Fiber Optic Link and Lime Out 2 Approved

Land and water use officials approved a 14-mile stretch of fiber-optic line into Magens Bay Wednesday night, a tiny offshoot in the 2,730-mile telecommunications cable that is planned to link Vero Beach, Florida, to Butler Bay, St. Croix.

The Department of Planning and Natural Resources’ Coastal Zone Management Division approved the connection after assurances that the line would not damage undersea life or its habitat. The cable will enter a shoreline manhole and connect to an AT&T of the Virgin Islands distribution building through an existing conduit. The marathon CZM meeting that lasted late into the night also saw approval of a second Lime Out floating restaurant — this one in St. Thomas’ Lindbergh Bay.

Like its Coral Bay predecessor, Lime Out II will offer to-go food and drinks for boaters moored in the area. Owners Richard Baranowski and Dane Tarr assured CZM officials the 53-foot long, 20-foot wide vessel would not have any means of propulsion and would not cook any food on-site using gasoline or any hydrocarbons. All meals would be prepared elsewhere and be served in biodegradable containers.