Thursday, February 28, 2019

Public Workshop #2 - Concept Presentation: Thursday, February 28

On Thursday, February 28, 2019, PND Engineers, Corvus Design, and McDowell Group held an evening workshop where they presented concepts for the five sites. Each of the sites had between one and four concepts developed for each and were based on input received from Monday's Public Meeting and the two days of the Open Studio Session. After the presentation, the public had the opportunity to review the concepts and provide their input through the use of sticky notes and discussions with the planning team. Approximately 30 members of the public participated.

Click the link below to access the presentation. Images of the public meeting and the concepts provided are shown below.

Click link to access the presentation


















The concepts presented to the community are pictured below with a brief description of each:

Small Boat Harbor:

Concept A: Includes the following:
  • Extension of uplands (bulkhead) and development of a park strip along the whole length of harbor
  • Improved and expanded boat launch with trailer parking
  • Two dry stack buildings and launch with queuing float
  • Realignment of Kobuk Drive near boat launch
  • Public parking north of Kobuk Drive

Concept B: Includes the following:
  • Extension of uplands (bulkhead) and development of a park strip along the whole length of harbor
  • Improved and expanded boat launch with trailer parking
  • Expansion of commercial district along North Harbor Drive to the east
  • Realignment of Kobuk Drive 
  • Public parking located behind expanded commercial district

Concept C: Includes the following:
  • Extension of uplands (bulkhead) and development of a park strip along the west portion of the harbor
  • Improved and expanded boat launch with trailer parking
  • Boat storage, maintenance and travel lift
  • Realignment of Kobuk Drive


Sea Otter Park:

Concept A: Includes the following:
  • Addition of fill to create an additional 11 acres of developable land
  • 15 acres for marine service yard
  • 3 acres for fish processing expansion
  • 750 linear foot of pile supported dock
  • Relocation of SBS dock to the south
  • Boat haul-out and wave barrier
  • Fishing pier and trail along waterfront to downtown

Concept B: Includes the following:
  • Addition of fill to create an additional 12 acres of developable land
  • 15 acres for marine service yard
  • 4.5 acres for fish processing expansion or new facility
  • 900 linear foot of bulkhead dock
  • Relocation of SBS dock to the south
  • Boat haul-out and wave barrier
  • Fishing park with pier, shelter, trail and parking

Concept C: Includes the following:
  • No fill, haul-out or fishing access
  • 7 acres for fish processing
  • 600 linear foot of pile supported dock
  • Relocation of SBS dock to the south
  • Processor's employees park

Concept D: Includes the following:
  • Addition of fill to create an additional 10 acres of developable land (plus another 2.5 acres for future fill)
  • 10 acres for marine service yard
  • 5 acres for fish processing 
  • 600 linear foot of pile supported dock
  • Relocation of SBS dock to the south
  • Boat haul-out and wave barrier
  • Fishing pier, parking, park and trail with access along South Harbor Road
New Boat Harbor:

Concept A: Includes the following:
  • Maintains Hotel Hill (rock)
  • Dry stack facility for 190 boats
  • Dry stack launch and queueing float
  • Waterfront park with shelter and kayak launch
  • Boardwalk trail linking to downtown and around harbor
  • Breakwater fishing trail

Concept B: Includes the following:
  • Removes Hotel Hill (rock)
  • Realigns South Harbor Drive through New Boat Harbor site
  • Dry stack facility for 180 boats and bulkhead along Old Harbor
  • Dry stack launch and queueing float (on Old Harbor side)
  • Consolidate harbormaster facility
  • Harbor related commercial development (lease)

Concept C: Includes the following:
  • Removes Hotel Hill (rock)
  • Dry stack facility for 360 boats (two phases)
  • Dry stack launch and queueing float
  • Harbor related commercial development (lease)

Old Town:


Concept A: Includes the following:
  • Old Town historical park with trails and interpretation.
  • Parking and small recreation facility near Richardson Highway as gateway to historical park
  • Boat launch with seasonal boat storage (buffered from adjacent uses)
  • Salmon fishing pond (relocated to north) with parking and trail systems
  • Waterfront trail
  • Note: Until geotechnical investigation can verify stability of this area, development is limited to recreation day-use activities and temporary storage.
Valdez Container Terminal:


Concept A: Includes the following:
  • Dredge basin to -20 MLLW with bulkhead and breasting dolphins for barge
  • Fill for expanded uplands 100' to the west of existing storage/use area
  • Expansion of concrete pontoons by 400 feet to the west of existing with additional breasting dolphins
  • Addition of  crane rails to concrete pontoons
  • Relocation of scale house and extending length of scales
  • Refurbishment of transfer bridges and existing pontoon to extend service life 25 year
  • Refurbishment of causeway to extend service life by 25 years
  • Development of right-of-way between Mineral Creek Loop Road and Richardson Highway to improve access
  • Truck layover at Mineral Creek Loop Road

Public Input - Sticky Note Exercise 

The exercise following the public presentation gave the opportunity for attendees of the public meeting the chance to walk around and review each of the concepts with a member of the project team. Any comments or concerns were added to the concepts through the use of sticky notes. For the most part, those in blue represent elements that were desired or liked, while those in pink represent elements that were not as well liked or supported by the participants of the public workshop.

Small Boat Harbor:






Sea Otter Park:






New Harbor Uplands:





Old Town:




Valdez Container Terminal:




The information above summarizes public input received. If we overlooked or did not accurately portray your input please reach out to vcwmp@pndengineers.com.

