| KETTENBURG BOATYARD IN SAN DIEGO
March 12, 2000
Dear Steve:
The Port has scheduled the hearing on Kettenburg for March
28th at 1:00pm. That is what has been promised by the
Commissioners, so we feel it is going to be heard on this
date. Here's where we stand today.
Port staff's recommendation will be to eliminate about half
of the boatyard and change it's use to
commercial/recreational. This would allow them to add a
restaurant or similar project onto the site. This plan has
been brought forward by two or three Point Loma community
leaders and will probably have the support of the Point Loma
planning groups. We are opposed to this plan for several
reasons, the main one being that they are eliminating
necessary boatyard area when they have their own independent
study that is telling them to do the opposite. They should be
increasing the size of the yard, not eliminating the use of
half of it forever.
We will be presenting our own plan as an option that same
day. This will be a compromise plan that keeps about 80,000
square feet for boat repair and gives up 20,000 square feet
for public access and a promenade. Although we feel quite
strongly that the yard should increase in size to meet demand,
we are trying to accommodate the desires of the upland
community in the spirit of compromise and cooperation.
Any letters of support for maintaining the entire site for
boat repair would be really helpful. The Port Commissioners
need to see that the majority of the people want to see that
yard stay. Right now, they have only heard the other side.
They need to hear from the boating community and the rest of
the public. They need to understand not only the current and
future needs of boaters, but also the history and heritage the
Kettenburg facility brings to the harbor.
Any letters should be addressed to:
Chairman Paul Speer and the Board of Port
Commisioners
San Diego Unified Port District
P.O. Box
120488
San Diego, CA 92112-0488
Thanks again for your support. Anyone willing to speak at a
public hearing should come down of the 28th. I think numbers
are important at this stage.
Tom
February 10, 2000
Steve:
The Port has tabled a decision on America's Cup Harbor
Master plan until next month. The addendum to the boatyard
demand study further solidified our position on the need for
boat repair facilities. The question will be at what location.
If the Port decides that there is the need to expand our large
yacht repair business, that will have to be done somewhere
else. Kettenburg would then be somewhat reduced in size and
improvements constructed that cater more to mid-size boats and
the do-it-yourself boater. The syncolift would be moved and
more land would become available for public amenities. If the
Port decides that expanding our operations is not possible,
then the size and amenities of the yard would stay basically
the same. There will be some type of boatyard improvements at
Kettenburg regardles of which direction the Port goes. I will
let you know when a more definitive date and plans comes
forward.
Thanks
Tom
Dear Steve:
Great web site. I just read about it in the SDYC Mainsheet
and logged on. There is something happening here in San Diego
that I thought you and your readers should know about and
might be interested in getting involved with.
The Port of San Diego is in their final stages of a master
plan effort for America's Cup Harbor. Included in this plan
area is the Kettenburg boatyard, currently being run by my
brother, Chuck Driscoll. It is our intent to maintain the
Kettenburg name and heritage and build a new yard at the
present location. This facility would provide the same level
services to the recreational boater that has been provided for
the last 80 plus years. There is a very vocal group of two or
three Point Loma residents that want to eliminate the boatyard
and build a park. They seem to carry some significant
political clout. After two years of public workshops and
meetings we thought we were in a good position for a
compromise that would include a public promenade and still
maintain enough area for a boatyard. Now this group has
surfaced again, with one Port Commissioner's ear, and has
convinced the local Peninsula Planning Board that we don't
need this boatyard. They have maintained this position despite
the fact that the port has a boatyard demand study that states
that not only should the yard be allowed to stay, it should be
allowed to expand.
We can use all the help we can get. There will one last
public workshop on December 7, 1999 at 4 o'clock at the
Holiday Inn Bayside 4875 North Harbor Drive. This will be the
last time anyone can speak on this issue in an open workshop
forum. The final decision will be made at the Port
Commissioners hearing on December 14, 1999 at 1 o'clock at the
port building on Pacific Highway. Public testimony will be
allowed at this hearing but it will be kept to a minimum.
Anyone with strong feelings on this issue should try to attend
these meetings and make their beliefs known. Letters to the
Executive Director of the Port District are also effective and
will be shared with the commissioners prior to them making
their final decision.
I can be reached at 619-226-2500 or by Email or Email2. I would be glad to
talk to anyone about this important issue we have before us.
Sincerely:
Tom Driscoll
Steve:
Thanks for your response. Here's where we are today. The
public workshop was held last week. To our surprise, the
majority of the time was spent on discussing the parking
problem around America's Cup Harbor. All the comments that
were made about Kettenburg were very very positive. The people
who oppose the boatyard were there but did not make any
comments. I suspect they were waiting for their one shot at
the commissioners hearing and not playing their hand early.
Port staff pulled the item off tomorrow's agenda. They want
to give the one commissioner enough time to review the
boatyard demand study with its author before scheduling this
item on the agenda. They are now saying we will be scheduled
for the first meeting in January. I will let you know when I
hear more.
As I guess you have read I have agreed to a compromise. The
Port property is about 100,000 square feet and I have agreed
to cut the boatyard land area about in half. The other half
would be made up of my support buildings and a 25,000 square
foot public landing. The landing is not a bad idea. It will
provide people with boats a place to tie up and come ashore to
make use of the different services in the area. I am hoping to
make a deal with the Kettenburg family on the property they
still own upland from the Port property. This would get me
back to the 100,000 or more square foot number.
Thanks for forwarding this issue to your registry. The more
people are informed, the better chance we have of preserving
the Kettenburg name.
Tom
Re: requested letter/s to the Port Director regarding
importance of Kettenburg Yard. Please send me the name of the
Director, and snail mail address, also names of all Directors.
I'd be happy to write a letter of support to not only keep
but expand the old Kettenburg yard. I can't imagine how we
could get along without the K-yard. I've been using it since I
bought my first sailboat back in 1956!! Who else knows how to
properly haul, and maintain a K-38, not to mention all the
others. Seems top me the Driscoll operated K- yard is one of
the few still operating cradles on a marine railway!
The Port must recognize the importance of keeping this
historical yard on site!!
Any suggestions for copy in my letter will be appreciated.
Howard Dentz, SWYC, 24 year owner "Shadowfax," K-38 hull
No. 9, and before that, Vitesse, K-38 Hull No. 17.
Email
| 
Cruisin' with a
Kettenburg
