Planners hope to limit impact on neighborhood
If you go:
What: Truman Waterfront Master Plan
When: 6 to 9 p.m. today
Where: Old City Hall, 510 Greene St.
BY TIMOTHY O'HARA
Citizen Staff
KEY WEST — Residents and city officials debated the future of
Truman Waterfront on Tuesday night and reached the conclusion that no
matter what is put there, more traffic will be moving through downtown
and Bahama Village.
Some argued that the 33 acres of prime waterfront should be off
limits to motorized vehicles.
"If this is going to truly be for the locals, then there shouldn't
be cars going out there," said Christine Russell, who described
herself as an advocate of exercising. "Whatever you do, please don't
let us see more Conch (Tour) Trains out there."
Russell was reacting to the news that Historic Tours of America's
Conch trains and trolleys will be the only private vehicles allowed to
enter the property via the Truman Annex Southard Street entrance, once
the waterfront property is developed. HTA is paid by the city to pick
up cruise ship passengers disembarking from cruise ships at the Outer
Mole Pier. Navy vehicles also will be allowed to drive onto the
property via Southard Street. The Truman Annex Master Property Owners
Association owns the section of Southard Street abutting the Truman
Waterfront property and allows the city to use it. All vehicle traffic
will be able to leave the park via Southard Street, according to the
agreement.
For the past eight years, the city has wrestled with what to do
with the Truman Waterfront. Some suggestions have included placing
ballfields and an area to hold concerts there. Others have expressed
the need to connect the piers along Truman Waterfront to those at the
nearby Hilton Pier B and Mallory Square.
The Navy gave the city the property as part of the nation's Base
Realignment and Closure program to downsize military bases. The city
was given the property with the requirement that 60 percent of the
land be used as open space, that boats be kept 100 yards from Navy
vessels and structures be built 100 feet from Navy buildings. A boat
ramp there also must be accessible to the Navy.
The city is holding a second meeting today to come up with ideas
for a master plan for the property. The city and its paid consultants,
DMJM and Harris Inc. and Sasaki, must decide what would be the best
benefit to the community, both recreationally and economically. They
also must figure out what would limit traffic congestion on nearby
streets. Some vehicles will be allowed because Navy personnel and
workers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will
need to drive onto the property, said Doug Bradshaw, director of the
Local Redevelopment Agency.
The group discussed six possible traffic scenarios, but allowing
traffic in through Truman Avenue and exiting via Southard Street
appeared to be the most popular. Suggestions also were made to connect
Olivia, Petronia and Angela streets to the Truman Waterfront, but only
for pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
Residents who attended Tuesday's meeting also argued over what type
of marina to place at Truman Waterfront. In order to pay for
ballfields, band shells and other improvements to the park, the city
must have a source of revenue, Bradshaw said. Draft plans for the
property have included a marina to generate money. The group was split
on whether to create an upscale marina catering to mega-yacht owners
or a marina and boat ramp for locals. Parking could be a problem if
there are too many trucks with boat trailers taking up space there,
City Planner Kai Monast said.
"Whatever you put there is going to have an impact on traffic,"
Monast said. "I'm not endorsing either, but a community marina will
add a lot more traffic than a mega-yacht marina."
The discussions continue at 6 p.m. today at Old City Hall, 510
Greene St.
tohara@keysnews.com
