WHAT IF THEY WERE HANDED DOWN!!! Should someone busy your stones for leaving your house to your kids. Gimme gimme gimme…would expect nothing else from entitled residents.
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Hmmmm….you mean that the owners will treat their properties like every other land owner in the town who has kids and actually leave it to them? Gasp…shocking. How dare someone who busted their ass for something nice actually treat it well. Continue on with your entitled jealousy.
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The only time cottage OWNERS say anything is when people feel entitled and use their PRIVATE property as if they worked for and own it which they don't!!
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I'm not responsible for people's reactions.
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No one cares about the cottages, the point is public access to borough streets. Time to reassess riverfront cottages.
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Was there a retraction? I cannot find it. Another example of the old boy network in action, all is fine as long as its kept quiet and no one asks questions.
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How dare you Cole!? Discussing public roads, shame on you. You should know better by now. Columbia's motto is “Don't ask, don't tell.”
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All proper engineering, permits and inspections were applied for, attained and signed off on as a part of due process during this project. Unfortunately, something that can not be said for the majority of renovation and repair projects elsewhere in the borough. At least this person/persons did the correct thing. In addition, I have seen the project and it is a 2 story, not a 3 story as mentioned earlier.
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Just look at what happened over at Lauxmont/High Point if you want to see what Eminent Domain can be used for.
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As far as the cottages being passed down thru generations. Who are you that you think you can dictate who any homeowner can or cannot gift or sell their property to. If Mrs. Jones in the 600 block wants to give their home or sell their home to their children or even a friend no one has any say in that matter.
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Cottage owners have ALWAYS paid taxes both Boro and school, although the landlord Safe Harbor paid the land portion of them because they only leased the improvements. NOW however it's a different day. Everything is legal. The cottage owners own the land and the improvements! The cottage owners pay ALL Boro and school taxes on their cottage PLUS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO PERMIT ALL THE DOCKS YEARLY. Oh and don't forget the MILLION DOLLAR LIABILILTY INSURANCE TOO…the front road-Riverfront Drive IS PRIVATE PROPERTY AND ALWAYS WILL BE. The Cottage owners MUST maintain it-plow it, fill pot holes, etc. NO MONEY COMES FROM THE BORO REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU IDIOTS THINK. Cole, your a piece of work. Why in Gods name would you ever start all this nonsense now??????? Columbia IS making a slight comeback, there are new businesses, we have awesome people who believe in this Boro and who are investing blood sweat tears and MONEY! to improve it. YOU ARE part of the problem. yOU KNEW FULL WELL THAT THIS WOULD BE THE RESULT AND YOU DID IT ANYWAY. Shame on you. You've lost my respect. Be honest. Remember KARMA is a real bitch. Maybe she'll decide she wants your house and property by eminent domain. You people are unbelieveable. Get a job. Purchase a vacation or 2nd home yourself. Do all the HARD labor for 35 or 55 years. Really. THERE WERE PUBLIC MTGS ON ALL THIS YEARS AGO. AND the cottage owners were negotiating with their landlord for about 6 or 7 years to purchase it all. STOP SPREADING LIES AND FALSE INFO. If you don't know the story …..DON'T TELL IT.
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I think the discussion of public property and public roads is fine. It is when the lines get blurred and some can not keep to the topic that is a problem. Discussing why Union St has “No Trespassing” signs is no different than if someone on Chestnut were to post the same signage. As mentioned here numerous times now, the owners of the cottages and the land they sit upon are absolutely no different than owners of homes and the land they sit upon elsewhere in the boro, just a matter of geography. I can't imagine the people posting the negative comments regarding the cottages/owners would be open and receptive to having just anyone walk through their private yard??? I very much doubt that would happen.
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Do you clowns PAY to insure and maintain all this???? NO. You all don't have a clue.
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you know the Boro bought 8 acres from Norfolk Southern couple years ago…for next to nothing…they can put in a “boardwalk” AND little shops. And keep the natural beauty!!!! I too am disappointed in this nonsense.
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Why are these people disproportionately defensive over a question of roadway access? It is public, why not admit that and move on? There is a reason why there is so much defensive feedback. They do not want it public.
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Time to put a end to all this talk and move on to something else there must be something better to talk about it is getting old leave the cottage owners alone it is the season for love and joy not all this mean talk God bless us all.
