Compilation Waterfront Citizen Comment March 2006

Allison Roberts

Description

# Date Citizen/ Citizen Comments on New Whatcom Waterfront Planning – March 2006 Subject Rec'd Group Last Update Comments are listed in the order in which they were received with most recent usually appearing towards the top of this document. 3/29/2006 To Be Continued as public comment is submitted… Comments #173-219 were received at the Port’s Marina Advisory Committee public meeting on 3/28/2006 3/28/2006 Consider Peter Please consider planning for a sailing center. Recommend designing it for both dinghies and keelboats. Marina should include dry storage 209 sailboats Ambrose area for dinghies and keel sailboats, launching ramp for boats on trailers and 2 small cranes for lifting keelboats up to 4000lbs. Storage (locked) for dingy equipment would be helpful. Feel free to call for comments 303.9084 3/28/2006 Suggests No name Playground with tire swing - wildlife, areas for dogs (off leash), kids spaces, park – possibly an aquarium or museum. Open air space – 208 amenities public bathrooms 3/28/2006 No Park George We Do Not Need More Parks 207 Eastioon 3/28/2006 More Ed Clay Small boat access to waterways “appears” to be very limited. Secure facilities for storage of small rowing and sailing craft appears to be 206 planning for absent. The joy of being on the water is not directly proportional to the cost of your craft. small boats 3/28/2006 Don’t forget Phil As a marine contractor, who doesn’t lease from the Port, I feel that you’ve ...

Informations

• Publié par: Ollu
• Nombre de lectures: 44
• Langue: English

Extrait

# Date  Subject  C G it r i o ze u n p /     Rec'd

Last Update    3/29/2006 209  3/28/2006  s C a o il n b s o i a d t e s r    P A et m e b r r   ose  208 3/28/2006 Suggests No name amenities 2006 No Park George 207 3/28/  Eastioon 206 3/28/2006 More Ed Clay  planning for small boats 3/28/ 205 2006 Don’t forget Phil working Erickson waterfront 204  3/28/2006 C B o o n at c y e a r r n d e   d a   t E M r a ic ry k   son  Colony Wharf isn’t in plans 203 3/28/2006 Slow down No name 3/28 Julianna 202  /2006  o K w ee n p e   r p s u hi b p li   c a    Guy  priority 3/28/2006 Slow th 201 e Patty Bean process, consider other options. tinue to 200  3/28/2006  g C a o t n her input 

Citizen Comments on New Whatcom Waterfront Planning – March 2006

Comments are listed in the order in which they were received with most recent usually appearing towards the top of this document. To Be Continued as public comment is submitted…    Comments #173-219 were received at the Port’s Marina Advisory Committee public meeting on 3/28/2006   Please consider planning for a sailing center. Recommend designing it for both dinghies and keelboats. Marina should include dry storage area for dinghies and keel sailboats, launching ramp for boats on trailers and 2 small cranes for lifting keelboats up to 4000lbs. Storage (locked) for dingy equipment would be helpful. Feel free to call for comments 303.9084 Playground with tire swing - wildlife, areas for dogs (off leash), kids spaces, park – possibly an aquarium or museum.  Open air space –  public bathrooms We Do Not Need More Parks

Small boat access to waterways “appears” tobe very limited. Secure facilities for storage of small rowing and sailing craft appears to be absent. The joy of being on the water is not directly proportional to the cost of your craft.

As a marine contractor, who doesn’t lease from the Port, I feel that you’ve totally neglected to plan for work space on the water. We work on larger vessels (50-100ft) and require dock space as well as shop space.

You have some important information included in your presentation tonight about how the Marina Project can help the local economy and stressing that we want a “working waterfront”, yetat least one ‘notable business’ under water transportation services will cease to exist in all your plans – The Boatyard at Colony Wharf.  I think it’s important to keep this business where it is and I think having it here enhances  the Port. It’s important to have real businesses and authentic waterfront activity and employs many and serves many more.

