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.