New Guemes ferry terminal building planned
May 02, 2008 - 11:28 AM
by Joan Pringle
by Joan Pringle
The approximately 1,280-square-foot structure will house the purser’s office, waiting room, shop and parts storage area, offices, crew quarters and conference room. It will be just south of the existing building.
The Anacortes Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the shoreline development permit application at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 28 at City Hall.
The plans for the building are about 70 percent complete, said ferry manager Ron Panzero. The county expects to go out for bids at the end of May with construction starting in August. The project will take about six months to complete.
The estimated budget is $600,000 from concept to turning the key, Panzero said. All the funds come from the road fund.
“This is a capital expenditure for the county so it does not affect ferry fares,” Panzero said.
Part of the project’s goal is to clear up the dock area and consolidate the outbuildings. The changes will free up the area leading to the landing for two lanes of ferry traffic, enough to hold a full boat load of vehicles, Panzero said.
Panzero estimated work to the dock itself will have to be done in about five years. Taking the existing building out now will make it easier to do the work over the water when it comes time for it.
Additional work on the Guemes Island side of the channel is expected to begin in September. That work will replace creosote pilings and wing wall timbers. The project will cost approximately $800,000. It will also come out of the road fund and will not affect the cost of ferry fares, Panzero said.
Written comments on the shoreline application must be submitted by May 19 and sent to Ian Munce, Anacortes planning director, Box 547, Anacortes, WA 98221 or to .
A design of the ferry terminal building by Theisen Architects is available at http://www.linetime.org.
