Millions of dollars planned for Spotts project

The Port Authority of the Cayman Islands has applied for planning permission to construct major improvements to the Spotts Jetty cruise terminal, including $3.2 million for parking, buildings and a trellised walkway and $1 million for an expanded dock. 

Renovation of the facility, which is used by cruise ships during inclement weather, is part of ongoing negotiations between the government and China Harbour Engineering Company. Other projects being discussed are cruise berthing in George Town, a cruise dock near the Turtle Farm in West Bay and cruise facilities on the Sister Island of Cayman Brac. 

Plans for Spotts  

According to documents available for public inspection at the Government Administration Building, Spotts plans include a network of shade trellises linking three cabanas, new restroom facilities, a new concrete-and-metal fence along Shamrock Road, and a loading/unloading area for buses on the adjacent property to the west, which is now vacant. 

The plans were designed by local firm OA+D Architects, submitted for ‘client review’ in mid-September and submitted for planning review 20 December. Residents have until mid-January to weigh in on the project to the Planning Department. 

The existing building at Spotts will be demolished, according to the documents. New buildings include two separate bathroom buildings with about 21 stalls together, and 10 vendor cabanas. Plans also include two staging areas for tours, a customs/immigration building and an onsite waste treatment facility. 

Plans call for 13 parking spaces for staff, and 38 loading/unloading spaces for buses. The expanded dock will be 200 feet long and 18 feet wide. 

The property will be bounded by an 8 feet high chain link fence, except the side along Shamrock Road, which will feature a concrete and metal fence ranging in height from 5 feet, to 6 feet 8 inches. On the outside of the fence will be a 4 feet wide landscaped strip and a 6 feet wide sidewalk. 

Project breakdown  

According to planning applications, the major aspects of the project are estimated to cost $3.2 million ($1.9 million for materials and $1.3 million for labour); the dock expansion will cost $1 million ($650,000 for materials and $350,000 for labour); the concrete and metal fence will cost $50,000 ($30,000 for materials and $20,000 for labour); and two metal signs will cost $5,000 ($1,000 for material and $4,000 for labour). 

Paved surfaces will total nearly 49,000 square feet; the cabanas will total 1,000 square feet; the customs/immigration building will be about 1,000 square feet; and restrooms and shade trellises will total about 7,200 square feet. The maximum building height will be 11 feet 4 inches, and the clearance height for the shade trellises will be 7 feet 9 inches.