"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...
An item from the press release folder illustrates a problem that will
erode opportunities for boating in most communities unless it is
addressed.

I drive nearly every day past a good example of this phenomenon. An
area once occupied by the physically largest recreationally oriented
boatyard on Seattle's Lake Union is being developed for condominiums.
To skirt City of Seattle requirements that any waterfront developments
must be related to water-oriented activities, a very small dock has
been built as part of the project. It would seem unlikely that there
will be any public access to this dock, as none of the new owners of
the $half million and up, up, up waterfront condominiums will want
strangers coming ashore in their front yard. Most likely the moorage
will be sold to the condo residents.


It's not just boat access that suffers. It's access for pedestrians who
simply want to walk along a waterfront with an ice cream cone and enjoy the
view. We're facing these issues here (Rochester), and it's not easy to deal
with. Occasionally, a politician will acknowledge that so-called "city
planning" is driven by contractors, but having an honest discussion at
public comment meetings is next to impossible. These projects are jammed
down the public's throat because city officials are connected in some way
with the financial success of the projects. At one of these meetings, I
listened as a resident asked two city council members if they'd be OK with
having all their investments made public, so we could be sure they weren't
involved in anything like limited partnerships connected with the plans
being discussed. Naturally, this did not go over well, which isn't
surprising. 15 years ago, the supervisor of the town where I now live was on
a big campaign to have an unneeded mall built. He said it would be a great
benefit to the community. It was, at least to a miniscule portion of "the
community": His brother, who owned the land which was sold to the developer.
The mall is now 85% vacant.