Marblehead’s harbor is a vital hub for commerce, recreation and local culture.
The Harbor Plan Implementation Committee met last week to review progress and strategize the next steps in safeguarding and enhancing this community asset.
Members had a discussion of ongoing projects and the importance of both short-term actions and long-term planning in responding to the challenges that rising sea levels and aging infrastructure could cause. The Marblehead Harbor Plan has goals ranging from infrastructure repair to enhancing public access.
A Harbor Plan Working Group was originally established by the Select Board in October of 2021. As the implementation committee becomes more official, Select Board Chair Erin Noonan said that the prior parties involved with making the Marblehead Harbor Plan would be followed up with to see if there is interest in seeing the implementation of the plan through as a committee member.
Moses Grader was nominated and confirmed to become the committee’s chair.
Noonan added, “There should be at least a quarterly opportunity for public input by a public comment and to attend a meeting to get an update.”
It was also discussed that holding a public presentation of the final harbor plan and increasing the visibility of project updates on the town’s website would help with increased visibility and public participation.
Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer read through the harbor plan’s goals as a reminder. The first is to repair and maintain the existing infrastructure of the harbor. Another is to support public access to the water, and a third is to support water-focused and water-dependent economic development. A fourth goal is to address public safety on, in, and around the water.
Kezer said, “The vision for the harbor and for the community is how the harbor supports the community, and that people can easily access the water for employment and recreation. The harbor provides resources that contribute to economic, environmental, social health, and community.”
Updates were discussed on the town’s Coastal Resilience Grant Program projects. The Coastal Resilience Grant, provided by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, supports initiatives that help communities with the impacts of climate change, particularly rising sea levels, and increased storm activity.
Part of the harbor plan is the Shipyard Resilience Project. It is focused on the areas around Parker’s Boatyard, Hammond Park, and Cliff Street and aims to mitigate the effects of sea level rise, enhance public infrastructure, and improve accessibility to the waterfront. The project has progressed to a 75% design phase and is now looking to secure the necessary permits and funding for construction. The estimated $15.8 million it will cost poses a substantial challenge for the town.
There was discussion of other funding avenues for the project, including federal and state grants. Applications have been submitted for a $2 million federal earmark and a $2 million grant from the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
The State Street Landing and Harbor Master/Tucker’s Wharf area was another major project discussed. The town has applied for a $240,000 grant to fund an initial phase of research with the goal of advancing the project over the next two to three years.
The meeting also touched on broader strategic issues, such as the importance of maintaining compliance with state regulations, particularly the MBTA communities’ zoning requirements.
Kezer said, “If we are not MBTA compliant by end-of- year, funding will go.”