On Monday, October 19, the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) held a “groundbreaking” ceremony to mark the start of construction of its ferry terminal at Oyster Point Marina. Among the many people present for this historic occasion were Congresswoman Jackie Speier (who spearheaded appropriation of the final $3 million for WETA’s first terminal project), Assemblyman Jerry Hill, members of the South San Francisco City Council including Councilman Pedro Gonzalez (a longtime vocal advocate of ferry service at South San Francisco), Mayor Karyl Matsumoto, and Councilmen Rich Garbarino and Mark Addiego, and Harbor Commission President Leo Padreddii and Vice-President Sally Campbell.
Marina docks 9 and 10 have been removed and this area, where the terminal will go, plus the main channel, have been dredged to ten feet to accommodate the vessels.
WETA has received proposals from four firms: Dutra, Manson, Power, and General to construct the ferry terminal and vessel float. Selection of a contractor is expected in April, with construction to follow. Ferry service is projected to start in 2011 between Oyster Point Marina and Jack London Square, Oakland.
WETA is also in preliminary planning and environmental stages with Berkeley, Treasure Island, Hercules, Antioch, Richmond, and Redwood City.
On Oct. 21, the Board of Harbor Commissioners approved a commercial activity permit for Marti McMahon’s California Spirit charter cruise vessel to operate from Oyster Point Marina. The luxurious craft will serve north San Mateo County clients who have requested improved access to the boat and its services at Oyster Point, rather than having to go up to San Francisco.
On October 6, Ms. McMahon brought the California Spirit to Oyster Point for an introductory visit, where it was welcomed by City of South San Francisco officials, Harbor Commission president Leo Padreddii, and representatives of the South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, the County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and local businesses.
Ms. McMahon’s firm, Yacht Connections International, also operates the smaller but equally well-appointed vessel Yacht Lady.
Memorandum of Understanding with the City of South San Francisco and its Redevelopment Agency The Harbor District has begun negotiations with the City on binding agreements concerning Oyster Point Marina’s future operation, maintenance, and improvement, and impacts on the marina of the new life sciences development proposed by Oyster Point MV, LLC (Shorenstein Properties and SKS Investments).
The developers have proposed to build a two million square foot life sciences “campus” of laboratories, offices, and open space on part of the western end of Oyster Point Marina and the adjacent Oyster Point Business Park. The developers purchased the latter area last year. The western marina area, which includes the Marina Inn, offices, and vacant area, has been under lease to King Ventures of San Luis Obispo. Oyster Point MV is taking over these leases with the approval of the District and the City. The developers plan to start construction after a several years-long planning, environmental review, and entitlement process is completed.
These two actions signal the beginning of a new era for Oyster Point Marina, in which the District and the City foresee marina improvements, commercial and recreational development, and public access improvements taking place over the next decade.
The United States Coast Guard has published a map of Security Zones around certain facilities on San Francisco Bay. The map is accessible from the Coast Guard's website: http://www.uscg.mil/D11/msosf.
You can also reach the Coast Guard at:
Phone: 415-399-3547
Fax: 415-399-3554
Oyster Point Marina/Park
95 Harbormaster Road, #1
South San Francisco, Ca. 94080
Voice: 650-952-0808
Fax: 650-871-7532
E-mail: oysterpoint@smharbor.com
95 Harbormaster Road, #1