Wrangell Waterfront Master Plan Adopted

On Tuesday, May 26, 2015, the Wrangell Borough Assembly adopted the final Wrangell Waterfront Master Plan with an unanimous vote. A copy of the final report can be found here. Below is phase IV of the adopted master plan. A copy of all four phases of the master plan can be found here. This document will now be the basis for future funding and development of Wrangell’s downtown waterfront. Corvus Design and the rest of the team would like to thank the community for their outstanding passion and commitment in the development of your waterfront master plan.

The Preferred Plan

The Preferred Wrangell Waterfront Master Plan is a four phased approach to enhancing the Wrangell downtown waterfront area for several key user groups, including the Marine Service Center, the Nolan Center, the visitors industry, local businesses, and Wrangell residents. The plan includes actions that can occur immediately to incorporating aspects of a much longer-term vision.

• Phase I - Immediate-term: Expansion of the Marine Service Center. Nolan Center open space reconfiguration. ($4.8 million)

• Phase II - Short-term: Development of an elevated Waterfront Heritage Walk. Create access to a natural beach. ($3.7 million)

• Phase III - Mid-term: Construction of a pier and net shed adjacent to the Nolan Center. ($2.8 million)

• Phase IV - Long-term: Creation of Wrangell Gateway Park following freight yard relocation. ($4 million)

This plan was developed through the input of more than 100 Wrangell stakeholders and residents throughout four community workshops, two three day open house events, integrated design charrettes, stakeholder meetings, and intensive public outreach over a three month period. All phases of the Plan will cost an estimated $15.3 million to develop. An analysis of Wrangell’s economic indicators and various elements of the waterfront plan, the development of the facilities into the master plan expected to attract an additional $1.2 to $2.0 million in increased economic activity to Wrangell on an annual basis. 

The preferred master plan maps can be found here.

Presentation of the preferred Waterfront Master Plan

Meeting: Presentation of the preferred Waterfront Master Plan
Date/Time: Tuesday, May 26th 5:30pm - 6:00pm
Location: Borough Assembly Chambers

Chris Mertl of Corvus Design, Inc. will present the final preferred Waterfront Master Plan to the Borough Assembly in the Borough Assembly Chambers on Tuesday, May 26, 2015, at 5:30 p.m. with the approval of the preferred conceptual plan to occur at the Regular Assembly meeting that will follow at 7:00 p.m.

The Wrangell Waterfront 
Preferred Master Plan DRAFT Report can be found here. 

Draft Preferred Master Plan

On Wednesday, February 25, the planning and design team presented a phased master plan that reflected the input and comments heard during the previous public meeting. From the three master plans presented previously, this master plan captures the community's desires and priorities as a phased approach that reflects reasonable expected funding opportunities. We encourage you to review the plans and provide input. The final master plan and report will be made final in early April.

Phase One:

Phase Two:

Phase Three:

Phase Four:

Perspectives:

Meeting Tonight - February 25th 6:30pm-8:30pm

Public Meeting #4: Wednesday, February 25th from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM Nolan Center

Based on your great input from Monday night, the design team is currently developing a new master plan that incorporates all the desired elements from the three master plans. This phased preferred master plan will reflect budgetary concerns, provide economic opportunities and create a vibrant waterfront master plan that celebrates the community’s heritage. Come and see this new master plan and provide input into the formation of the final Wrangell Waterfront Master Plan. We are excited, and think you will be too. However, we can’t finalize the waterfront design without your input. We look forward to seeing you tonight.

Concept Option Updates

February Meetings in Wrangell

Monday, February 23 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM Nolan Center

• Come see how your eight original Waterfront Master Planning designs were narrowed down to three. Provide feedback as we further narrow down and revise to meet the needs and desires of your community.

Wednesday, February 25 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM Nolan Center

• Based on your feedback from Monday night, we will continue to revise and present our updated work to you on Wednesday. Based on your input on Wednesday night, we will narrow to one final Wrangell Waterfront Master Plan.

