Introduction to the Commercial Fishing Homeport at Ancich Waterfront Park Feasibility Study

At the October 12, 2020 City Council Meeting, Staff formally transmitted the Commercial Fishing Homeport Feasibility Study to City Council. The Study is available for public review here: Feasibility Study

A Council Study Session was held on January 14, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.to discuss the findings of the Study, to hear comments from the Commercial Fishermen and Park Neighbors who participated in the Study, and to review the next steps in the Commercial Fishing Homeport Study. Written comments were requested to be submitted to the City Clerk's office.

BACKGROUND

In 2013, the City of Gig Harbor (City) passed Resolution 949 to capture the visioning process for Ancich Waterfront Park and, even with the park open to the public, this resolution continues to guide site developments. Previous work at the park has created collaborative and compatible uses within the community, preserved and strengthened City views and the historic netshed, as well as provided boat storage opportunities and public beach access. However, one overarching goal of Resolution 949 remains to be completed: To provide dock access and moorage facilities for both small, human powered crafts and commercial fishermen. While design and permitting for the human powered craft dock is well underway, configuration of a commercial fishing Homeport has yet to be established. Various configurations have been generated by local fishermen, the City, and Davido Consulting Group (DCG). The purpose of the Feasibility Study is to provide an economic analysis and community opinions for the layout of the proposed Homeport facility. 

Throughout the study, DCG along with Anchor QEA have interviewed members of the local fishing fleet and park neighbors (as directed by the City), held meetings with City Council, evaluated decision criteria for the dock, and developed a discussion of possible traffic and parking impacts a Homeport facility would have. Concurrent to these efforts, BST Associates has prepared economic information that aims to quantify the direct costs and revenues a Homeport facility will have for the City. The Feasibility Study summarizes those findings in a concise manner, provides the methodology of our evaluation of the community’s comments, records stakeholder in-put, and delivers accurate cost estimates and revenues for each dock alternative.