The Martinez City Council on Wednesday will discuss plans to make the waterfront a regional destination with a vibrant marina, regional recreation draws, and restaurants while bracing the area for sea level rise.
Since the city hired the SWA Group in July 2022 to help develop the Waterfront Marina Trust Land Use Plan, the group has done a land use survey, interviewed stakeholders and conducted public workshops to get input on what the city’s vision of the area should include.
According to a staff report for Wednesday’s study session, emerging themes for the waterfront from that activity include waterfront dining; a destination area that is clean, safe and easily accessible, a connection to the downtown area, building on the area’s sports and outdoor activities culture, and a waterfront that is contextual to Martinez.
The group came up with a vision statement after the first public workshop in October.
“The Waterfront Marina will be a recreational asset for the City of Martinez and a regional destination for the Contra Costa County and the East Bay,” the statement said. “The waterfront is a place that draws visitors to experience an active waterfront complete with a vibrant marina, waterfront promenade and fishing pier, dining opportunities, event venues, regional recreational facilities, and other destinations surrounded by open space and trails.
“The waterfront will be welcoming to all and a place to celebrate Martinez’s connection to the water. With initial, significant capital improvements completed, the waterfront will contribute revenue to support the continued evolution and development of the site as a regional resource while acting as a resilient buffer to rising sea levels and tidal flooding.”
During a second public input meeting in December, event space was discussed and recreation emerged as a focus. Ferry service was also discussed as were marina operations and improvements and non-motorized small boat facilities and programs.
Three concepts were developed and discussed and a third public meeting in February 2023, including support for multiple food and beverage options with an outdoor, tree-covered seating area, a small watercraft launch area, and a cultural and events center and other environmental education opportunities.
The report said there was also support for an amphitheater but concerns about environmental factors at the waterfront.
The John Muir Amphitheater near the waterfront has been the site of organized, and unorganized, encampments for unhoused people in recent years. The waterfront is also the home of the city’s semi-pro baseball team the Martinez Sturgeon.
Wednesday’s meeting is meant to get council input on the public review draft plan, whether it fits the city’s vision for the waterfront, and whether the council has any additions to the plan.
The study session starts at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, 90 minutes before the regular council meeting starts. The Martinez City Council meets at the city council chamber at 525 Henrietta St. in Martinez.
19 comments
I walk my dog down there several times a week….there are people who camp in their cars, yesterday there was a tent pitched in a parking lot, and homeless just wondering around down there…if this cleans this area up and gets those drains on the community out of there for good, I am all for it
Are they expecting to build a dock up on Mt. Diablo? 😄
Psst! Reference to the mention of “bracing the area for sea level rise”. 🤪
It would be nice if they built a large fishing pier. One that goes out a good distance. The park is a great place.
Amusement park rides, boardwalk, food, hotels.
Strip club, biker bar, tattoo shop, adult bookstore, homeless camp.
The Martinez marina and park have two things that need cleaning up.
First, the homeless or squatters that are parked in the parking lots forever. Some vehicles never move although posted signs say no overnight parking. Second, the traffic interruptions from the railroad crossing that causes hour long delays is not conducive to a lot of park friendly visitors.
Otherwise, Martinez could really have as nice a waterfront as Benicia if planned right.
Perhaps holding their meeting at the waterfront park after dark would provide additional insight.
This reminds me of the Concord City Council discussing the future Concord Tournament Park, which is to be developed on the inland portion of the former CNWS property, and how the tournament park will make the City of Concord a “DESTINATION CITY.”
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This also reminds me of former Concord City Councilman Ron Leone when he always talked about wanting the MOTCO Army Base to close, so that the City of Concord could annex the property with the purpose of taking possession and ownership of the deep-water port, so that the City of Concord could become a “CRUISE SHIP DESTINATION.”
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It appears the qualifications for being a City Councilmember include “BIG DREAMS AND LITTLE RESULTS.”
Lot’s of potential there. Waterfront bar and restaurant, better fishing pier, kayak and stand up paddleboard rental area / launch spot. Hoping they make progress soon.
Just rename the park from Waterfront to drug addict hobo campground and then spend the money on something that will actually be maintained. That whole area is East Bay Regional Parks and patrolled once every few days at best. There’s homeless people living in the display train, under the bridges, in the middle island marsh, and in the tables by the playgrounds and boccee courts. Stop with the lame plans to nowhere already and go do something City Council. Worthless blabbermouthes getting a check to sit on their thumbs.
If anyone can turn something around Martinez can. Unlike Concords Todos Santos Plaza which is a big nothing, Martinez has turned Main St into a destination with nice restaurants, upscale bar and brew pubs, boutique shops and live music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Market & Main was a brilliant idea and the Sunday Farmers Market is one of the best in the area.
Perhaps Concord should take a look at what Martinez has done and what they come up with for the marina. Concord could learn from Martinez.
This was clearly written by a City Council member. Market and Main is far from brilliant, it’s a half empty mess. If you call 10 old furniture stores boutique, ok. Not much positive about the trash spilling out of the bars and back into them at 6am when they reopen. Upscale pubs, ok there’s a couple ill give you that.
Did anyone catch this Crap “while bracing the area for sea level rise” what are they worried about? 1.75 inches per Century? Mann’s “Hockey Stick Graph” data was honestly graphed by Scientists from UC Berkeley and the Temperature is actually going down, we might still be headed for another Ice Age. “Global Warming nee Global Climate Change” is just another way to try and misuse our tax money, scare us, and control us.
My waterfront plan would involve a six pack of cold beer, some live grass shrimp & fishing gear.
Should also remind you especially Martineans that the City Council has been discussing waterfront plans for years. And that has about all they[ve done. And do they really have any extra bucks to really do something?
I used to wait tables at the Albatross back when the Marina was a destination for delta boaters. We just need a good dining venue, maybe a grab n go as well and a refurbished pier. They have a great pro baseball team and a nice concert venture. Make it happen MTZ!
With all the events that happen there ( baseball, bocce, horse show ) there really should be some waterfront dining.
I’d just be happy if they fixed and reopened the pier. I’m tired of hopping the fence…
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