Please slow down - You are proposing a 100 yr plan. Why make such a dramatic decision in months? I believe serious consideration should be given by the City and Port to retain all ground ownership. Why: 1. For revenue 2. For control of standards I truly believe we need to slow this process down long enough to make sure we are making the best possible plans for all of this community. It is easy to become entrenched so deep that it is impossible to hear other view points. I think that is where we are now. The city and port need to look beyond immediate moorage needs to determine widest scope of use for this beautiful waterfront area. We are making decisions today for future generations and access – meaningful access – will improve and enhanec the lives of this community. A marina, while offering an evocative waterfront feeling and providing parking spaces for boats, does not enhance the lives of the majority of local residences. Please open this process up to alternatives and compromises and we’ll more than likely end up with a waterfront we can be proud of. Whatever becomes of the ASB, two things must be considered: a. public dialogue – This meeting is an excellent start, but more viewpoints need to be addressed - and b. the highest level of cleanup with a consideration for habitat. I’m not convinced that a marina/habitat

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Date Citizen/ Rec'd Subject  G roup

3/28/2006 Shipping Dave terminal Courtis should be used for public

3/28/2006 Environmen Sam Lax t most important 3/28/2006 Pro Blethen James Plan Willson 3/28/2006 Wants a Niki Thane park for the many, not a marina for the few 3/28/2006 No to a No name marina – yes to jobs 3/28/2006 No marina No name 3/28/2006 Wants to see No name a park in the ASB 3/28/2006 Wants to see No name a park in the ASB 3/28/2006 Appreciates No name this dialogue with public

Citizen Comments on New Whatcom Waterfront Planning – March 2006

juxtaposition is best for salmon, seals, etc. I’m not convinced that a marina is the best option for the ASB. Keep up the dialogue. The deep water wharf and shipping terminal are the most attractive parcels in New Whatcom. I am skeptical that it can generate enough business to support itself and justify its continued existence in the future. I would like to see a signature public presence there instead (e.g. Museum, aquarium, etc.). It could be the “crown jewel” of New Whatcom redevelopment. The Port, the City and the community need to have an in depth discussion about the range of potential uses that area and a well thought out decision how to use it. The Port needs to show the public its current and long term business plan for the deep draft wharf and shipping terminal (e.g. number of jobs supported, number of deep draft ships which will use it annually, potential/actual customers, marketing plan, etc.). I don’t think that it is enough for the Port to keep the status quo just on the basis of a hope that someone, someday may want to use the wharf and shipping terminal. If that is the best that the Port can do, it would seem to be a ‘no brainer’ to use the site as the public center of New Whatcom. The port must consider the ramifications of this marina. There cannot be flaws in the environmental integrity of this plan. This property must contain public space and a clean rehabilitate environment to ensure economic vitality for the entire community. Please consider the environment at all costs. I have to say the Blethen Plan seems to best address overall issues.

Very effective propaganda tour, and on the public dollar, I’ll warrant. Port employees were not volunteering tonight. No one is saying the marina won’t “clean up contaminants” “provide jobs” and be an exciting new projetc. We’re only saying – we’d rather own a huge patch of green view instead of 37 acres of expensive, little-used pleasure boats. To please a tiny percentage of citizens who can own these toys we’d have to sell off our inheritance. Please don’t trade off the intrinsic community worth of a ‘world class’ park for the brief desires of a few hundred wealthy patrons. The public owns the land and hires Port officials. Remember this. We don’t need another marina. We need a waterfront for all Whatcom County that uses the land as best as possible to create living wage jobs – not slips for wealthy yacht owners.

This is a joke. The ASB should be filled. Your pathetic attempt to usurp the will of the people will not be tolerated. Shame on you. I don’t think the Port should be considering a marina in the ASB to be the only option. Why not slightly expand Squalicum and also add dry-dock storage for smaller boats ( a preferred method by many). I hate to see Bellingham lose the opportunity for a large park in the ASB that would provide maximum public access for our waterfront and provide maximum revenue in the long term because of the destination desirability. I’m afraid I will have little or no access to the new waterfront area, particularly the lagoon if it becomes a marina. The area that will need to be devoted to paved parking will rob some people space as well. A marina is for boaters, but a park is for the common man (and woman). While I disagree with the Port’s determination to turn the ASB into a marina – I believe the public would be better served by containing all the waterway’s toxins in the structure built for that purpose – I do very much appreciate this effortand willingness to open discussion to the public in a robust way. The results must necessarily be better if more citizens participate.

