San Leandro Marina Alts Study_Final

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4. Alternatives occur. The boating experience could also be compromised by the urbanized look and feel of the surrounding uses, as kayakers and canoers often prefer to partake in such activities in more scenic and quieter areas and the surface lots and hotel may seem distracting and loud. South Basin may be more appropriate for kayaking and canoeing as it could offer boaters a more direct interface with nature, more removed from the urbanized areas. From a visual perspective, the interface between the educational perimeter loop (i.e., trails, interpretive signs and kiosks) and the surface parking areas that front the harbor along its northern and western edges may seem discordant. Landscaping and other architectural amenities could be used to address this potential issue. The Nature Park Alternative with its circular promenade around the perimeter of the basin could become a place where hotel guests, the community, and visitors could engage with the water and wildlife and take a respite from their urban living. The Harbor Basin could also serve as an educational destination for school groups, youth groups, wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and others. As such, it would be considered a beneficial end use of the Harbor Basin, although, as stated above, before implementing this option, the City may need to address several potential challenges. Conclusion In summary, uses proposed under any of the alternatives would likely help to revitalize the San Leandro Harbor Basin. None of the alternatives analyzed would be entirely incompatible with the proposed mix of landside uses, although the Marina Park Alternative would emphasize boat -related uses at the Marina, while the other two alternatives would focus on natural and pedestrian improvements. Additional design work and coordination between the City and the landside developer would be required under each alternative to ensure that Marina -side and landside developments are appropriately transitioned. 4.3 Sedimentation Patterns, Hydrodynamics This section describes the sedimentation, dredging, and hydrology of the San Leandro Marina Harbor Basin Alternatives. The information provided herein is based on professional opinion and the analysis presented in the Report on Dredging Maintenance Needs by Moffatt & Nichol, prepared for John O'Driscoll, City of San Leandro and dated January 6, 2008. The City of San Leandro has long dealt with a problem of high sedimentation in their Marina and the approach and entrance Channel. The entrance Channel extends over shallow mudflats to reach the Marina, which includes a public launch ramp, fuel dock, and sewage pump out. The Marina is one of the few in this part of the East Bay and, until recently, had been aided by the United States Army Corps of Engineers with its dredging. The City of San Leandro is now considering alternative uses for the Harbor Basin due to the high sedimentation and associated cost of dredging and off - hauling to maintain the Marina. As described in Section 2, the three alternatives being considered in this report are a Marina Park, Aquatic Park, and Nature Park. The Marina Park Alternative would include a continued partial San Leandro Marina Harbor Basin 4-8 ESA / 210461 Alternatives Study March 2011