Featured
Project:
Downtown Seward, Alaska
HyettPalma has completed a number of professional assignments in Seward,
Alaska, including the completion of market analyses, enhancement strategies
for Downtown and the Small Boat Harbor, and the community’s comprehensive
plan.
Following are portions of the comprehensive plan which
relate to the further enhancement of Downtown, further development of
the Small Boat Harbor, and Tourism Development.
Downtown Enhancement
 Issue
1:
A Number of Downtown Storefronts and Buildings are Vacant.
Actions:
a. Encourage and, when feasible, assist the Seward Enhancement Association
to define a Business Recruitment Strategy which the Association will implement
with support from the City of Seward and other appropriate local organizations.
Issue 2:
There is a Need to Concentrate and Enhance Commercial Development and
Activity That Occurs In the Downtown.
Actions:
a. Continue to enforce the land use plan designation of commercial use
locations;
b. Continue to encourage infill and redevelopment of
Downtown sites and, through code enforcement, make every effort to ensure
the removal of dilapidated buildings;
 c.
Ensure that enough land is retained in the vicinity of the Fourth Avenue
Dock for dock-related uses, but also encourage the redevelopment of adjacent
uplands for tourist/and entertainment-related uses;
d. Require removal of warehousing and open storage from
City owned land when existing leases expire — including the removal of
buildings;
e. Prepare a redevelopment plan for City owned property
at the Fourth Avenue Dock and seek a qualified developer to implement
those portions of the plan which would be most appropriately developed
and operated by the private sector;
f. Continue to work with the Seward Enhancement Association
in its efforts to unify and improve the Downtown and the Small Boat Harbor;
g. Examine the feasibility of enacting an ordinance to
require developers to provide weather protection alternatives for or over
sidewalks in conjunction with the development of new buildings in the
Downtown — including awnings and sidewalk warming elements;
h. Continue efforts to enhance handicapped access throughout
the Downtown — including curb-cuts and designated parking spaces; and
i. Continue working with the Seward Enhancement Association
in efforts to increase the level of landscaping throughout the Downtown
— including the placement of trees, shrubs, and flowers — and additional
streetscape facilities — including bench placement, banners, wall murals
and trash containers.
Issue 3:
Downtown Buildings and Properties Are Not As Well-Maintained As They Could
or Should Be and the "Boarding-Up" of Properties Results In
Very Unsightly Eyesores.
Actions:
a. In cooperation with the Seward Enhancement Association, explore the
possibility of providing financial or tax reduction incentives to encourage
and reward appropriate recapitalization of buildings and businesses located
in the Downtown;
b. Continue to aggressively enforce local building codes
and seek every possible means by which to prohibit the "boarding-up"
of properties within the Downtown and throughout the City — including
seeking volunteer cooperation from property owners and legal mechanisms;
and
c. With the Seward Enhancement Association, continue
to encourage historic preservation and public improvements in keeping
with the historic architecture of the Downtown.
Issue 4:
The Number of Public Telephones and Public Restrooms In the Downtown Is
Inadequate.
Actions:
a. Examine the feasibility of constructing a public restroom in the Downtown
that will be convenient for use by tourists and shoppers — perhaps in
conjunction with the new ferry facilities; and
b. Encourage GTE to examine the feasibility of installing
a public telephone in the core of the Downtown, on Fourth Avenue.
Issue 5:
Street Vendors From Other Parts of the State Are Operating in Seward During
the Summer Which Hurts Local Businesses and Creates Unsightly Public Nuisances
In Some Locations.
Actions:
a. Consider requiring property owners to obtain a conditional use permit
before allowing seasonal vendors to conduct business on their property
— in an outdoor location from other than a fixed building; and
b. Continue efforts to ensure payment of local taxes
on all goods sold in Seward.
Small Boat Harbor Development
Issue 1:
Development of the Small Boat Harbor Is Occurring In A Somewhat Chaotic
and Uncoordinated Fashion Which Means That the Area Is Not Being Used
or Being Developed To Maximize Safety/Cost-Effectiveness.
Actions:
a. Complete a Small Boat Harbor Master Plan to manage future development
and improvements made in the Small Boat Harbor area by both the public
and private sectors — involving the Seward Enhancement Association, Chamber
of Commerce and Port Development Advisory Committee;
b. Continue to present competitive pricing of boat slips,
relative to other southcentral ports, to retain high utilization of slips
and, in turn, opportunities for local commercial support services;
c. Continue to increase the monthly fees for dry storage
of boats after May 15 to encourage turnover of valuable storage space
for other marine and/or tourist-related uses — specifically parking;
d. Continue to separate recreational and commercial boats
as much as possible to ensure safety;
e. Continue efforts to relocate the Harbor Master’s office
to ensure a better view of boats and the entrance to the channel — seeking
to locate the office in at least a second story central dock facility;
f. Examine the feasibility of converting the existing
Harbor Master’s office building for lease as small marine related shops
or other public uses;
g. Continue efforts to upgrade and replace all existing
utility systems to ensure safe and efficient operations — including electrical
systems and waste disposal systems;
h. Continue to restrict development at the southern limits
of the Small Boat Harbor for uses which will receive minimum damage in
the event of tidal inundation — such as camping and recreational uses;
i. In conjunction with the enhancement of the airport,
continue to restrict float plane landings and take-offs within the Small
Boat Harbor to winter months when Bear Lake is frozen and work with the
State of Alaska to ensure the development of a float plane ramp at the
airport;
j. As recommended by the Port Development Advisory Committee,
as part of completing the Small Boat Harbor Master Plan, examine the feasibility
of:
- Charging a deposit to go toward the 1st year’s moorage
fee to persons wanting to get their name on the slip list for Small
Boat Harbor moorage;
- Repositioning existing harbor slips to accommodate
more vessels;
- Expanding wharfage on the north end of the harbor
sheet pile dock, complete with water, electricity and crane facilities;
- Repairing and enhancing the grid;
- Constructing restroom facilities on the north end
of the harbor;
- Completing the boardwalk system around the harbor;
- Covering and upgrading the walk ramps to the floats;
- Upgrading the culvert system between the lagoon and
the fish ditch, under Third Avenue (as a support element for the Fish
Farm concept in Seward); and
- Overall beautification of the Small Boat Harbor area.