# Citizen Co atcom Waterfront Planning – March 2006 R D e a c t ' e d     Subject  C G it r i o z u e p n   /  mments on New Wh

190  3/28/2006  f A o S r B pe a r r f i e n c a t    Fay Farkas  i P m er m fe e c n t  s u e  s s e p  o a f c  t e  h c e o  “ m p p o a n r d e . d ”  t    o I   f t   h t e h   i u s  s w e  a A s t N ur D n   e i d n   c i o nt m o  e a  t   h p e a   r c k i , t   y a   s a  s n o d  m p e o   p p u e l o a p ti l o e  n  w w an o t u ,  ld w   h h a a t v   e %  i   f o  i f t     th w e e   r B e  e a ll   i m n a g r h in a a m     w p i o th p   u w la a t l i k o i n n   g w  a o n u d l   d p  u a s r e k     t s h p i a s  ce a m around the marina. Excellent plan. (Think Granville Island if it was all park!) 189  3/28/2006 Good Work!  B Mar w k  n  Keep up the good work!  I’m constantly pleased to see so many agencies working together!  ro 188  3/28/2006  c P o or m t  m m u e n e i t t s y     Jim Gibson  f S o t r o   n o e u r r     a r n e d g   i t o h n e     f o o t r h  g er e s n   e at r   a t t h i e o   n P s o  t r o t    h c a o v m e  e. d    o T n h e  e a     m gr a e ri a n t  a j   o a b n   d o   f  pa w r o k r   k c i o n n g c   e w p i t t s h     a a r   e v   a m st e   e a t r i r n a g y     a o  t f r  c e o m n e s n u d lt o a u n s t   s c  a o n m d  m a u g n e i n t c y i   e a s n  t d o     e c c r o a l f o t  g a i n c   a e l  x n e e m ed p . l   a   r T y h  p a l n a k n s   !  & ecological needs 187  3/28/2006 Mari o n n a a   b is Chris  i D nt o e n r ’ a t  c b ti a o c n k     o d f o  t w he n   .  c   o Y m ou m ’ u re n   i d ty o   i w n i g t  t h h  a e     n o e nl w y     w re a a t s er o f n r a o b n l t e .   thing to restore the estuarial environ to Whatcom Creek, create jobs and promote  reas le Phillips thing to do   186 3/28/2006  f C o a r  n a ’   t n   e w w ai   t K Be a l r l e in n  ger “ C p a a n r ’ k t  ” w  t a o it o   . f   o   r A  a n     n al e m w  os m t  a f r i i v n e a     y a e n a d r     th w e a   i l t o li g s i t  c f a o l  r s  a p   o s t l   ip i   s s   h G o P w ’s s    t L h a e g   o ne o e n. d       f T o h r  e a r n e  o a t r h e e   r s   e m v a e r r i a n l  a p .  a   r K k e s  e b p e   i u n p g  t   h pl e a  g n o n o e d d   .  w  T o h rk o ! s   e     L w ot h s o     o h f  a u v s e     q b u o i a e t t s  t   y de p s e e s r   ve a  Marina support your efforts. 3 name Good factual and logical information – notpropaganda. Fo 185  /28/2006  w G i o  h a  t h h e e a   d Norge ahead with the marina.  t Marina 184  3/28/2006 Mar j ina   ,  o a v n e d George Good job.  Some of us understand and appreciate your work.  Favorite features:  pro ect r Farkas 1.   Marina in the ASB location all 2.   Public walkway on the breakwater around the outside of the marina 3.   Mixed use nature of the project overall.  Moorage Bob Plumb It’s important to add the additional moorage, because it will pay for itself and more important it adds jobs to Bellingham. Also, some space 183 3/28/2006  creates jobs. should be considered for an RV park. Create RV park. 182 3/28/2006 There’s Sandy There is enough space to meet everyone’s needs as I see it: Marinas and General Access Parks. We need jobs a marina can generate. enough Brock Get’er done! space 4 all 181  3/28/2006  l L o i o k k e   s a   t t   o b   oats  No name  l I  o l t i   k a e n   d t   h t e h   e m  i a d r e i a n   a o   f p   l a a   n w .  a   l E k v w e a n  y t   h ar o o u u g n h  d I   ’ th m e     n n o e t  w n   o m w a   r n in o a r   i n s e  g v r e e r  a h t. a    v I e     d b o e n e ’t n     t a h   i b n o k a   t  w o e  w n n e e e r d ,    I a  l n o y v   e m  l o o r o e  k p in ar g k  a s t     o t n h   e th m i ! s       s I i   d w e a   l o k f    t o o n  w t n h   e (   I S  l o iv ut e h  a   b B o a v y  e  Trail a  Boulevard Park). Just today, I drove by the Boulevard Brownstones, looked toward the water and thought how neat it would be to look out at the boats if you lived there! 180 3/28/2006 In favor of Tom I’m in favor of the Port’s plan to build the Marina as planned.