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Imagine if there were shops where YOUR home is located….Visitors walking and stopping to get coffee and maybe even purchase a Kayak. That would be such a cool draw ain't??? Wouldn't you be selfish too after what you worked hard and paid for? When you work 6 six days a week and have one day to mow your yard ..and you can't mow it all because people think they can park their truck and boat trailer in your yard. Let me come park in your yard and see how you like it!
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I owned a home on Chestnut Street and never had to post a no trespassing sign and no one ever walked through the yard uninvited. Decades of home ownership with no signs.
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In Columbia, it's pay your taxes and shut up. Do not question anything. No respect lost here, I admire your courage taking all the crap about the cottages when it's about the roads. Some cannot read and twist what they are able to read. Just as this prior comment says: Don't tell it! That's what they want, don't tell it. Keep it all quiet.
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The mean talk appears to be coming from those defending the cottage owners. Maybe they need to stop. After all it's not all about them.
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this entire post is absolute nonsense and does absolutely NOTHING to encourage kindness and getting along…nor does it help attract more persons willing to invest in this Boro. You ALL should be ashamed and especially you for posting it, knowing it would indeed cause an uproar. Maybe you WANT the residents to be at odds and stay at odds at all costs.
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I agree with you and have never had to post a sign on my home on Walnut Street either. The difference is location. Most people see and realize the boundaries and property lines of residential establishments throughout town and continue on normally, but when it comes to the river cottages, people seem to think the same rules do not apply there. Just as we both would not want to be liable for someone's misdeeds or accident on our property in town, the cottage owners do not want to be liable for the same reasons on their property. It's just common sense and protection of what is someone's legally owned property, not a territorial or exclusive “club” thing at all. I'm most sure that if you own a vacation home or second property somewhere else, you would feel the same. Maybe I'm wrong and you have a property somewhere else and have no problem with the public picnicking, parking, recreating on your property? If so, I apologize.
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First rule of cottage club….
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To the friend of the 3 story, a shed on my property would not be taxed. If this improvement is taxed, there must be a permit for the work being done!! Learn the local ordinances.
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Its all for who you are, we all know that! Sometimes things have to be said that people don't like!
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The cottage owners did not start the mean talk!!!!!!
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Everything on this topic that needed to be said has been said. Many things that didn't need to be said were said, also. Off-topic comments – full of straw men and red herrings – went far afield to divert and deflect from the main point – that of public access. Commenters frequently submitted irrelevant and illogical arguments, but certain facts have now been established:The first block of Union Street, the boat ramp, the shoreline are public.“Private Property” and “No Trespassing” signs were posted in some of these areas, thereby creating confusion, whether intentionally or inadvertently.Comments on this site for this post are now disabled.
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One drawback to using this ramp is access to parking. Boaters could possibly park along the 100 block of Union, or even along this lower section of road, considering that it's public.
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It is sad to think that about 10,000 residents have to share a very limited number of riverfront feet, while about 35 families control the rest of what would otherwise be available.
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Everyone down there who think they're entitled to own it should be run off. EVERYONE. They can shove their 'no trespassing' signs you-know-where.
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The borough employees should have removed the no trespassing signs on this section of Union Street. I guess it is okay for me to post no trespassing on each end of the street I live on and expect drivers to obey them! The people who own these cottages need to stop thinking this is their private, tax payer funded, resort!
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The cottage owners pay both school & borough tax just likw every other property owner in this town. so b4 u speak check your facts it is not a tax payer funded resort
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The cottages are called private property toy self entitled Jack wagons. It's no different than then moaning and crying because they can't walk through your yard!!! Everyone had equal opportunity to purchase a place down there over the years. If you chose to blow your money on other junk you are NOT entitled to someone else's PRIVATE PROPERTY!!! The owners have to post signs because half the town thinks they're entitled to everyone else's stuff!!! These are private houses just like the houses all the whiners on here have. How about you post your address and let us use your property for our own recreation. Typical section 8 , mooching of other hard workers efforts mentality that's rampant today.
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When are you going to put your sewer pipes in??
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Stop putting chit in the river!!
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And only about a dozen of those 35 have primary residences elsewhere in Columbia. Others are from East Hempfield, West Hempfield, Ephrata, etc.
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I think that person's point is the road is public and repairs and maintenance are funded by all taxpayers, making it public property.
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You best learn the laws, the shoreline IS public property. Not sure of it's 10 feet or more. Maybe the borough should build a river walk all the way from River Park to the Highway shed.
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