Issue 2:
Concern Exists In the Community That Construction of the Nash Road Small
Boat Harbor At This Time Could Have An Adverse Economic Impact On Both
the Existing Small Boat Harbor and the Downtown.
Actions:
a. Evaluate the feasibility of expanding and maximizing the potential
of the existing Small Boat Harbor; upgrading the existing Small Boat Harbor
facilities to enable maximum utilization of the space; and repairing/replacing
all deteriorated systems to accommodate a tremendously growing demand
by both commercial and recreational users, prior to development of the
Nash Road Small Boat Harbor; and
b. Establish as priorities, first, expanding the existing
Small Boat Harbor and, second, constructing the Nash Road Small Boat Harbor
after the existing Small Boat Harbor is operating at or near capacity
and demand for additional harbor facilities has been demonstrated.
Issue 3:
The Need Exists For An Additional Ramp To Launch Small Boats.
Actions:
a. In conjunction with the preparation of a Small Boat Harbor Master Plan,
examine the potential for the development of an additional boat ramp facility
to accommodate the growing demand for launching facilities.
Issue 4:
The Number of Public Telephones Located In the Small Boat Harbor Is Inadequate.
Actions:
a. Work with GTE to examine the feasibility of installing public telephones
in the Small Boat Harbor to accommodate local resident and visitor needs.
Issue 5:
There is a Need To Remove High Power Lines On Old Airport Road So Boats
Can Be Stored On Available Private Property and Not On Newly Asphalted
City Property.
Actions:
a. Examine the feasibility of underground line placement to accommodate
boat storage on private property in the Old Airport Road area.
Issue 6:
There is a Need to Minimize the Fish Odors Resulting From Fish Processing
and the Public Cleaning of Fish In the Small Boat Harbor.
Actions:
a. In association with the Harbor Master and the fish processing operators,
work to minimize, to the greatest degree possible, the current odor problem
being generated by private businesses and explore the installation of
a public fish cleaning facility which will encourage the use of fish waste
by the private sector or daily removal of waste to decrease odor problems.
Issue 7:
There is a Need to Cleanup the Cruise Ship Receiving Area At the Existing
Docks.
Actions:
a. Examine the existing cruise ship receiving dock facilities to determine
improve ments which can be made to beautify the area and provide a more
welcome atmosphere for cruise ship visitors.
Tourism Development
Issue 1:
There is An Interest in Strengthening Downtown’s Role As the Terminal
Center For the Ferry and in Exploring Downtown’s Potential As a Docking
Center For Cruise Ships.
Actions:
a. Continue to aggressively pursue construction of the new ferry dock
facility — in association with the State of Alaska; and
b. Continue to examine the feasibility of constructing
a cruise ship dock and fishing pier off Ballaine Boulevard — resulting
in a north/south docking orientation for ships.
Issue 2:
 There
Is A Need For A Tourist Information Center At Exit Glacier.
Actions:
a. Work with the National Park Service to encourage that agency to construct
and operate such a facility; and
b. Work with private sector transportation vendors to
provide transportation services to Exit Glacier.
Issue 3:
There Is An Opportunity To Enhance Tourism By Making the Iditarod Trail
Available To Seward’s Residents and Visitors For Both Summer and Winter
Use.
Actions:
a. Work with the Iditarod Trailblazers to identify locations where trail
will be cleared/developed throughout Seward;
b. Develop and clear trails in association with the Iditarod
Trailblazers whenever possible;
c. Where feasible as part of construction projects, require
developers to construct any portions of the Trail that abut their property;
d. Ensure that the trail is well marked and well signed
as to where it begins and where it goes within the City; and
e. Work with local organizations and the Iditarod Trailblazers,
to actively promote the trail to Seward’s residents and visitors.
Issue 4:
There is Interest in Promoting Seward’s Alaska History and Marine History
To A Broad Range of Visitors.
Actions:
a. Continue to encourage the Chamber of Commerce to distribute promotional
brochures on Seward at main points of tourist entry into Alaska (Alaska
Highway, Anchorage Airport, Anchorage Visitors Center, etc.);
b. Continue to aggressively promote Seward as a port
of call for cruise ships and tour boats;
c. Continue to encourage the development of appropriate
tourist uses in the vicinity of the Fourth Avenue Dock;
d. Continue to promote Seward as an accessible center
for recreational boating and fishing with moorage capacity, attractions
and services;
e. Continue to support and encourage the development
and presentation of theme events in addition to the Silver Salmon Derby,
Fourth of July Mt. Marathon Race and Polar Bear Festival to enhance Seward
as a year-round center of activity;
f. Continue to support the efforts of the Chamber of
Commerce to operate a visible tourist information center and coordinate
tourist information services/systems with other similar organizations
throughout the State of Alaska and United States;
g. Continue to work with the State of Alaska DOT/PF to
promote the construction of wayside improvements between Seward and the
Mile 38 Wye, such as pullouts for scenic attractions and historic sites,
picnic areas and comfort facilities, to enhance pleasure driving trips
from Anchorage to Seward; and
h. Support efforts to promote the National Forest Scenic
Byway system as designated in the Seward area. |
