PORT TOWNSEND — Port of Port Townsend officials, who are seeking public input on a long-term plan for Point Hudson, plan an open house today.
The open house will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Marina Room at Point Hudson, 103 Hudson St. It will be open to the community, and public comment will be accepted.
The goal of the project is to make Point Hudson financially sustainable while also providing public access, protecting the ecosystem along the shoreline and preserving the historic maritime character of the small marina, according to Maul Foster & Alongi (MFA), an environmental engineering and consulting firm, and port representatives.
In a commissioners meeting in September, MFA representatives presented a number of development options for Point Hudson.
Those options ranged from the least invasive, which would mean basic repairs and upgrades to buildings and infrastructure, to the most invasive, which could include new construction for hospitality businesses.
Port commissioners also discussed the possibility of a partnership with the Northwest Maritime Center at their meeting in September.
The commissioners voted unanimously to send a representative to meet with officials from the city of Port Townsend and Northwest Maritime Center staff.
Plans for Point Hudson are still in the preliminary phase, which includes reaching out to the community and Point Hudson stakeholders.
At September’s meeting, community members spoke out against any major development in Point Hudson so as to maintain the marina’s historic aesthetic.
There also was public comment against any development that would require changes to the current zoning codes or shoreline plan.
However, port staff and representatives from MFA pointed out that currently, Point Hudson is not a sustainable model; it doesn’t bring in enough revenue to cover the replacement of the failing jetties.
The port is currently working to replace the south jetty, a project estimated to cost just over $3 million.
According to Mike Stringer of MFA, the point of the development of Point Hudson is to make the marina sustainable.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
