SWAMPSCOTT — The Harbor & Waterfront Advisory Committee (HWAC) met on Thursday evening to present a project aimed at saving the town’s pier.
Located off Fisherman’s Beach, the pier was built in the 1960s and is currently home to approximately 200 vessels, including commercial fishing and personal boats.
Current concerns regarding the status of the pier are that it isn’t wide enough, it is past its lifespan, and that it is not prepared for a projected storm surge. The committee hopes to raise the pier in order to address future storm projections as well as ensure that emergency services can access the pier. Also, Town Senior Planner Molly O’Connell mentioned the economic and sustainability benefits of the pier project.
According to the committee, the goal is to have a project-completion package by June of 2022. John McCalister, who is one of the engineers on the project, mentioned that the group doesn’t yet know how long the new pier will be.
Swampscott Planning Board Chair Angela Ippolito was concerned about the timing of the project. She mentioned that the timing needs to work along with the protection of the Fish House. McCalister said that the group is considering moving the pier in response to her concerns.
“The pier and the Fish House are integral,” said Jay Borkland, who is also a part of the design process.
Borkland added that the group behind the new pier hopes to add some resiliency assets to protect the Fish House.
O’Connell stressed that the pier should be accessible for everyone when questioned about who the pier is for.
“You think of a pier as kind of a public park in a way,” said O’Connell. “It’s a park on the water. So there’s this opportunity for everyone to get out there, not just people who are going to go out on boats.”
Erica Petersiel and other residents were concerned about the possible inclusion of restaurants or commercial spaces on the pier. Borkland stressed that they are simply focused on building the pier and have no involvement with possible commercial spaces.
Steve Speranza, a member of HWAC, called upon the design group to think about the fishermen during this process.
“I would like to see them considered during the design process of the pier,” said Speranza.
Moving forward, the pier project will be a standing item on the HWAC agenda to allow brief updates on the project. The next public meeting focusing on the project is slated for January.
