Council votes on the waterfront plan
A 5–2 vote opens the way for a public walkway along the harbor. Neighbors are still split on cost, flooding, and who the path is for.
The city council voted Monday night to approve a new public walkway along the harbor, ending a year of drawings, delays, and packed meetings. The path would run from the old ferry landing to Pier Street, with construction planned for next spring if the budget vote holds.
Supporters called it the first real opening of the waterfront in a generation. “People can see the water from the road and still not touch it,” said council member Inez Calder, who sponsored the plan. The design keeps a low railing, adds lighting, and sets aside room for fishing.
The two no votes came from members who wanted a longer study of storm flooding. High tides already cover the lower lot several times a year. The plan raises the walkway, but it does not move the storm drains. Residents on the east side said they were tired of paying for downtown amenities while their own sidewalks crack.
About forty people spoke. A few asked for benches in the shade. Others worried the path would become a place for late-night noise. The council kept a rule that closes the gate at 10 p.m. and asked staff to report back on lighting after the first summer.
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