Laser Sailors in Seattle,
The Port of Seattle is in the preliminary planning stages for rennovations to the North End of Shilshole Bay Marina. I've pasted in a somewhat lengthy summary of the process that is underway. The issues that are happening could have a big impact on one design dinghy and keelboat sailing from the North end.
One option under consideration is an expansion and improvement to the small boat sailing facilities. This is an opportunity to get a widened ramp for dollies, more floats, more dry storage, etc. Another option under consideration is the replace all the dinghy floats with yet another couple of rows of the more economically stable 40 foot slips. No sailor wants this option, and we must ensure that the sailors are present at the Feb 24th meeting to put this message across.
Please read the summary and try to attend a public hearing this Thursday Feb 24th at 1900 at the Marina Club. I think this is located on the second floor of the main Shilshole Bay Marina Bldg.
I was asked by the CYC Commodore to ralley as many Laser sailors as possible to attend the hearing to pass the message that small boat sailing is active and well and that it provides an entry point for every resident of the city to sailing. Please pass the word to your buddies who may sail Etchells, Tasars, 14's, 49er's to attend this important meeting.
Mike Johnson,
Seattle Laser Fleet Secretary
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New Plans for Shilshole Marina, EIS Published By Port
After a lengthy delay, the Port of Seattle has finally issued the environmental impact statement for the rebuilding and reconfiguration of Shilshole Bay Marina. Corinthian Yacht Club will be significantly affected by the Port's plans for the Marina, both as the home for our clubhouse and as the home for many of our members' boats. Some proposals could provide substantial benefits to the club. Some of the Port's proposals are potentially very damaging to our interests, particularly for our one design and dinghy sailors. Members are urged to make sure that the Port knows of our concerns as a club, as marina tenants, and as racing and cruising sailors.
Changes to the Marina Docks and Waterways
In the EIS, the Port analyzes three alternative futures for the whole marina, with three variations for the north end. The three main alternatives are:
In their review of the Port's plans, members of the board raised concerns about the narrowing of the main fairway, which could cause significant congestion, particularly at the north end, with conflicts with small boat sailors, fishermen and boats launched from the ramp. Extension of slips into the turning basin could create both unsatisfactory moorage exposed to the south and make maneuvering difficult. Individual members may have specific concerns about changes to the marina. The EIS is available at the club for members to review.
Changes to the North End of the Marina
The three north end alternatives are of critical interest to CYC as a whole and particularly to small boat and one-design sailors, both those using the floats and those using the dry storage areas. Again there are three alternatives:
This plan also provides for the relocation of the CYC clubhouse to the north to be nearer the sailing center. The Clubhouse will have to be relocated to accommodate the rebuilding of the marina, and the Board believes relocation to this area will provide real benefits. As Baird Bardarson has pointed out, this is close to the area where Sunny Vynne always thought the club should be. The CYC board strongly supports this plan, if the needed dry land improvements are included, as did the membership at the 1998 annual meeting.
The Board's general support of the Sailing Center concept is not without some concerns. We are concerned that the EIS does not discuss dry land improvements that are critical to the success of a true sailing center: improved restrooms, showers, and storage. We are also concerned that, although drysailing boat storage expansion is mentioned, it is not fully incorporated in the EIS. We want to make sure that the one-design fleets long-term interests in the floats and the operations of the small boat area is respected. Finally, we want to make sure that dinghy and one-design sailors are not priced out of the marina by dramatic rate increases.
3. Additional berths: This alternative would replace the dinghy and drysailing area with additional docks with 30 and 40' slips. This alternative would effectively end dingy and one-design keelboat sailing on Puget Sound. It may be economically viable for the Port, but it is a disaster for racing on the Sound. The Board urges all CYC members to very strongly reject this alternative.
Please Make Yourself Heard!
Commodore Cindy Gossett and other officers and board members presented CYC's concerns and views at a public hearing on the 24th of February, in conjunction with and supported by representatives of the I-14's (who built and own two of the floats) and other one design fleets. The board hopes that all CYC members will make their opinions known to the Port by the end of the official comment period. Voices heard now are much more important than voices raised too late.
Comments must be received by the Port of Seattle by 21 March 00. Address your comments to David McCraney, Health, Safety and Environmental Management, Port of Seattle, P.O. Box 19, Seattle, WA 98111. Please let the Port know of your support for small boat sailing and of your concerns about their plans. The sample letter accompanying this article may help you draft your response. Received on Mon Feb 21 22:12:22 2000