Looking for project materials to help you prepare for these meetings? See these four documents under the 'Related Documents' heading at the right of this page:

• Project Area Map 
• Project Information Sheet - Wrangell Waterfront Master Plan 
• Wrangell Waterfront Economic Overview (ppt) 
• Conceptual Master Plan Options (eight draft concepts)

Also go to this link for more information: 

Summary of Public Comment from January Waterfront MasterPlan Public Meetings

Please Provide Comments on Master Plans

If you have not yet had a chance to comment on the eight conceptual master plans for Wrangell's waterfront developed earlier this month, we are looking for your comments by this Friday. This will allow the planning and design team to narrow down the selection to three preferred master plans and further refine them based on your input.

All of the master plans can be found below, printed at home by going to the link on the right, or hard copies available at City Hall as well as the Harbor Master’s Office. To comment, leave remarks on this website, or contact members of the design team or City and Borough staff with your input.

Mark your calendars: We will be back in Wrangell to present the three updated options (based on your feedback) during the last week of February with public meetings on Monday, February 23 and Wednesday, February 25 at the Nolan Center.

Waterfront Conceptual Master Plans

Based on public input received at the Monday evening workshop and stakeholder meetings, the planning and design team developed eight conceptual master plans for Wrangell’s waterfront. These master plans ranged from “No Fill” options to “Complete Fill” and also included “Modified Fill” to incorporate the desired priorities and facilities. A total of eight conceptual waterfront master plans were created. Many of these master plans included multiple phasing options to allow the logical and gradual development of the waterfront. During the Wednesday evening public meeting the opportunities and constraints of each was explained and the public was invited to provide comments and select their favorite conceptual master plans. If you were not able to participate in the public meeting, please feel free to leave comments below or to contact members of the design team or City and Borough staff with your input and selection of your preferred master plans.

See below for images of each option. Or download all of them in a pdf document at the right-hand side of this page, under the 'Related Documents' heading.

Option A:

Option B:

Option C: 

Option D: 

Option E: 

Option F: 

Option G: 

Option H: 

Tonight's Meeting

Public meeting tonight to review the master plans the team has been developing the last two days based on your input. We need your input, please attend!

Time and Location: 

Wednesday, January 14. 6:30-8:30 pm  at the Nolan Center

Notes from First Public Meeting

The Wrangell Waterfront Master Planning team was delighted that we had approximately 40 people attend the initial public meeting last night. The purpose of the meeting was to get your input on what you like about your waterfront and the desired elements and activities that you would like to see on the waterfront. We heard a lot of great ideas and constructive feedback regarding what community members would like to see happen (or not happen) with the waterfront.

Summary of Public Comment from Waterfront Master Plan Public Meeting on January 12^th, and CVB and Port Commission Meetings on January 13, 2015

Public Exercise 1: What Do You Most Like About Wrangell's Waterfront

View/Open Space – 24

People like having access to the waterfront, as a place to have lunch, take in the view, watch sea life. They enjoy the aesthetics and the existing green space with benches. People are using and enjoying these areas.

Working Waterfront – 19

Wrangell residents enjoy their identity of having a “working waterfront”. It’s a “working town, not fake”. The Wrangell waterfront is “open for business.” The Marine Service Center combined with seafood, etc.

Accessible/Location – 19

Wrangell’s waterfront is accessible from downtown, and provides easy access between the ocean and the community. Items marked as accessible included cruise ship docks, stores, services, restaurants, hotel, hardware stores, fisheries, visitor services, ferry, boat docks, Nolan Center, & downtown. Everything is within reach.

Diverse – 9

Wrangell’s diversity in waterfront uses is valued by Wrangell’s residents. Wrangell’s waterfront has “a mix of waterfront infrastructure, which includes a working waterfront, green space & public docks.” There is “room for multi-use tourism and marine industries.”

