Version 3: Menemsha Commercial Dock Replacement or Repair Options Public Survey

Introduction

This survey aims to gather feedback on potential improvement options for the Commercial Dock in Menemsha Harbor. Your responses will assist in assessing the future for Chilmark's commercial dock, whether through repair or replacement. Your input is invaluable in helping to determine the best approach for the Town of Chilmark to pursue.

The Menemsha Commercial Dock Repair or Replacement Working Group (referred to as WG throughout this survey) is a Working Group formed by the Chilmark Select Board and is the entity conducting this survey. The WG was tasked with hiring an engineering firm to conduct an initial inspection and assessment report, to solicit input from the community, and to provide the Select Board with options to repair or replace the existing infrastructure which was constructed in 1987.

Childs Engineering, referenced throughout this survey, is an engineering firm specializing in waterfront and coastal structures. They have been engaged by the Town to conduct an inspection and assessment of our existing infrastructure, and to provide us with several improvement options.

The goals of this survey are:

To solicit input from interested parties to determine the most favored approach of the four options provided by Childs Engineering, and gather information from the public to identify any alternative approaches for repair or replacement of the existing dock and bulkhead;
To determine which approach to take, while maintaining the uniqueness of Menemsha Harbor and other intrinsic characteristics, as described in the Chilmark Master Plan.

The Chilmark Master Plan of 1985 outlines that both summer and year-round residents listed Menemsha first among all places which they considered of special importance to the Town. Menemsha's special charm is due to its geography, its views, its scale, its architecture, and its authenticity as a small fishing port. The Chilmark Master Plan outlines the primary goals of retaining the visual character of the area, and Menemsha as a commercial fishing port.

Reference materials: The following links, which you will see mentioned throughout the survey, contain some relevant information to this project including background from the Chilmark Master Plan, and important dock information and recommendations provided to the Town by Childs Engineering: