THE ISSUE: The developers of the proposed “Sausalito Harbor Improvement Project (SHIP) propose construction of an artificial breakwater to create a turning basin and moorage for up to 70 vessels—including mega-yachts— in the open water portion of Gabrielson Park.

This new marina with its ancillary uses would create a commercial overlay adding congestion to an already congested part of downtown Sausalito.

SEA’S POSITION:

SHIP is an inappropriate concept for Sausalito for the following reasons: 

• It calls for unnecessary bay fill. It will cause unspecified impacts on marine habitats, tidal circulation, traffic circulation, and will require initial and maintenance dredging of unspecified amounts, impacts, and costs to the City.

• It does not create new nor enhance existing public access. In fact, by SHIP’s own admission, it will create visual obstruction of existing open water views. It would create added noise and nighttime lighting intrusion on an otherwise quiet section of shoreline.

• It is an unwarranted use of public property, acquired by the City as open water, that would benefit private boat owners and adjacent local commercial interests and would provide few if any benefits to Sausalito residents at large. No compelling public need, nor public safety imperative for the artificial breakwater has been demonstrated.

BACKGROUND: The developers say “already we have ceded our downtown to massive asphalt parking lots and tourist amenities.” To counter this they propose that we surrender our gem-like Gabrielson Park with its pristine open views while they construct a massive stone structure in Richardson’s Bay that would cordon off that part of Gabrielson Park for commercial activity; mooring seventy private yachts and accommodating additional tourist amenities such as tour boats, water taxis, and a maritime farmers market.   

We, the public, will be invited to “stroll,” free of charge, along the artificial breakwater to enjoy the view we already have.  If, as the developers suggest, Sausalitans have abandoned their downtown to “tourist amenities” (a claim which we dispute), adding even MORE commercial activity with visual clutter, tour boats and mega-yachts will do little to attract locals.   With all due respect, what on earth are they thinking?  

Gabrielson Park is a waterfront park, a visual respite from the hustle and bustle of the ferry landing to the south and the sea of masts of the existing yacht harbor to the north.  The developers say the breakwater and marina would be “in the waters off Gabrielson Park.” On the contrary, the new structure would be in the park. 

Open water is an essential and integral part of Gabrielson Park.  The site for Gabrielson Park was deeded to the city by Herb Madden, Sr., builder of the Sausalito Yacht Harbor, in 1968, with the clear understanding that the land and open water of the park would remain open and unobstructed.

SHIP’s stated goal, the developers say, is to “see a public harbor in downtown Sausalito.” SHIP is not a City appointed committee.  Nor does it have City approval to alter established uses in our downtown or destroy our park.  It consists of a private group advancing a self-serving development on public property without mandate from our City government or citizens.

No application for development on City-owned property can be processed without City permission, which, at this point, has not been given.  No official public hearings have been held; no compelling public need, nor public safety imperative for the artificial breakwater has been demonstrated.  Yet, the developers confidently state: “Plans are to begin construction in 2010.”

The massive SHIP development calls for unnecessary fill forming a permanent structure in the Bay.  It will cause unspecified impacts on marine habitats, tidal circulation, traffic circulation, and will require initial and repeated maintenance dredging of unspecified amounts, impacts, and costs to the City.  It flies in the face of Bay Area conservation efforts by many groups and agencies over many years to curtail bay fill and restore and protect shoreline and open water environments.

It does not create new nor enhance existing public access.  In fact, by SHIP’s own admission, it will create visual obstruction of existing open water views.  It would create added noise and nighttime lighting intrusion on an otherwise quiet section of shoreline.

The SHIP developers claim they will develop only the concept and raise the money; the City (read “TAXPAYERS”) will have to bear the cost of actually building and maintaining it. 

Maintenance and operational costs of this new artificial marina, the developers say, will be offset by revenue from renting berths to transient vessels and leasing docking space to ferries and tour boats, “supported by recreational boaters, passenger ferries, and water taxis.” Since Golden Gate ferry passengers will not contribute to this support, the developers must mean unspecified additional passenger ferries.  If, however, revenues fail to meet costs, Sausalito taxpayers will make up the difference. 

Either way, our public park should not be used as a revenue source to accommodate out-of-town yacht owners.  In the words of one of the developers, “it will be like having a 50-room hotel on the waterfront.”  A waterfront hotel in any guise on public park property is unacceptable, particularly in an already crowded area.

The development proposal not only conflicts with the Sausalito Zoning Ordinance and General Plan, it conflicts with existing mixed downtown waterfront use.  The Sausalito General Plan clearly states as objectives and policies (Objective LU-4.0) to “preserve open water and undeveloped shoreline areas” and (policy LU-4.6) “enlarge and preserve the total acreage of existing open water areas in the Central Waterfront area.” 

Also the General Plan states goals to:  (Policy LU-4.7) “maintain and enhance the existing character of the Downtown waterfront with a mixture of open vistas and commercial uses,” and (Policy LU-4.8) “support the maintenance and enhancement of existing circulation patterns of the water in Richardson Bay.”

The developers’ admit that the path leading to completion of their project is long and complex, “requiring extensive analysis, engineering, and environmental and economic studies” with scrutiny and approval from “nearly two-dozen agencies.” That alone should set off warning bells that the concept is fundamentally unwise. 

It forces a massive intrusion of the bay with land fill, disruption of marine habitat and water circulation in Richardson’s Bay, and a high-risk financial obligation by Sausalito taxpayers to sustain its operation.  And all for the benefit of downtown businesses and visiting yacht owners. 

The SHIP developers’ stated goal is “a community-serving and family-attractive open space and pedestrian promenade.”  We don’t know if they have looked lately, but that is exactly what is already in place at Gabrielson Park.