The public are invited to attend a meeting to review and provide input on the draft alternative master plans for the five focus areas. The public meeting will be held on April 15, 2019 @ 7:00 pm, at the Valdez Civic & Convention Center, Ballroom C.
April 17, 2019 RE: Valdez Comprehensive Waterfront Master Planning Jim Gifford, resident of Valdez I offer several comments regarding the Waterfront Master Plan, 1) Boat Launch Ramp (drive down). I am concerned in regard to the limited Boat Launch Ramp improvements and additions. I believe that the current boat launch ramp and associated parking for vehicles with trailers is inadequate for demand currently existing. The current boat launch ramp, during the summer season is extensively congested particularly during the weekends. I have had many conversations with other boat owners who use the boat ramps, from these conversation I believe that the current limited boat launch ramps and associated limited parking and congestion of both, has resulted in fewer boat owners coming to Valdez to recreate. Valdez has acquired a bad reputation by this group of boat owners resulting in fewer people visiting our community, which means fewer sales of fuel, meals, lodging, fishing gear and bait, etc. a lost opportunity. I understand that the new boat harbor was designed with an additional drive down boat launch ramp and to that end a large portion of Hotel hill was removed a great cost, purpose specific vehicle/trailer parking areas and roadways have been designed and built in support of the boat launch ramp, and the area for the ramp reserved but not built as of this date. So most of the work and cost associated with an additional drive down ramp has been done and costs expended.
Recommendations, I recommend the City complete the new drive down boat ramp in the new boat harbor as soon as possible. Keep the existing boat ramp in the existing small boat harbor, operating both ramps to accommodate and revile the congestion. Having the second boat ramp in the new harbor allows the existing ramp to be rebuilt and dredged with minimum impact to boating. Also allows continued operation of the boat yard during the near term, until another boat yard is constructed is that plan is adopted. If Dry Staking is found to be a feasible business plan for Valdez, this will take a number of years to plan and execute, let’s not continue with the boat ramp congestion based during this time line. Again, having the second boat ramp will provided economic opportunities for our community, opportunities that will not present themselves by doing nothing for years to come.
2) I reviewing the Comprehensive Waterfront Master Plan, it appears the exiting Harris Sand & Gravel (HS&G) Boat Yard, old town heavy boat yard is not addressed. HS&G has built a number of barges, tugs and rebuilt both tugs and tour boats at this facility. All this activity employs locals in our community, living here, supporting the local economy. The facility provides a haul out and an uplands yard, all heavy duty in nature. More recently the facility has been used for loading of heavy rip-rap rock barge loading, a great addition to our port facilities. I would hope this activity is accommodated in the plan and encouraged to grow. The old town area may be the preferred continued location for this activity.
Jim, Thank you for your comments. Please see the presentation from April 15 posted on the blog and you should find many of your recommendations in the second alternative master plan we developed for the Old Town Site. We are still looking at the boat launch and dry stack but have heard similar from others. We hope you can join us when we are in the community the week of May 20.
April 17, 2019
ReplyDeleteRE: Valdez Comprehensive Waterfront Master Planning
Jim Gifford, resident of Valdez
I offer several comments regarding the Waterfront Master Plan,
1) Boat Launch Ramp (drive down). I am concerned in regard to the limited Boat Launch Ramp improvements and additions. I believe that the current boat launch ramp and associated parking for vehicles with trailers is inadequate for demand currently existing. The current boat launch ramp, during the summer season is extensively congested particularly during the weekends.
I have had many conversations with other boat owners who use the boat ramps, from these conversation I believe that the current limited boat launch ramps and associated limited parking and congestion of both, has resulted in fewer boat owners coming to Valdez to recreate. Valdez has acquired a bad reputation by this group of boat owners resulting in fewer people visiting our community, which means fewer sales of fuel, meals, lodging, fishing gear and bait, etc. a lost opportunity.
I understand that the new boat harbor was designed with an additional drive down boat launch ramp and to that end a large portion of Hotel hill was removed a great cost, purpose specific vehicle/trailer parking areas and roadways have been designed and built in support of the boat launch ramp, and the area for the ramp reserved but not built as of this date. So most of the work and cost associated with an additional drive down ramp has been done and costs expended.
Recommendations,
I recommend the City complete the new drive down boat ramp in the new boat harbor as soon as possible.
Keep the existing boat ramp in the existing small boat harbor, operating both ramps to accommodate and revile the congestion.
Having the second boat ramp in the new harbor allows the existing ramp to be rebuilt and dredged with minimum impact to boating. Also allows continued operation of the boat yard during the near term, until another boat yard is constructed is that plan is adopted.
If Dry Staking is found to be a feasible business plan for Valdez, this will take a number of years to plan and execute, let’s not continue with the boat ramp congestion based during this time line.
Again, having the second boat ramp will provided economic opportunities for our community, opportunities that will not present themselves by doing nothing for years to come.
2) I reviewing the Comprehensive Waterfront Master Plan, it appears the exiting Harris Sand & Gravel (HS&G) Boat Yard, old town heavy boat yard is not addressed. HS&G has built a number of barges, tugs and rebuilt both tugs and tour boats at this facility. All this activity employs locals in our community, living here, supporting the local economy. The facility provides a haul out and an uplands yard, all heavy duty in nature. More recently the facility has been used for loading of heavy rip-rap rock barge loading, a great addition to our port facilities. I would hope this activity is accommodated in the plan and encouraged to grow. The old town area may be the preferred continued location for this activity.
Thank you, Jim Gifford
giffordsalaska@gmail.com
Jim, Thank you for your comments. Please see the presentation from April 15 posted on the blog and you should find many of your recommendations in the second alternative master plan we developed for the Old Town Site. We are still looking at the boat launch and dry stack but have heard similar from others. We hope you can join us when we are in the community the week of May 20.
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