Environmental Affairs Approves Gloucester Harbor Plan

July 28, 1999
Contact: Susan Snow-Cotter, CZM, at 617-626-1200, ext. 210
or
Dale Brown, Harbor Plan Project Coordinator, at 978-281-8740

Secretary of Environmental Affairs Bob Durand, the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Office (MCZM), and the City of Gloucester celebrated the Secretary's approval of the Gloucester Harbor Plan today at 1:30 p.m. adjacent to the Fitz Hugh Lane House on Harbor Loop in Gloucester. In addition to state and local dignitaries, Senator Bruce Tarr and Representative Tony Verga also attended the celebration event.

"Gloucester has done a terrific job developing this harbor plan," said Secretary Durand. "Congratulations to Mayor Bruce Tobey and the Gloucester Harbor Plan Committee, Chairman Ab Khambaty, Project Coordinator Dale Brown, and the many citizens who participated. This certainly wouldn't have happened without their great work."

The plan represents the city's innovative vision and implementation strategies for harbor and marine industrial port revitalization, supported by extensive analysis and consensus building. The plan also provides an approach to link historic and cultural resources with industrial revitalization. Gloucester developed its harbor plan, concurrent with the cities of Salem, New Bedford/Fairhaven, and Fall River, each funded by the Seaport Bond.

Specifically, Gloucester's harbor plan confirms the primary importance of maintaining the harbor as an active working port, principally dedicated to the needs of the fishing industry. The plan also recognizes that the harbor area can accommodate other uses, including visitor-oriented education, recreation, and commerce in ways that will not displace traditional marine industries. The plan recommends three key actions: 1) upgrade the public infrastructure of the harbor (navigation, public access, seawalls, wastewater treatment, streets, and parking); 2) strengthen the traditional working port by creating a new private Gloucester harbor partnership organization that will assist small- to medium-sized businesses on historic finger piers; and 3) capitalize on the cultural and natural assets of the harbor by developing a maritime museum and attracting private investment to the downtown area.

"The Gloucester Harbor Plan is the first plan from the four major industrial ports to be approved by the Secretary," said Tom Skinner, new MCZM Director. "MCZM is pleased to have worked with the city on this important document, and looks forward to working with Gloucester to implement the plan." Skinner also acknowledged the hard work of MCZM staff Andrea Cooper and Dennis Duscik, as well as Department of Environmental Protection staff Tom Maguire and John Simpson, who helped Gloucester develop the plan.

Gloucester City officials are already working on implementation, coordinating with state and federal agencies and seeking funding sources. Funding has been provided through the Seaport Bond, appropriated by the Seaport Council, to coordinate the project during the first stage of implementation.