On the Waterfront. No, THIS one.

The city says  the future of our community at Docktown is tied to what happens in the Inner Harbor  Planning process.  The task force consists of group of about 15 people from various walks of life in Redwood City, coordinated by city officials, consultants, and facilitators. 

We want you to know how the plan is evolving, and say what YOU think should happen on this, the last major piece of waterfront near downtown. You can respond to questions asked here, and give us your opinion as to what belongs in the City’s Inner Harbor.

More info on the plan from the city’s website.http://www.redwoodcity.org/phed/planning/innerharbor/

Located along the creek, Docktown is the heart of the area being discussed, and the only place anyone lives. To the 80 plus households that live here on floating homes, houseboats, sailboats and other vessels this is our home. A community that has been here for decades with the at least tacit approval of the city, who collected rents from our landlord. There is no good reason not to keep Docktown.  But landowners who own the land where access our homes and park our cars would prefer that we leave. They feel our presence impedes their ability to maximize their profit from selling the land to developers.

Is this a simple case of land owners having the right to evict people living on the water whose time has come and gone?

Well no, we live on the water. On Redwood Creek, the original gateway to Redwood City back in the days before cars when transportation was largely by water. That's controlled by the City. Would it be right for the City to evict us after all these years just to allow developers on the adjoining land a more pristine view?

These are among the issues being discussed at the Inner Harbor meetings, as part of a larger discussion about a wider area that includes ponds and lagoons, city owned lots, the police dept, a new jail, a rowing club, industry and office buildings planned for the plot of privately owned land next to the freeway. We have a representative who sits on the task force along with city representatives, the landowners’ attorney, environmentalists, heavy industry and materials businesses, and representatives from the Port community, plus a representative from the State Lands Commission, and the San Mateo county Chamber of Commerce. Is this who should determine our future then?

This is is the group the city says will decide what happens to this last major undeveloped waterfront. We are also allowed to speak as private citizens, which dozens of do in meeting after meeting. How then should this plan evolve?

Facilitators and consultants took notes during the initial discussions, then went off to do some studies on their own and are now coming back with a plan? Does it mirror the discussions to date?

We know the consultants and facilitators and a new environmental watchdog hired by the city. We trust they will operate at arms length from city officials who might have their own agendas, and links to development minded players?  Is our trust well placed? Do we have any other options if we don't think the process is fair? Of if the city chooses to disregard conclusions in the study?

Have all the best outcomes and possibilities been considered? Has everyone’s voice  been heard?  Let us know what you think. Here on patch and our new /Community pages for discussion on Google +. You’ll find them here: https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/105246721271362675452

It’s clear that developers want to put up houses or condos. Many people argue for parks and playing fields. The rowing club wants to expand. Everyone agrees that there should be access to the creek and waterways beyond. Boating. Rowing and kayaking. There must be room for industry. Do we need to paint a happy face on the Granite Rock towers?  A developer just bought the Malibu site to put up office towers. What should be included?  What should go where?

We continue to make our case that our floating community is an asset to Redwood City in many ways. The Houseboat community in Sausalito went from being an eyesore to a major attraction for visitors. A floating community like ours is unique way of life unlike anywhere else in the city, a community without sprawling houses. An art scene. A lively place for coffee and conversation. A yacht club. And a connection to the water that the city has long said it wants for this part of town.

We are the water gateway to downtown. The connection to the long-gone downtown harbor which was once the center of the city.   Shouldn't we do something unique with this unique tract of land and water and not just fill it with dirt and put up more condominiums?

We also represent one important solution to one of the greatest challenges facing the world today: the threat of rising sea levels because of climate change that threatens to inundate existing communities as well as new developments that cannot adapt. Communities and planners in Sausalito, Copenhagen, London, and Amsterdam are designing and building floating environments that rise with the seas. Should Redwood City not be as progressive in their planning as the Dutch, who are preparing for the future and making the most of their land resources with not only floating homes, but floating restaurants, community centers, and businesses like Google's new floating showrooms? Share your thoughts on these issues and raise your own concerns, at the meetings, here on Patch, and at  https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/105246721271362675452

More of what WE think after the next Inner Harbor meeting tomorrow.