Port still working on overnight ferry parking in Mukilteo

Port of South Whidbey Commissioner Curt Gordon has been talking about parking for more than a decade.

He began his efforts to add overnight parking for ferry passengers on the Mukilteo side of the Clinton ferry run in 2008, and after surmounting several obstacles, it appears his vision may become a reality.

“I’m cautiously really optimistic and exited,” Gordon said.

The port had a tentative agreement with the Tulalip Tribes to build a parking lot on property it owned near the new multi-modal ferry terminal, which is currently under construction, but those plans fell through in recent months.

Then another opportunity recently presented itself, according to Gordon. The port has been in contact with the Land Pro Group, which is trying to build a parking garage near the multi-modal ferry terminal.

The group is in the process of obtaining permits for a multi-story parking garage with retail space on the first level, said port Executive Director Stan Reeves.

Officials at Land Pro Group talked about reserving some of the approximately 200 potential spaces for overnight use by ferry passengers.

Discussions are still preliminary, and there hasn’t been any money allocated toward the project yet, Gordon said. The opportunity will be discussed at the port’s next regular meeting Feb. 14.

The port has already helped complete a parking demand study and traffic study, which would be required for the developer’s plan to go through, Reeves said.

“We’ve already checked the boxes for some of the requirements for this project,” he said. “We’re willing to share this data with these folks if it means we can get some dedicated parking.”