City seeks to address inner harbor space issues
Belfast — The city is considering options to maximize space within the inner harbor by relocating existing moorings and moored floats, as well as cracking down on non-compliant and abandoned moorings.
City Manager Joseph Slocum told councilors during a Tuesday, Jan. 15, meeting that the increased demand on space in the inner harbor, because of the expansion of Front Street Shipyard and requests by small business owners to expand commercial operations in that area, requires further reorganization to determine how much space is available.
The inner harbor is defined as the area between the city landing and the Armistice Footbridge.
A city ordinance requires moorings be inspected every two years, and a record of the inspection must be filed with the Harbormaster. The ordinance also states that any mooring that is not used 50 percent of the time for three consecutive months is considered abandoned.
Slocum did acknowledge that some owners have had issues with getting their moorings inspected because they were waiting for the inspector to do the work.
Harbormaster Katherine Pickering said eight or nine moorings were pulled in 2012 for non-compliance with the city ordinance. She noted that the economy impacts moorings, because some owners can no longer afford to maintain them and instead choose to abandon them.
To address the space constraints, Slocum outlined four recommendations in his manager’s report for the how the city can approach the inner harbor. He suggested the city “move with all speed” to make sure the moorings and floats are in compliance with the city ordinance; that Pickering relocate any moorings she needs to; that Pickering and the Harbor Advisory Committee discuss whether any new moorings should be added; and that Pickering and the committee better define “commercial use” within the inner harbor.
Councilor Mike Hurley said the city could look at a way to calm the waters closer to the boathouse –– possibly through the use of small wave attenuators — in order to create more space within the harbor.
“We need to start to figure out a way to make this harbor bigger. Either we need to calm it, or go further upriver,” Hurley said.
Local boat builder Steve Garrand is one of the small-business owners looking for space within the inner harbor for commercial purposes. Garrand submitted a proposal to the Council more than a month ago outlining his plans for a service marina.
In his proposal, Garrand said he envisions the service marina would be composed of four floating docks located within the inner harbor that are not attached to the shore.
One of the docks would be larger than the rest in order to accommodate a small building that would be used for storage. The remaining floats would be what Garrand described as “standard size,” with a deck box on each one.
In addition, Garrand said a barge of some kind — possibly a pontoon deck boat with a loading ramp — would be essential to operations in order to ferry supplies and workers to and from the service marina from the city launch ramp.
“I am not proposing to run a full-service marina, but to provide a place where independent boat yards and other commercial users can conduct activities essential to their businesses,” Garrand wrote in his proposal.
Garrand, who attended the Jan. 15 Council meeting, told councilors his proposal is “off the table” until questions about how the inner harbor is going to be utilized are answered.
Belmont Boatworks owner Dan Miller also attended the meeting and said he supported Garrand’s proposal because it would give other businesses the opportunity to work on boats in Belfast. Miller explained that he did not locate his business in Belfast because of a lack of available space along the waterfront.
The discussion concluded with Slocum telling councilors that the city would move forward with “all due haste” to address the inner harbor issues.
Republican Journal reporter Ben Holbrook can be reached at 338-3333 or at bholbrook@courierpublicationsllc.com.