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Tuesday and Wednesday Public Open House Sessions

On Tuesday, February 26, 2019 and Wednesday, February 27, 2019, the planning, engineering, and economics team hosted a two-day open house that allowed the public to come in and provide input on the five sites as part of the Valdez Waterfront Comprehensive Master Plan. The intent of the two-day open house was to gain more information from the public about the waterfront and the five sites. In addition to providing background information, the public was asked to provide their input on a 5 year and 30 year vision for Valdez's waterfront. The public was also asked to contribute to the SWOT analysis for each site. A summary can be found below.








Open House Summary

The following summaries include input received during the two-day Open House.

5 Year Vision:

Complete the following statement: "In Five (5) years the Valdez waterfront will...."
  • Have a Geoduck clam farm
  • Have an appropriate space/city for cruise ships
  • Focal point of the town
  • Even more food trucks
  • Have 10x the public access and a few more businesses
  • Be connected
  • Seaweed farming
  • King salmon run
  • New harbor/port office in central location – or at least ADA accessibility to existing building
  • Start of a marine industrial park with large vessel haul out
  • Another seafood processor
  • More parks and rec
  • Commercial dock space
  • Create  more private business opportunities
  • Fastest growing segment of Valdez
  • Will be seen as an economic contributor to Valdez
  • Boat launch out of town
  • Provide better flow of traffic for launches, more waterfront access for visitors, more boat storage
  • Generate more revenue
  • Have year-round fisheries
  • Will have marine industrial park
  • Marine RR (railway)
  • Ship docking port
  • Walkable, filled with small businesses, connected
  • Be known for its great restaurants! Valdez should be synonymous with great restaurants
  • 3 level parking structure to minimize parking spots
  • Businesses along boardwalk of old harbor
  • Waterfront development at Mineral Creek and Robe Lake
  • Build larger lift
  • Increase cruise landings
  • More seafood plants
  • Retail seafood port

30 Year Vision:

Complete the following statement: "In Thirty (30) years the Valdez waterfront will...." 
  • We should be the shipping hub for the Far East by ship
  • 5 harbor basins
  • Still have cruise ships and wildlife
  • Replacing A-G (m) docks
  • A bridge between dock point and the old harbor
  • 3rd basin
  • Hold market share of international exports (imports?) (any amount)
  • Have largest haul out and boat repair business in south central Alaska
  • Bustling retail including restaurants and boardwalks
  • Waterfront will be #1 economy in Valdez
  • Have small boat 3rd basin, permitted and funded
  • Expanded harbor, center of town, strong marine services, large CCID storage
  • Provide support/sustain our city more than or as much as the oil
  • Have a tram from water front to mineral creek hill (20 years)
  • Market share of marine port activity in PWS
  • Be connected, walkable, with natural shoreline (protected and accessible)
  • Have a 3rd harbor
  • 3rd basin, more opportunities for local business, more availability for parking
  • Still have free parking

SWOT Input

Small Boat Harbor

Strengths
  • Views
Weaknesses
  • Fiber in Kobuk Road
  • Flush harbor
  • Icing
Opportunities
  • Valdez famous for good food
  • More land/parcels available for shops/restaurants
Threats
  • Motor homes and parking and blocking views
Programming
  • Outdoor free wifi
  • Kayak launch and storage on waterfront
  • One lane walking waterfront
  • One lane with way traffic
  • Ice machine
  • Pringle/cover by top of dock ramp
  • North harbor one-way road (right side road)
  • Unblock road by launch ramp
  • Public restrooms
  • Walkways/trails over duck flats
  • Develop 1-2 charter rows in harbor
  • No dry stack
  • Add kayak launch on north side of dock point
  • Need to keep boat storage until new site is developed

Sea Otter Park

Strengths
  • Water upgraded 10"-8"
Weaknesses
  • Verify electric cap for new processor
  • Poor soils
Opportunities
  • New blast freeze plant/processor
  • Existing operator with existing fleet
  • Move SBS dock from harbor to south with fill
Programming
  • Maintain public access along waterfront - no matter the use
  • Lease Peter Pan lot to water
  • Park space here please
  • Need wave barrier to west to protect offloading
  • Find new site for shore fishing
  • Pile supported buildings
  • Commercial fisheries site
  • Travel lift 200+
  • Add accessible fishing float at harbor entry
  • Seasonal employment park/rec area
  • Rest/turnaround point for walkers/bikers

New Boat Harbor

Opportunities
  • Congestion at fuel docks in old harbor
Programming
  • Need fuel dock
  • Add launch ramp
  • Viewpoint/trail on top of hill
  • Kayak launch and storage

Old Town

Strengths
  • Beautiful views
  • Bear views
Opportunities
  • Trails, recreation opportunities, tourist walks
  • Better fishing pond… water issues
  • Promote kings for early season visits
  • Old town interpretive and recreation facilities and trails
  • Historic signage
  • Loop road property likely for sale
  • Create a ‘fishing hole’ similar to Homer
Threats
  • Wind
  • Dredging needs
  • Soils/hazards
  • Liability 
Programming
  • Connection to Bike Path
  • Historic district and on registry
  • Move fuel dock and tank farm from downtown 
  • Expand what’s there a bit (Develop recreation and history)
  • Coordination with pioneers of Alaska for usage
  • Picnic facilities
  • Need kayak launch
  • Add dry stack and service to north (big state area)
  • Marine railway with 3-4 spurs
  • Add king hatchery at creek
  • King pond rehab
  • Canal back to highway
  • Kayak launch
  • Interpretive trail and signs of old town
  • Lupines in old town 
  • Old Town historical park
  • Boat storage parcels near highway

Valdez Container Terminal

Strengths
  • Grain silo - 40k income
Weaknesses
  • Fix water lines
Opportunities
  • Remove silos or add a mural to them
  • Climbing facility at silos
Programming
  • Remove silos - explode on fourth of July?







The information above summarizes public input received. If we overlooked or did not accurately portray your input please reach out to vcwmp@pndengineers.com.