Second Marina Charette Moves Vision Forward

Mayor Chris Cerino conducted the second Chestertown Marina charette on Wednesday, August 27 at the marina site.

The Powerpoint presentation, based on public input from the first charette, and in consideration of the current conditions of the waterfront site, addressed ten major points.

Existing issues identified on the water-side were: docks/bulkhead replacement,  slips needing silt removal, address the major flooding issues, and a need for kayak and canoe rental and storage.

On the land-side, issues identified were: the need to preserve the boat ramp, improve parking, enhance pedestrian flow, create green space, eliminate the predominance of boat storage on the property and remove the boat shed.

Proposed changes to the dock area would include: a reduction of piers from four to three,  along with a 70’ extension of each; two floating piers, one fixed; expansion from 54 slips to 70; all slips dredged to 6 ft.; create approximately 14 slips in 14’-18’ water.

To deal with the constant flooding of the docks, bulkheads and other areas of the site, the current proposal also suggests that the grade throughout the site should be raised to the Cannon Street pier level. To accomplish this, a partnership between the town and Fish Whistle Restaurant would have to be negotiated. The Fish Whistle owns the property it occupies, surrounded by the town owned Chestertown Marina on three sides.

Pedestrian flow was also addressed by proposing connectivity between existing paths and walkways. For example, the walkway from the High Street pier to the Fish Whistle Parking lot could be extended to connect the bulkhead walkway around the Fish Whistle, and across Scott’s Point to Wilmer Park. Other ideas include connecting the Wilmer Park side of Cross Street extended to the current Rail Trail.

The current proposal also calls for the removal of the large boat shed, relocating the marina store, slightly adjusting the boat ramp location for more marine maneuverability, adding a pocket park with a public art area on the Water Street side, and adding a well-defined boat trailer parking area.

Following the presentation a spirited Q and A session offered some counter proposals.  Additional considerations ranged from offering a commercial-residential component—shops and apartments—to considering transportation from the marina complex to town.

Chestertown resident Matt Tobriner made a case for eliminating much of the proposed parking area and offering it on a lease basis to contractors willing to invest in the property. He said that the marina site should be more of a year-around attraction rather than seasonal and that to redesign it more as a “park” would help achieve that goal.

“Keep in mind, that we’re adding 16 slips and we can’t just add a ton of slips and shrink the parking area at the same time,” Cerino said.

“I would just like to say that we should stick to the “marina” idea—we already have a waterfront park,” Councilman Marty Stetson added.

Andy McCown, Director at Echo Hill Outdoor School, cited the school’s decades-long relationship to the marina and aired a concern over where the historic and educational boats would be docked. He also noted that strategies for dealing with large modern boats would be needed so that the “historic” ambiance of the dock (where Sultana and other historic boats are now docked) would not be impacted.

Terms of the current $2 million 20-year municipal bond mandating “public use” of the marina site could, however, impact many of the suggestions made about private investment, or changes in the overall use of the property. Grants sought to underwrite the redesign would also have their own requirements. The current proposal is considered to be “grant worthy.”

In the following two videos, each approximately twelve minutes long, Mayor Cerino explains each facet of the current proposal.

The Powerpoint slideshow is also linked below.

Part 1

 

Part 2

 

Powerpoint pdf.

Chestertown Marina, 2nd Charette, Small PDF File