Ordinance targeting for City Wall Hall Agenda's? Do you know why in 2009 and 2011 Seaview Terrace took such a beating in the spring thaw flood? Residents told by Joe Slocum- City Manager, Wayne Marshall- City Planner,the Planning Board, and City Council- specifically "Brother Hurley" because of the office higher than theirs (Mother Nature) and endless and hours of tax payers money in hiding the ordinance. They all knew that they were not enforcing the ordinance for all the paths directed to us that destroying Seaview Terrace. It's been 2 years of pure abuse and the City is still refusing accountability and is moving to take TIF money that would build City maintained storm water sewers. You will see in the slide show later today, DEP Tom Gilbert's, CASS investigation that took me 2 years to get. All storm water in that huge fenced in storm water dumping station is to go through the million dollar Miller St improved sewers- via the exit at the center into the rock lined rip rap drainage. I told Tom Gilbert (he would not let me attend investigation) exactly where the unapproved, illegal exit was. At the lower end, where it flows out and meets up with another path from The Muck, under School St and down to Seaview. I told him to look at the Belfast/Hilltop Birches Cass school side. More stormwater from the lower field of CASS also comes to us via those 2 culverts I found. Pictures all on the album of my findings. Tom Gilbert NEVER investigated these area's, the reason for the investigation. Commissioner Aho blows me off, case closed. I don't think so. To know that the City could not be bothered to enforce the ordinance to remove plowed snow off site, that would have saved properties, cars, flooding in 2009 and played stupid is beyond corrupt. After another heavy snow season in 2010-2011, they still did not enforce ordinance or even admit to having an ordinance. Spring thaw 2011 ripped away 600 ft of my property. Wayne Marshall, smiling as he showed me all the paths coming to Seaview Terrace in 4/2011. I said the City can't do that, I want a copy of that map. Map went missing, denials flying and here begins the assassination of Laurie Allen. At the 5/2011 Annex hearings, Diane Allmyer-Beck reaffirmed with Mike Hogan, Architect, that plowed snow would be removed off site and the exit path of stormwater into the stream was behind 5 Seaview Terrace- it is not, is entering into my private property. From the meeting to construction completion, with many emails from me to be sure that path is NOT being used went unanswered by all. See sidebar at my blog for pictures. They didn't change the path and the review was closed in 6/11- some 4 months prior to even beginning construction
Wayne Marshall tells me, my only option is to go to the Zoning Board of Appeals, first cost to file $250 my pocket. As Ms. Spaulding advised me of her demise in Belfast for Planning's corruptness. She was also advised to go to the Zoning Board of Appeal when Wayne Marshall assured her the water view lot in front of the home on Rte 1 and Old Searsport Ave, she was buying was an unbuildable lot. She buys and restores a beautiful Abby? Shortly after, Wayne Marshall approves a house to go up on that unbuildable lot, destroying the view and her rights. After 10k in legal fees and community judgement, they are getting nowhere fast but the attorney's pockets for City and her's are getting fatter and fatter. Broken and disgusted, she puts her dream up for sale, value much less without the water view.
Here we are again, 2 years of public disgrace and they still don't care. All these sites are stock piling again and the City burying the ordinance and site conditions in Wayne's possession. The constant thread weaving the corruption. Please make the City stop trampling over residents, how much more evidence do you need? You could be next. I am still waiting for a response on this email below. Should be a doozy.
Please advise what the final conditions for snow accumulation/plowing at these sites. It is my understanding from the Planning Board that "plowable" snow must be removed off site. This link provides pictures and proof that these sites are not removing the snow and will continue to pile and melt to Seaview Terrace in roaring rapid wipe us out style. As happened in 2009 and 2011 and Wayne Marshall claiming mother nature and all kinds of stats in rainfall for 5 years, on and on and on our tax payers clock. While in full knowledge that he made the conditions and has the documents.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=105736045670734847961&target=ALBUM&id=5831861393761808113&authkey=Gv1sRgCKebwrrxq8PZxQE&feat=email
After the sites are confirmed that plowable snow is to be removed offsite, I want to know;
1. Who is responsible to enforce code. I would think Todd Rosenberg.
2. Why isn't he enforcing code, year after year knowing Seaview Terrace is at the receiving end of this negligence. Simple drive by is all that is required, just like I did. Clearly visible as you see in the pictures. I copied the Police Chief so he will be aware of illegal plowing even if it isn't with in his purview.
3. I want those sites to remove current and all future piles immediately. I want to know the date that all the present snow will be removed.
4. I want confirmation that at all future snowfall, the snow will be removed simultaneously off site when plowing.
These are the sites to confirm final conditions for plowing snow.
1. CASS
2. Belfast Birches
3. Hilltop Birches
4. VOA
5. Tall Pines
6. MidCoast Mental Health
7. Legore Subdivision- Birch St. Development
8. Town Houses on Cedar St
5. National Guard
6. Youngs Seafood (next door to National Guard)
7. Larrabees (sp?) Plumbing
8. Prays Homes
9. Airport
10. McLeods Trailer Park on Lower Congress
11. Entire Annex Office Site across from WCGH
I also noted snow piling on the corner of Upper Congress and Rte 1 North. Please advise if this is legal or in violation of City Ordinance. I see the City front loading snow into dump trucks throughout town and believe the same applies to that area as it is a major City road inside the bypass.
Please respond with this email and to all recipients to avoid the never ending confusion of smokescreen communications? from Planning and City Manager.
Sincerely,
Laurie Allen
After Brother Hurley "calms" The Harbor Waters maybe he can find a way to re-use/recycle the attenuator in the Governor's mouth so as not to be wasteful.
Morris