Martinez Waterfront Marina Plan

Envision the Future of the Waterfront Marina

The City of Martinez is preparing a Trust Lands Use Plan (TLUP) for the Martinez Waterfront Marina. This process will explore conceptual land use options that are formed by community and stakeholder collaboration and input. The Plan will maximize the recreational and economic benefits of the Martinez waterfront, marina, and adjacent lands.

The Martinez Waterfront Marina encompasses approximately 70 acres in three parcels within the Martinez shoreline area, including the marina, a portion of North Court Street, Yacht Club and Eagle Marine. The Marina includes 332 boat slips, a park, open space and marine-related businesses. An additional 65 acres consists of Trust Lands held by the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) which are leased to the City, and include baseball fields, Martinez Bocce Federation courts area, trails and a horse arena. The entire waterfront area subject to this planning effort covers approximately 135 acres. There are additional EBRPD open space and park areas west of the planning area. In general, the open spaces, trails, and recreation uses are well supported and used.

Preparation of the Plan is a long-term effort by the City to revitalize the Waterfront Marina pursuant to the requirements of the State of California, by which they granted Martinez sovereign tidelands and submerged lands to the City. These granted lands, referred to as Trust Lands, are held in trust for the people of California, and are comprised of five parcels, four of which are contiguous parcels and are the subject of the Plan.

The Plan will form the cornerstone of the City’s future efforts to revitalize the Martinez Waterfront and Marina. An essential outcome of the Plan will be the transformation of the area to become a destination for city and regional residents and visitors, and to provide revenue for ongoing operations and improvements to the Marina. To accomplish these goals, the Plan must contemplate:

• A variety of water-related recreational uses.

• The types of permissible commercial development that attract users to the area.

• Retention and enhancement of existing appropriate uses, and

• Relocation of inappropriate uses.

Martinez Waterfront Marina Plan Process

Vision

What is the future of the Martinez Waterfront?

Workshop #1: Vision

In the first workshop, participants explored ideas, needs and goals related to the waterfront and big-picture “what if” questions about the future of the study area.

Workshop #1 Summary

Initial Analysis

Opportunities, Constraints & Market Analysis

Market Analysis

Marina Conditions

Workshop #2: Create

In the second workshop, an initial market analysis, and opportunities and constraints related to potential programs were presented. Land use options were explored on the site.

Workshop #2 Summary

City Council Project Update Study Session

January 18th, 2023 | 6-7 pm

The consultant team provided an update to the Martinez City Council about the progress of the Waterfront Marina project and discussed potential programmatic uses.

Study Session Presentation

Land Use Plan Alternatives

Workshop #3: Evaluate

Several alternative concepts for the waterfront that combined the themes and ideas from prior workshops were presented to solicit feedback on the relative merits of each alternative.

Workshop #3 Presentation

Workshop #3 Summary

Feasibility Analysis

Preferred Trust Lands Use Plan

Joint Study Session

May 24th, 2023 | 6 pm

The consultant team provided an update to the Martinez City Council, Planning Commission, and Parks, Recreation, Marina, & Cultural Commission about the progress of the Preferred Trust Lands Use Plan and received feedback before developing the Public Review Draft of the Trust Lands Use Plan.

Joint Study Session Presentation

Trust Lands Use Plan - Public Review Draft

City Council Study Session

September 6th, 2023 | 5:30 pm

The consultant team presented the Public Review Draft of the Trust Lands Use Plan to the Martinez City Council and received feedback.

Trust Lands Use Plan - Public Review Draft

Final Trust Lands Use Plan

Based on feedback received from the City Council Study Session on September 6th and feedback received from the State Lands Commission, the consultant team will finalize the Trust Lands Use Plan in preparation for City adoption.

Adoption of the Trust Lands Use Plan

March 6th, 2024 | 7:00 pm

The consultant team presented the Waterfront Marina Trust Lands Use Plan where it was unanimously adopted by the Martinez City Council.

Adopted Trust Lands Use Plan

Get Involved!

The Martinez Waterfront Marina Trust Lands Use Plan will be created in collaboration with community members and stakeholders. See below for ways to get involved and provide your input into the process.

Land Use Survey

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Land Use Survey. This survey is now closed. We look forward to sharing the results soon.

Start 26 Sep 2022

End 23 Oct 2022

Survey Closed

Workshop #1: Vision

The first workshop was held on October 26th, 2022. Participants explored ideas, needs and goals related to the waterfront and big-picture “what if” questions about the future of the study area.

Click to Watch

Land Use Ideas

Add your ideas to our community ideas wall.

Start 26 Oct 2022

End 3 Jan 2023

View the Ideas Wall

Workshop #2: Create

The second workshop was held on December 14th, 2022. Participants provided input on potential uses and programs and discussed where these uses could be located on the Waterfront site.

Click to Watch

Land Use Ideas Map

Where would you like to see new uses on the site?

Start 14 Dec 2022

End 3 Jan 2023

View the Ideas Map

Workshop #3: Evaluate

The third workshop was held on February 22nd, 2023. Participants evaluated several alternative concepts for the waterfront that combined the themes and ideas from prior workshops.

Click to Watch

Documents

Planning Area

2019 Draft TLUP

Project Fact Sheet

Workshop 1 Summary

Workshop 2 Summary

Jan 18th - Study Session Presentation

View & Download

Market Analysis

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Marina Conditions

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Workshop 3 Presentation

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Workshop 3 Summary

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Community Outreach Summary

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May 24th - Joint Study Session Presentation

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Trust Lands Use Plan - Public Review Draft

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Adopted Trust Lands Use Plan

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FAQs

Here is a list of our frequently asked questions

What are Public Trust Lands?

The California Legislature gave the California State Lands Commission authority over California’s ungranted public trust lands (tidelands, submerged lands, and navigable waters) in 1938 and authority over California’s granted public trust lands in 1941.

The California Legislature, by statute, also conveyed public trust lands (granted lands), in trust, to more than 80 cities, counties, or other governmental agencies, including five (5) major ports (grantees).

State and local tidelands grantees are administrators of their respective public trust lands and are required to manage tidelands through statute and implementation of the Public Trust Doctrine (the common law principles that govern use of these lands).

What uses can go on Public Trust Lands?

Uses on public trust lands must serve statewide, as opposed to purely local, public purposes.

Public trust uses are generally limited to water dependent or related, and include commerce, fisheries, navigation, ecological preservation, and recreation.

Examples of uses include: ports, marinas, docks, piers, wharves, buoys, hunting,
commercial, sportfishing, bathing, swimming, boating, warehouses, container cargo storage, facilities for the development and production of oil and gas, habitat, wildlife refuges, scientific study, open space, and visitor-serving facilities such as hotels, restaurants, shops, parking lots, and restrooms.

Uses not permitted on public trust lands are those not trust use related, do not serve a public purpose, and can be located on non-waterfront property such as residential; nonmaritime related commercial, including department stores; and certain office uses

Who is working on the Trust Lands Use Plan?

The Martinez Waterfront Marina TLUP is being run by the City of Martinez. The City has hired SWA, a design firm specializing in Planning, Urban Design and Landscape Architecture. SWA has a particular focus on the public realm and is the 2020 California APA Planning Firm of the Year. Assisting SWA, is HR&A Advisors and Anchor QEA.

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