During the harbor planning process, there may be action items and project ideas identified that require additional research and evaluation before the municipality moves forward with implementation. In these situations, a recommendation is made for a feasibility study to further investigate the potential project. In some cases, conducting a feasibility study may be included in the scope of work for the harbor plan itself.  

What is a Feasibility Study?  

A feasibility study is a comprehensive analysis conducted to determine the viability of a proposed project. Such a study assesses various factors, including logistical, technical, economic, and legal considerations. By evaluating these elements, a feasibility study identifies potential obstacles and opportunities, allowing the implementing entity to evaluate the project’s potential success, plan for additional factors as needed, and make well-informed decisions regarding the potential project. 

Types of Feasibility Studies 

In the context of harbor planning, the most common type of feasibility study recommendations focus on technical studies related to coastal infrastructure projects, including both installing new infrastructure or improving existing infrastructure. For example, a municipality may want to determine the feasibility of a municipal boating facility to create additional berthing and secure in‐water and landside storage options for watercraft and kayaks. Other examples include feasibility studies to determine how to modify a municipal landing to improve access to the water, or to investigate relocating current fuel off-loading and storage facilities away from the downtown area, or to explore developing a “harbor walk” with standardized access signs and interpretive signs along the harbor.  

Feasibility studies that develop through the harbor planning process may also include economic studies that focus primarily on a financial or economic development project, such as studying whether a municipality should implement an enterprise fund for harbor management or the feasibility of a publicly or privately-run water barge, fuel barge, or water taxi to service the harbor. Another type is a feasibility study focused on regulatory or governance questions, such as the feasibility of creating a scenic landscape overlay district and/or easements for scenic overlooks of the waterways.  

Components of a Feasibility Study 

Using the example of a feasibility study for a municipal boating facility, important elements include the following: 

  • Site visits allow in-person assessment of local conditions, including existing uses, site conditions such as natural resources and infrastructure, adjacent activities, parking availability, and traffic patterns. In addition, visiting municipal boating facilities in other communities can provide examples of the type of project being studied and allow people to better envision the project in their area.  
  • Interviews with municipal staff, local organizations, and other content experts as needed help the project team to gather information about use of the site, interest in the project, and other technical aspects to consider. Talking with individuals involved with municipal boating facilities in other communities provides an opportunity to learn from the successes and challenges experienced by other entities doing similar work. 
  • Research and data collection, with a focus on municipal documents and plans, such as those related to open space and recreation, coastal hazard mitigation, natural resource areas, and recreational and commercial boating is also important. In addition, gathering data, such as flood model projections, water depth, and dredging history will help to inform the project design and location.   
  • Mapping the existing site can inform the site’s use and project’s design. Mapped features may include Chapter 91 jurisdiction, areas of shellfish habitat, salt marsh and other natural resource areas, mooring or anchoring fields, public access points, parcel lines and zoning, climate change and flooding models, and others. In addition, maps may be created with potential dock layouts to visualize the potential project in a specific location, show the number of slips available, and guide further discussion.  
  • Economic analysis involves gathering data about the cost of dock materials, construction, permitting, installation, maintenance, and other factors. These costs, analyzed in conjunction with data on anticipated revenue, such as fees charged, can help clarify the potential cost of the project and compare it with the potential income to assess the potential return on investment.  
  • Assessing the legal context includes documenting the local, state, and federal permits that may be required and understanding what is needed for the permit filing, including the approximate timeline for the various permitting processes which may happen concurrently or in sequence.  
  • Public engagement provides an opportunity to share information, gather feedback and ideas, and gauge public support through a variety of formats such as public meetings, whether in person or virtual; updates provided on a project website, town website, town social media, and local news outlets; and an online and paper survey to ask targeted questions and reach a broader audience.  

In addition to the elements listed above, there may be other factors to consider such municipal staffing requirements, parking availability, dredging needs, and available funding. Another important factor is to identify aspects of the project where there is a need for more data before the project can move forward.