This article was submitted for publication by Julie Crenshaw, Candidate for Beaufort City Council. To submit your own articles, email editor@beaufortinsider.org
Last night’s City Council work session cracked open a critical conversation about the future of Beaufort’s downtown marina. City officials have been recommending rushing through the decision-making but these decisions are too important to be rushed. It’s time for a professional planning study. It is important to acknowledge that the citizens—who have owned this marina for decades—have largely been shut out of the decision-making process for many years. For too long, the marina has been under the control of private operators, first by a family-owned company and more recently by Safe Harbor. Now is the time for full citizen participation in determining the marina’s future, not through a hastily constructed survey, as the city officials are recommending, but through a meaningful and inclusive design charrette.
So, what exactly is the purpose of a charrette? It’s more than just a brainstorming session. A charrette is a collaborative effort aimed at capturing the vision, values, and ideas of the community. It involves designers sketching real-time ideas generated by participants and refining these concepts into actionable plans. The ultimate goal is to create a vision for the future that is rooted in community input.
The charrette process leads to an effective and efficient design by building consensus and formalizing a shared project vision. When done properly, it streamlines the design process, clarifies goals, and positions the project for success. Charrettes are particularly impactful when conducted early in the planning stages, typically during the conceptual or schematic design phases. They include gathering information from all stakeholders, brainstorming ideas in small groups, sketching future visions, and working through short feedback loops that refine the ideas. The final product is then presented to the public for review and discussion.
This isn’t new for Beaufort. In 2002, the City commissioned Sasaki, a Boston-based planning, architecture, and engineering firm, to investigate and present ideas for the future of Beaufort’s waterfront park. The result was the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park Masterplan Report for Repair and Improvement, dated April 11, 2002. This charrette-driven process allowed the community to have a direct impact on the future of one of Beaufort’s most cherished spaces.
It’s time for another such report, but this time focused on the downtown marina and its vital relationship to Beaufort’s historic district, the community’s functional needs, and the ongoing repairs needed for the waterfront park’s underwater structure. This is not just a cosmetic issue; the marina is a key element of Beaufort’s identity and economic future. Engaging citizens through a charrette will allow Beaufortians to take ownership of the process, ensuring that any future decisions are rooted in the values and vision of the people who live here.
City Council must take this opportunity seriously. They can’t afford to cut corners with a quick survey. A properly run charrette will take time and effort, but it will yield results that reflect the true desires and needs of Beaufort’s citizens. After all, they are the rightful owners of the marina. Let’s give them the chance to shape its future.
The community deserves to have their voices heard—now more than ever.
Julie Crenshaw, Candidate for Beaufort City Council
