Final Master Plan Document

The final master plan was unanimously adopted by the Ports and Harbor Commission on January 20, 2020 without comment or edits. The plan now goes to the Valdez City Council on February 4, 2020 for final adoption. A pdf copy of the final plan can be downloaded by clicking the link below.

Final Valdez Waterfront Master Plan

Draft Final Master Plan

The draft final master plan will go before the Ports and Harbor Commission and receive final review by City of Valdez staff. Once final edits have been compiled, the plan will go to the Commission and City Council for adoption. A pdf version of the draft final plan can be downloaded by clicking the link below.

Draft Final Waterfront Master Plan

Draft Preferred Concept Development Plan

Below is a link to the pdf version of the Draft Preferred Concept Development document (Volume II) that was presented at the September 23rd public meeting and the September 24th Joint City Council and Port and Harbors Commission work session. This document includes the draft final plans for each of the five sites. Each plan is supported by enlargements, narratives, conceptual construction estimate, review of economic opportunities, and maintenance needs.

Click this link to download a pdf of the Draft Conceptual Master Plan

Based on input received at the September public meeting and joint work session, this document will be finalized and presented in November.

Public Meeting: September 23rd at 6:00 pm

The planning and design team will be hosting the last public meeting for the project on Monday, September 23rd at 6:00 pm at the Valdez Civic and Convention Center.

The public meeting will present the refined preferred master plans for the five sites, cost estimates for each, and an overview of the economic feasibility for the proposed improvements. Come see the culmination of your hard work and input we have received since the beginning of the year. As always, we welcome your comments on the master plans, implementation, and estimates.

We will also be making a brief presentation to the City Council and the Ports and Harbors Commission on Tuesday, September 24th at 6:00 pm in the Council Chambers. Space is very limited.

Final Inventory and Concept Development Document and Next Steps

Final Inventory and Concept Development Document

Below is a link to the pdf version of the Final Inventory and Concept Development document. This summarizes all information gathered during the research and inventory phase of work, visioning and programming developed at the public meetings, and the conceptual alternative master plans developed for each of the five sites. Each plan is supported by a conceptual construction estimate.

Click this link to download pdf of the final document

Next Steps.......

During the summer, the waterfront planning team will be using this information along with the draft preferred master plans from our May workshops and refining the preferred plans for each site. This work will include more detailed master plans, revenue generation and cost recovery, cost estimates, and implementation strategies. These will presented to the community in late September during a public meeting in Valdez.

Meeting Summaries: May 20 and 22

May 20 Meeting Summary:

The planning team presented the 13 alternative concepts for the five sites that were supported by conceptual cost estimates for each. The contents of the Inventory and Concept Development document was also presented (the document can be found as a link in the previous posting).

The public provided input on the concepts and a meeting with the project Steering Committee was held to review the public input to date and provide direction to the planning team for the development of the draft preferred plan for each of the sites. The following summarizes direction from the steering committee:

1.      Small Boat Harbor Uplands

1.1.   The Committee selected Concept C as a short-term vision (10 years) trending towards Concept B as a long-term vision.

1.2.   The travel lift and associated marine service facilities should not be removed until a new travel lift has been constructed elsewhere.

1.3.   There is a desire to densify around existing retail before expanding retail into the boat storage and trailer parking area.

2.      New Boat Harbor Uplands

2.1.   The Committee selected Concept A, which retains Hotel Hill in the short term, and Concept C in the long term if justified by economic analysis.

2.2.   Preference for a double-loaded (fully enclosed) dry stack storage. Dry stack should be subject to economic analysis and constructed in a phased manner with marine related retail.

2.3.   Locate day use recreation facilities and fishing/kayak float along north shore of uplands.

2.4.   Nate Duval noted that South Harbor Drive is currently slated to be reconstructed as early as 2020.

3.      Sea Otter Park

3.1.   The Committee selected Concept B, to be implemented in a phased manner. The initial phase should include a portion of the bulkhead dock to the southeast to support fish processing loading/unloading, marine service use, and larger vessels use when Kelsey Dock is occupied.

3.2.   Long-term, this area will support additional fish processing, but in the next thirty years is seen as ideal for a mix of fish processing and marine service yard with larger boat lift.

3.3.   Committee members recognized public comments suggesting a developed fishing area at the harbor entry, but recommended against it for safety reasons.

4.      Old Town

4.1.   The Committee elected to move forward with the current Concept B, which includes a mix of recreational uses west of the historic area and marine services uses east of the historic area.

4.2.   The cost and feasibility of a causeway should be considered in lieu of the proposed inland basin.

4.3.   A geotechnical study is needed to determine the suitability of this area for any type of permanent development.

4.4.   It was recognized that the recreation and interpretive use of the area could occur in the immediate future; however the marine service could be 30 years or longer before implementation.

5.      Valdez Cargo Terminal

5.1.   The committee elected to move forward with the current Concept which describes short term maintenance and longer-term improvements for the terminal with pontoon expansion to the east.

5.2.   No direction was provided for the grain elevators.

May 22 Meeting Summary:

Based on the direction provided by the steering committee, the planning team developed draft preferred master plans for each site on May 21 and 22 and presented them to the public on the evening of the 22nd with conceptual cost estimates. Each draft plan can be found below.

Small Boat Harbor Uplands:

Comments received from public:

• Support diagonal parking layout and the green areas along the waterfront.
• Realignment of Kobuk Drive is priority to improve access to boat launch. Include driveway access from trailer parking
• New gangway to cruise dock, park improvements (with shelter) and enlarged pedestrian area at bus loading is good. Consider moving cruises next to Kelsey Dock and eliminate need for bus loading at Small Boat Harbor.
• Maintain marine service in this location until facilities (travel lift and pier) need to be replaced and relocate to Sea Otter Park for additional capacity.

Sea Otter Park:

Comments received from public:

• Relocate the boat lifts shown to the south side of the Sea Otter fill expansion and add a break water to the west to protect from wave action.
• Coordinate with SERVS to allow public access along waterfront through their site and understand shared needs. Verify they want to remain at this site.

New Boat Harbor Uplands:

Comments received from the public:

• Positive feedback on the fishing float, fuel dock, and plan as a whole.

Old Town (Option B-no changes):

Comments received from the public:

• Provide a hatchery building/facility in stable area once determined by geotechnical study
• Implement the recreation and historic/cultural improvements in the near future
• Positive feedback on the  plan as a whole with understanding that a causeway is preferred if geotechnical study would support the facility's location. Realize that marine service related facilities may be 30 years or more out.

Valdez Container Terminal: (Option A-no changes):

Comments received from the public:

• Positive feedback on the plan as a whole.
• Reposition the float expansion to the east side of the pontoon float.

Other general comments received:

• Need to also look at making improvements adjacent to Kelsey Dock
• Need to consider walkway from Kelsey Dock to the small boat harbor as expansion of the Boardwalk
• Did any rock climbers come and talk about using Hotel Hill as a climbing site? - No.
• Work on additional notification for the next meeting. Consider sending out mailers to the community. 

Inventory and Concept Development Document

Below is a link to the pdf version of the Inventory and Concept Development document that will be presented at the May 20th public meeting. This summarizes all information gathered during the research and inventory phase of work, visioning and programming developed at the public meetings, and the conceptual alternative master plans developed for each of the five sites. Each plan is supported by a conceptual construction estimate. We encourage everyone to preview the document before the meetings and bring any questions you may have. This document provides the necessary information to allow us to move into the development of the preferred master planning for the sites and will be the basis of discussion at the May 20 and 22 public meetings.

Click this link to download pdf of the document