Tacoma Urbanist
Dec. 21, 2007 at 12:22am
Metro Parks Votes 4 - 0 Against Sperry Dock Expansion; Commissioner Mello Introduces Resolution Against
On December 10, 2007, Metro Parks heard a presentation on the proposal to expand the Sperry Dock on the waterfront.
According to the Tacoma Weekly, a number of people tesitified against the proposal:Rick Rose said the ships block views from Jack Hyde Park and the Chinese Reconciliation Park, which is currently under construction. More ships "will have an immense negative impact on the waterfront." he remarked.
After hearing the presentation, the Metro Parks voted against the expansion proposal.
(Rendition from the group Walk the Waterfront as to how two additional ships would look like on the waterfront)
Key parts of the resolution:
WHEREAS, the Sperry Ocean Dock Shoreline Development Project does not include provisions to provide public access on the site, or to facilitate the extension of a public access trail from the Thea Foss Waterfront to the Ruston Way Promenade
WHEREAS, the Sperry Ocean Dock Shoreline Development Project impedes the public's enjoyment of the waterfront; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, by the Board of Park Commissions of the Metropolitan Park Distrct of Tacoma to recommend to the City of Tacoma that the City not approve the Sperry Ocean Dock Shoreline Development Project because of the Projects lack of public access provisions and incompatibility with the recreational use and enjoyment of the waterfront, and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Park Commissions recommend the City of Tacoma work with the business owner to find a more appropriate location that is non-residential, non-recreational as it's primary use so that the business can thrive elsewhere.
The foregoing resolution was adopted by the Board of Commissions of the Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma at a regular meeting held on December 10, 2007.
Here are some key statements from the Metro Parks Board Commissioners via the Tacoma Weekly:
Commission Ryan Mello said such ships belong at the naval yard in Bremerton.
Mello introducted the resolution, which requests Tacoma City Council to reject Coy's application.
Commissioner Victoria Woodards said the ships blick views.
Commissioner Larry Dahl said he feels this operation does not mesh with the vision of Ruston Way as an area for recreation.
This is going to be an interesting process.
For more information on this issue see:
TNT Article : Dock Owner Wants to Expand
NW Asian Weekly : Ship Out!
North End Neighborhood Council position against expansion of Sperry Dock
Walk The Waterfront : Group Formed Against Sperry Dock Expansion
Exit 133 Forum Thread On Sperry Dock
Our Shores : Another Group against Sperry Dock Expansion
 by michael g. on 12/21/2007 @ 9:29am | Good to see people standing up against the expansion -- it would be a great to go a step further and get the ships to move somewhere else. If they stay, they should be forced to accommodate a new waterfront trail. |
 by Erik on 12/21/2007 @ 10:14am | Good to see people standing up against the expansion -- it would be a great to go a step further and get the ships to move somewhere else
Fortunately, the Metro Parks Board has become vocal on a number of issues lately such as the steam plant adjacent to Wright Park. A park can only really be as good as the surrounding area, especially small ones. |
by Erik on 1/16/2008 @ 1:53pm | Update : 1/16/2007 on Sperry Dock:
On Monday, city public works officials sent dock owner Gary Coy a formal notice of violations of the city's nuisance code. The notice cited "Deteriorated over water structure show in enclosed photographs requires removal and or repair" and "Remove in water and upland debris from property." blogs.thenewstribune.com/oped/?blog=14&t... |
| Post Reply: |
About
A ongoing conversation to make Tacoma a better to live and work through better urban design.
See my Downtown and Neighborhood Pictures
-Erik B.
Most Popular Posts:
1. Tacoma Coffee Shop Showdown
2. Traffic Calming Portland Style (by painting intersections)
3. Tacoma's Relevance to Presidential Election 2008
4. Daniel Blue and RR Anderson
5. Tacoma Document Archive - Key City Documents, Court Documents, Links, Books, and Videos.
6. Is your city worth caring about? James Kunstler discusses how to make your community a place worth caring about.
Useful Links
Tacoma Streetcars - Join the citywide effort to restore streetcars to Tacoma's Neighborhoods.
Congress for New Urbanism - the leading organization promoting walkable, neighborhood-based development as an alternative to sprawl.
Planetizen - A one-stop source for urban planning news, commentary and interviews.
New Urban News - Discussing traditional neighborhood development focusing on building mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods instead of conventional suburban subdivisions, shopping centers and office parks.