Proposed Boat Central off Fiji Way.

Boat Central–Dry Boat Storage Project, commonly referred to as “Boat Central,” public hearing will be held May 10, 6 to 8 pm, Burton Chase Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey, 90292, by the US Army Corp of Engineers. Boat Central will be located off Fiji Way.

Boat Central is a state-of-the-art storage-launch facility designed to put a boat in the water within 20 minutes and return it to its stall within 7 to 12 minutes.

Questions or comments can be directed to Bonnie Rogers at 213-452-3372, Bonnie.L.Rogers@usace.army.mil . Originally, this hearing was set for 2 March but changed to 10 May.

Jon Nahhas of Boat Coalition urges all to speak and to consider mentioning some of the following:

1) There is no need for this project. As the applicants have even admitted, there are a lot of vacant boat slips in the under-35-feet categories & there are already vacancies in dry storage for boats.

2) The current usage of this public parcel is very high compared to what the project’s use would be. (The project would not be an overall benefit to the public – “Public Trust Doctrine”).

3) The proposed Boat Central would create problems with boat launching and safety issues at the MdR Public Launch Ramp as the proposed project will stretch 92 feet out into the basin.

4) The proposed project would severely inhibit access to the coast by Millions of recreational enthusiasts currently using the parking lot for biking, walking, running, fishing, whale-watching, and various other activities at this popular waterside parcel.

5) Run-off from the Boat Central project (gas, oil, contaminants) would pollute the Ballona Wetlands across from the sight via a “known” culvert running under Parcel GG (impacts not fully addressed in the Environmental Impact Report).

6) Noise from the automated crane would create huge impacts on wildlife in the Ballona Wetlands.

7) Boat Central would be very expensive and the boat storage would not rent well! The pricing would make funding the project extremely difficult (banks frown upon funding projects involving public leases).