Council staff outline revisions to Empire Area Blueprint; public urges caution on estuary impacts

Chelsea (staff member) presented the Empire Area Blueprint as a long-range planning effort intended to boost economic potential and improve transportation connections in the Empire area and said the draft reflects council direction from an October work session.

The presentation said the planning commission had recommended (1) incorporating a nautical theme, (2) including expansion of the boat ramp at the Hollering Place and (3) planning for a traffic signal at the Newmark–North Shoneman intersection. Council directed staff not to single out a nautical theme; staff said the current draft leaves themes broad to include historical and cultural options while acknowledging community interest in a nautical motif.

The staff presentation also said the Hollering Place is currently in the estuary and that making zoning changes to carry out council’s open-space preference will require the jurisdictional estuary amendment process. Chelsea told the council the draft directs that property toward open space and park uses while allowing limited temporary commercial uses such as pop-up markets and food trucks; the city packet notes the property is also within the Urban Renewal Agency’s jurisdiction.

Several residents spoke during public comment. Christine Moffett said she "strongly support[s] your council recommendations from your meeting in October" to avoid a single theme and to preserve Hollering Place as park and open space, and she asked staff to work with the consultant to correct factual inconsistencies in the consultant report (she referenced a 01/16/2025 revision date). Julia Hancock said the Devereaux Center’s closure reduced foot traffic but urged a traffic signal at Shoneman and Newmark, calling the intersection “dangerous.” Chelsea acknowledged the comment about the Devereaux Center and said staff will remove references that are no longer current.

Council members asked for clarifications. One member asked whether the plan mentions a tsunami evacuation tower; Chelsea said the tower is referenced as a potential waterfront opportunity but the plan does not mandate construction and only notes that a future grant or local desire could support such a project. Staff said that, if council approves the blueprint for a public hearing, the plan would return for a March 4 public hearing and potential adoption with accompanying code amendments.

Mayor Benetti reminded the public that the city is not involved with the Port Cold Intermodal Project (PCIP) terminal project and that the PCIP has not come before the council; several speakers had raised environmental and traffic concerns about a proposed container terminal during public comment. Staff reiterated that the estuary amendment process and coordination with the county and neighboring jurisdictions will be required for zoning changes tied to the estuary.

Chelsea said staff will incorporate the requested factual corrections into the consultant document, and the packet points to specific pages where earlier council direction was addressed. The council did not take final action at the work session; staff said the intent is to bring a public hearing item back to council on or before March 4.

Ending

Staff will revise the consultant report to correct factual inconsistencies identified by public commenters, leave themes broad rather than mandating a nautical motif, and retain Hollering Place as open-space within the draft while noting that formal estuary-code amendments are required before zoning can be fully changed. The council set March 4 as the target for a public hearing and potential adoption of the blueprint and related code amendments.