Port Everglades master plan hearing set for Nov. 13

Port Everglades master plan hearing set for Nov. 13 Future planning for Port Everglades will reach a critical juncture Nov. 13 when the Broward County commissioners hold a public hearing on the proposed master plan.
   The hearing for the master plan, which includes both a five-year capital improvement program and general planning goals for 20 years, will be held at 2 p.m. at the Broward County Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale. The hearing has been incorporated into the commissioners' regular weekly meeting. After the hearing, the commissioners can make changes or authorize the planning document.
   The master plan, which can be seen at www.portevergladesmasterplanupdate.com, has been under development since 2006. It was developed with the assistance of DMJM Harris, the national port planning and engineering firm. The five-year capital improvement plan includes a series of specific projects that would be completed over that period of time.
   The master plan also includes 'vision plans' for 10 and 20 years out. The vision plans include specific information on a number of port projects, but the timing and final authorization for those projects would depend on the way market conditions unfold. For example, some port expansion plans are based on container shipping market growth after the completion of the Panama Canal expansion project, but the port improvements would not be authorized unless anticipated market demand becomes a reality. The timing of the market changes could also vary a few years from current projections, planners realize.
   It is common for ports to complete master plans about every five years. The last Port Everglades master plan, known as the 2020 plan, was adopted in 2001. The plans always acknowledge that there could be significant unforeseen developments affecting port operations. The last master plan was developed before 9/11, and the port had to adapt by dramatically increasing the security budget and altering security operations.