Juneau City Hall discusses waterfront plan changes, public input to follow

• News Home
• More from News of the North

Tuesday, January 25th, 2022 7:54am

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Whatsapp

Aerial photo of dock near the Archipelago Lot (Photo Credit: CBJ.)

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Juneau assembly committee of the whole discussed changes to Juneau's long-range waterfront plan during their meeting Monday evening.

Juneau Tourism Manager, Alexandra Pierce, explained to committee members that amending the long-range waterfront plan creates more opportunities for development on the subport site, regardless of the developer. She said when the waterfront plan was developed, the subport area was the only area on the waterfront where future development was in question. Future ownership and plans were also in question at the time, but she said that aspect is a little bit clear now. Norwegian Cruise Line had bought a three acre piece of land at the subport lot.

The change would allow the creation of a dock facility capable of accommodating one large cruise ship as well as docking facilities for U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA vessels.

In 2020, the Juneau Visitor Industry Task Force established criteria for constructing a cruise ship dock at the subport, Pierce said the change supports the task force's criteria.

• One larger ship per day using one side of the facility.
• Maximum of five larger ships in port per day.
• No hot berthing at the new facility.
• No larger ships allowed to anchor as the sixth ship in town. Larger ships may anchor but the number of larger ships in port would still be limited to five.
• CBJ manages dock to some extent through a public-private partnership or management agreement.
• Dock is electrified.

On February 7th the amendment for the waterfront plan will be introduced and public comment will be held.

At the meeting, the assembly approved the staff recommendation to allow the project to go forward to the planning commission for consideration, but exempt the planning commission from reviewing the amendment to the waterfront plan.

Pierce said the next step is that the planning commission will hear the conditional use permit, which is for development on the entire site, and then the next step is that the assembly will evaluate and consider the tide lands lease.

More from News of the North

• Canoe journey of Ḵéex̱’ Yaakw’ Ḵwáan seeking community assistance

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - A team of 25 canoe rowers from Kake are looking for assistance as they prepare to embark on an eight-day journey from their home to Juneau.

• US Coast Guard medevacs passenger near Sitka

  Sitka, Alaska (KINY) - A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka aircrew medevaced an 85-year-old male passenger near Sitka on Thursday.

• Former Alaska AG charged with sex abuse

  Juneau, Alaska (AP) - A special prosecutor says he has filed charges of sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree against former Alaska Attorney General Clyde “Ed” Sniffen.

• Memorial Day observances in Juneau to be held Monday

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Two ceremonies will be held in Juneau in observance of Memorial Day.

• High school graduations, SafeGrad set for Sunday in Juneau

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Graduation events for the Class of 2022 are scheduled for the Juneau-Douglas, Thunder Mountain, and Yaakoosge Daakahidi high schools.

• Federal government sues Alaska over fishing on refuge river

  Juneau, Alaska (AP) - The Biden administration is suing Alaska over fishing rights on a river that runs through a national wildlife refuge.

• Sealaska board adds $25M to shareholder permanent fund

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - In April, the Sealaska board approved a resolution to add $25 million in earnings from Sealaska’s carbon sequestration program to the Marjorie V. Young Shareholder Permanent Fund.

• Juneau woman cited after alleging false kidnapping report

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Juneau police have cited a woman in connection with filing a false police report of kidnapping.

• University of Alaska Board of Regents to hold in-person board meeting

  Anchorage, Alaska (KINY) - The University of Alaska Board of Regents will hold its first in-person board meeting in two years in Anchorage June 2 and 3.

• Alaska's largest natural gas utility being sold for $800M

  Anchorage, Alaska (AP) - The owner of the largest natural gas utility in Alaska says it is selling the company to Canada-based TriSummit Utilities Inc.

• NWS says 'great' weather all across Southeast this weekend

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The National Weather Service in Juneau is saying conditions are looking great in Southeast all throughout the weekend.

• Juneau sustainability commission seeks $4M in 1% sales tax funding

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Juneau Commission on Sustainability is offering three suggested projects for consideration of funding by the 1% sales tax revenue this year.