Culture – 5

Wrangell’s waterfront history, museum, petroglyphs, Fort Wrangell, and Chief Shakes Island.

Updates – 1

Work to date on waterfront has been great.

Public Exercise 2: What Do You Least Like About Wrangell's Waterfront

Lack of Open Space/Aesthetics – 16

Many people commented that there is not enough green or public space on the waterfront, and that too much industry on the waterfront is not aesthetically pleasing. Clutter and shabby areas need to be addressed.

Barge Operations/Containers Not Compatible – 14

Residents feels that the freight yard is not the best use of the prime real-estate waterfront area in which it is located. In its current location, there is a mix of activities on the waterfront that don’t work well together. Tour and local traffic competing with barge for space. Dust from the yard in the summer is undesirable. Discussions regarding moving these facilities have been happening for 20 years.

Marine Center Needs Not Being Met/Too Crowded – 11

The Marine Services Center does not have enough room to currently serve its needs, especially in the summer months. There is need for more space.

Lack of Pedestrian Connectivity – 9

Access along the waterfront for pedestrians should be expanded. Wayfinding for visitors needs to be added.

Dog Issues – 4

Dog poop issues detract from enjoyment of existing green space. There is also some concern regarding unleashed dogs.

Need for More Diversity – 4

The waterfront should be more economically and/or culturally diverse. There shouldn’t be too much dependence on a single industry.

Lack of Locations to Grow Commercial Economy (Especially for Visitor Industry) – 4

There are not sufficient waterfront locations to support local marine tourism ventures. Visitor industry connected to the waterfront currently does not have the ability to expand and add businesses and grow jobs. Area is too crowded for new growth.

Weather Issues – 2

Lack of sheltered areas.

Lack of Access – 2

No beach access, ability to swim/fish in water.

Public Exercise: Programming: Based on Public Exercises 1 and 2 and the Economic and Site Analysis-What would be your desired priorities for the site

Open Space/Green Space - 20

Create additional green space, public space, or green belt along waterfront. Retain picnic tables and benches. Clean up existing space

Expand Marine Service Center - 16

Create more space for the existing Marine Service Center.

Move Barge Lines/Change Use - 13

Create more space downtown by moving barges outside of downtown area. Address barge congestion.

Pedestrian Access/Seawalk - 11

Make waterfront more pedestrian friendly with increased public access in the form of a pedestrian walkway/boardwalk. Allow businesses to use. Make signage. Make this bicycle friendly. Interpretation and public art activities could include sea life sculptures and cut outs of fishing boats.

Special Facilities - 8

Two mentions for an aquarium, two for a vocational education center, one for dedicated wooden boat facility, one for enclosed spaces for artists, one for ice skating rink. Local Pier for fishing.

More Storage for Boats, Vessels, Containers - 5

Increase storage for boats (that are not currently being worked on in the Marine Service Center), equipment, containers, and fisheries needs.

Expand Visitor Industry - 7

Create more dock space for visitor excursions, interpretive signage, as well as increased visitor areas on waterfront.

Highlight Local Seafood with Restaurants and Access to Seafood – 5

Despite the seafood economy, there are few opportunities to eat fresh seafood in Wrangell. Wrangell should showcase its world class seafood.

Add New Transient Dock, Summer dock – 5

Increase access to downtown from water. Provide access for summer fisheries, recreation and yacht traffic.

Cultural/Historical - 1

Increased Car Parking – 1

Covered Shelters – 1

Bicycle Rentals – 1

Based on the community input at last night’s meeting we are currently in the process of developing a series of master plans. The planning and design team will be actively developing the master plans and you are all welcome to come down, look over our shoulders and provide input as we develop your plans. We are in the small meeting room in the Nolan Center. Please drop by. These plan will be presented at the public meeting on Wednesday night at 6:30 PM at the Nolan Center. We hope you will come to that meeting and let us know what you think. There will be two additional rounds of public meetings over the coming months to fine tune the Waterfront Master Plan based on your feedback.