While the agency has already held one more public hearing thanrequired, Durand says the tenor among activists, public officialsand residents seems to indicate more time is needed for interestedparties to make their feelings known, especially since the previoushearings were held during the summer.

"I believe that maximizing public input into the plan up frontis just as important as maximizing public access to thewaterfront," says Durand. "We need to make sure the public'sinterests are served in this process from beginning to end."

Municipal harbor plans establish development guidelines andaccess mandates along public waterways. Resolving the Bostonversion is considered a critical step in the development of the1,000-acre Seaport District, seen as the next great frontier forcommercial development in the city. Several high-profile projects,including the Pritzker family's massive mixed-use project on FanPier, are on hold until the plan is finalized.