The planning commission of Juneau has approved the conditional use permit to the construction of a cruise ship dock in the subport. The next phases of the project set to be discussed next month, Juneau is hoping to gather more feedback from the public on the parking plan and retail space adjacent to the dock.
The commission ratified one portion of Huna Totem Corporation’s conditional usage permit on July 11 which was the portion that dealt with the dock. The dock was not the only thing approved. public attended to express their views on the plan.
“Several Commissioners and myself were stunned at how very few of the general public attended the planning commission’s meeting on this issue, which I’m sure many people are deeply concerned over,” Assembly member Christine Woll spoke at a meeting on Monday night.
Three people from the public were present at the meeting held on July 11 and included one speaker in behalf of Juneau Chamber of Commerce and one on behalf of the Sealaska Heritage Institute. Three of them supported the idea. Cruise Line International Association also offered their support in a march letter.
Norwegian Cruise Lines purchased the waterfront property in the year 2019 and was planning to build new docks there. In March 2022 The Juneau Assembly amended the city’s Long Range Waterfront Plan to permit a fifth dock for cruise ships. In August 2022, Norwegian gave the property to Huna Totem, an Alaska Native village corporation.
Huna Totem has proposed a dock, an underground bus station as well as car park, a retail space, as well as a welcome center. The project is dubbed Aak’w Landing.
“Aak’w Landing is a great addition to the Seawalk It will reduce downtown congestion, and it is within the limits of five ships It can also accommodate the shoreline power, and it is built to be operational all year long,” Fred Parady, Huna Totem’s chief operating officers informed the commission.
However, several commissioners, such as Mandy Cole, wanted more information about the amenities proposed before deciding on this portion of the application.
” style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”I have high confidence on the designers and developers. designers to be able to come up with a final product that is able to meet the requirements of the community and the requirements of Huna Totem,” Cole stated. “I believe that’s not the product we have before us yet. .”
Architecture Corey Wall acknowledged that there’s still plenty of design work that needs to be completed.
Its style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”We are aware that we’re not quite getting an construction permit.” the commissioner was told. “We believe we’ve got an 18 or 12 month design process to go through.” the commission.” .”
The commission spent a lot of its meeting discussing whether housing should be a mandatory element of the plan, since the shortage of housing hampers companies’ ability to recruit workers.
“I do not know what to do without thinking that Huna Totem will solve Juneau’s issues all in one plan But have you thought that housing is crucial to building the infrastructure for tourism?” Cole asked.
However, Parady suggested that the site might not be the right spot to build it.
“It’s hard to specifically deal with housing on this 3-acre area when it’s, in essence it’s a city-wide issue,” he said.
Jill Maclean, the city’s director of community development, told the media that the Aak’w Landing housing project is unlikely to provide Juneau with affordable alternatives.
The span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”While I understand that housing is in crisis and we urgently need it however, this is likely not to be affordable or workforce housing in this area,” she said. “It will most likely be luxury waterfront properties .”
If the commission ratifies the conditionsal use permits, it is the decision of the Juneau Assembly whether to lease the tidelands to Huna Totem. On Monday, the city manager Rorie Watt said it was an “pivotal decision” that will allow the public with more avenues to speak.
The commission will decide whether to allow uplands development that could include the welcoming center for visitors, parking area and retail space at the meeting on August. 8, at 7. p.m. The public are invited to participate in this meeting on their own, after signing in on the form. The commission also welcomes written submissions by the noon deadline on Friday August. 4.
