 By William Tatsuda August 05, 2005
The current North side design is an incomplete rush job, which ignores the work and advice of our professional consultants. Fewer ships will be able to tie up (4 as compared to 5 with the Thomas basin design). Floating docks are inferior to fixed piers. Pedestrian access to the docks will be difficult. Ships will block waterfront views all the way out to the Lutheran Church. Expect gridlock all the way out to the Plaza Mall. The Thomas Basin T-Pier design
was the one recommended by the harbor consultants, because it
costs less, provides more total dock space, and will not screw
up through town traffic. The only serious objection to
the Thomas Basin design was from the Trident cannery manager.
No reasons were given for the objection, except unsubstantiated
concerns about Homeland Security and the inconvenience of having
to anchor their boats further away from the cannery. There
is plenty of space between the cannery and the proposed T-Pier
for boats to get to the cannery dock to unload fish. As
far as Homeland Security is concerned, the current design puts
City Float inside of the new floating docks. If Homeland Security
were to be a problem for the cannery, it would be an even bigger
problem for City Float users if the North side docks are built.
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