Berkeley Marina WSP Meeting

[windsrf]

The City of Berkeley is planning an Open House this Saturday, Sept 23rd, to showcase their draft “Waterfront Specific Plan (WSP)” - from 11 AM till 1 PM. It will take place at the Shorebird Park facility in the Marina, located roughly between Cal Sailing Club and His Lordships. [Caution - parking may be tricky as this day is also the shoreline cleanup day.]

https://berkeleyca.gov/community-recreation/events/waterfront-specific-plan-open-house

The WSP (pdf link copied further below) is the next step in an attempt to convert the Marina Park into a commercial Disneyland, sacrificing Berkeley's jewel of a waterfront park. All this to try and make up for decades of Marina mismanagement and diversion of Marina-generated funds to the City’s General Fund for non-park uses. Ironically, the WSP portrays installing a ferry terminal as the only feasible way to save the Marina and our iconic pier, while costing Berkeley residents far more than simple pier replacement.

Several of us have been active for well over a decade trying to convince the City and the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) that the Marina's shoreline is NOT an appropriate site for a high-capacity-ferry commuter terminal (ala Larkspur).

We are concerned that doing so will prove to be a triple disaster - Economically, Environmentally, and Recreationally.

https://www.saveberkeleypier.org/general-6

We plan to have an information table at this event documenting why the WSP proposals are misleading and NOT in the best interests of Berkeley Marina users (both local and regional).

I’ve also copied Jim McGrath’s September 18th rebuttal to the WSP in his letter to the Berkeley City Council. It documents the actual costs involved, as well as parking impacts and regulatory concerns.

NOTE: left off this post due to length

Please join us this Saturday and express your own concerns directly to City Staff.

Sincerely, David

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https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/WSP PUBLIC DRAFT 2023-09-11 v2.pdf

[radross]

Dave - Thanks for your continued hard work. MAC's letter is long but very strong.

Maybe someone here who has cross-fertilized with the Winging Community (Kevin?) can get this message out to the wingers on the book of face or whatever it is called.

[radross]

Bumping up to top.

[vesperbecker]

It would be greatly appreciated if someone with experience in the Winging Community could relay this message to the wingers on the book of face, or whatever it's called. Perhaps Kevin could be that person. gorilla tag