3.8.1
Encourage sheltered water sports such as small boat launching and mooring (sailing, rowing, paddle, and sail-boating), with rentals to private organizations for necessary support facilities along the eastern shore of North Waterfront Park, provided environmental standards such as protection of the Bay from leachate can be met and provided this use is consistent with the City's Master Plan for North Waterfront Park. Investigate the need for and feasibility of dredging to make possible these activities.
3.8.2
Provide for the eventual development by a public agency in the future of piers along the alignment of Gilman Street extension for public viewing and fishing.
A lot has changed since 1986, but the sense of this element of the plan - that non-motorized small craft activity and facilities to support them should be encouraged in the North Sailing Basin - has never been modified. Both the Marina Plan and Waterfront Overview now under final development by the City planning staff, and the
Land and Water Use Guidelines for the Eastshore State Park adopted by the Berkeley Waterfront Commission in October 2001 fully support these policies.
Here are the
Goals and Policies of the 1986 Waterfront Master Plan
as published on the City's website.
Here are the first three goals for the Berkeley Waterfront:
Goal 1:
Establish the waterfront as an area primarily for recreational, open space, and environmental uses, with preservation and enhancement of beaches, marshes, and other natural habitats.
Goal 2:
Develop the waterfront as part of a continuous east bay shoreline open space
system.
Goal 3:
Provide for an appropriate amount and type of private development, to make the waterfront part of Berkeley's vibrant urban community, attractive to and usable by Berkeleyans, neighboring bay area residents and other visitors.
And under "Policies for Uses:"
Recreational and Commercial
Small-scale retail uses are desirable that offer recreational products and services, such as windsurfing and sailing equipment and lessons, bicycle and boat rentals, fishing supplies, and chandleries. A variety of restaurants is desired, especially inexpensive, family-oriented ones. These activities should meet the needs of people of all ages, income levels, disabilities, and ethnic backgrounds. Recreational-commercial activities can provide opportunities to meet the targeted job goals of the City, as well as create an interesting environment. Other kinds of small-scale retail and commercial uses, especially water-related, which serve people of all ages, income levels, abilities, and ethnic backgrounds. However, commercial theme parks and high intensity specially commercial centers such as Pier 39 in San Francisco are not considered appropriate or desirable.
The emphasis on recreation and the mix of private development with open space are critical features of this plan. The plan recognizes that the value of open space and built space can both be enhanced when they are in close proximity to each other. The plan also recognizes that this is an urban waterfront in an urban setting, and does not attempt to fit the entire shoreline into the mold of wilderness open space. It seeks a balance between open space and human activity. Finding this balance should be the primary task of any planning process for the Berkeley Waterfront and for the Eastshore State Park.