# R D e a c t ' e d     Subject  C G it r i o ze up n   / 

Citizen Comments on New Whatcom Waterfront Planning – March 2006

the plan as McGarry is 179 3/28/2006 Marina not No name Support Water’s Edge or Blethen Plan – We need another marina not umpteen acres of grass. Marina will add salmon habitat, park will grass not. 178  3/28/2006 L m o a v i es t  i h d e e   a  Susan Dean Love the idea of a marina in the GP pond – perfect location.  Please make it happen soon.   r na 177 3/28/2006 Votes for a No name I vote for the marina! Parks are great but Bellingham is a maritime city with a long heritage of seafaring. We desperately need more Marina. moorage and what better spot than the lagoon? We are spending millions on clean-up and development; there has to be a return on Minimize investment somewhere in this project and a high percentage of parks and green space will not pay the bills! Our taxes are going to increase public tax big time with the passage of school levies and soon we need to replace the library, and the downtown culture center are going to result in burden unprecedented taxes in Whatcom County. Let’s not add to the burden by creating too much public space on the waterfront. 176  3/28/2006 L m i a k r e i s  a t   he D C a o v ur e t   is  I e  l n i v k i e r   o t n he m  t e w nt o a   l p l r y o  f p r o ie s n al d s l   y f   o a r s  t p h e e c   t m s  a a r r i e n   a m  t u h c a h t    w m e o r r e e     d a e tt v r e a l c o ti p v e e d     t b h y a   n t   h t e h   e c  s h t a e r r e i t l t e e     s o tr n a   i 3 g / h 2 t 6  l .  i   n T e h  s e h  c a u p r e v  o e f d     t s h h e  a A pe S ,  B t   h a e s     w it i   d n e o r w     w e a x l i k st w s a .  y   , P  t u h b e l   ic access to n designs the marina breakwater is a necessity. Use imagination and create a marina area that both boaters and the general public can use and enjoy. from the charette 175 3/28/2006 Use land to No name We need to use the land to create family wage jobs. Expand/enhance the deep water shipping facility. We need to use the port for the good  create of the tax payers of Whatcom County. family wage jobs Pond) 174  3/28/2006  c M o a n n c y er   ns S M e r v .  e R r . s   o H n .     2 1 . .     K W e W ep S  m U  a a ri n n d a     S ( c G h P ool water access (Teaching)  relating to 3.   Connect museum and part to waterfront water access 4.   North Bellingham to Chuckanut walk trail near water 5.   Deep water docks (Most important- shipping, cruise ships, etc.) 6.   Fishing dock for people 173 3/28/2006 Build the Rod Dean Build it ASAP. Using the lagoon as a park makes no sense. We need to utilize the structure. marina ASAP 172 3/28/2006 Marina Tom Olsen This marina is a project worth doing. The economics look feasible and the esthetics will complement the overall site concept. I don’t own  sounds like a boat, but I still like looking at them! a good thing 171 3/29/2006 Moorage Sears Taylor As a non boater who appreciates the fact that boating moorage draws more people down town and would actually generate positive CASH  draws more flow to the port, PLEASE keep the pond a boat moorage. We have enough park land. We have only LIMITED spaces to dock boats.