Berkeley is moving full-steam ahead with plans for a new ferry terminal, despite howls from windsurfers and environmentalists that the ferries will bring the marina more harm than good.

The City Council recently approved preliminary plans for a $57 million terminal at the waterfront, just south of the Berkeley Pier. Two ferries, which will run primarily during commute hours, are expected to bring 1,700 people a day to San Francisco via a 30-minute trek across the bay.

"Long-term, this will be one of the spines of our transportation system," said City Councilman Laurie Capitelli, who put forth the measure. "When, not if, the Hayward Fault lets loose, this will be an ideal way to get people around the bay."

The terminal will be built, operated and paid for by the Water Emergency Transportation Authority, which also runs ferry terminals in Oakland, Alameda and Vallejo. The money comes from bridge tolls, federal funds and state bonds.

The final environmental impact report will be complete in early 2010 and, if approved by the authority board and federal transportation officials, construction would start later in the year.

The terminal is slated for Seawall Drive, adjacent to Hs Lordships restaurant. Parking will be available for 400 cars after the existing parking areas are reconfigured.

But windsurfers have been fighting the project, saying the terminal will block their favorite launching spot and commuters will take all the available parking at the marina.

They're also mad because the city agreed to lease the land to the ferry authority for $1 a year, but is attempting to raise the rent for the Cal Sailing Club, which serves about 900 windsurfers and sailors, from $5,000 to $15,000 a year.

"I think it sucks, personally," said Peter Kuhn, club treasurer. "The city is providing free space for ferries to take 50 people to the Financial District in comfort. It's a big boondoggle. We all laughed at it."

The club has raised its dues, from $276 to $300 a year, and required members to volunteer to maintain the dock and 225-square-foot clubhouse.

The City Council asked the ferry authority to save room along the waterfront for windsurfers, but that's not enough, Kuhn said.

Windsurfers and sailors deserve equal treatment by the city, he said.

"What we really want is to take over the ferry building as soon as they go bankrupt," he said.

City Councilman Kriss Worthington opposed the terminal for environmental reasons, saying the ferries create too much greenhouse gas.

"If everyone's so gung-ho about our climate action plan, then why are we not telling WETA (the Water Emergency Transportation Authority) to make their ferries more ecological?" he said, adding that the ferries could save energy by traveling at a slower speed.

The council added 15 suggestions to its approval, including charging for parking, using low-emissions ferries and allowing other ferry services to operate at the terminal on the weekends.

The ferry authority is considering the suggestions, said spokesman Leamon Abrams.

Capitelli said the windsurfers' and environmental concerns can be easily worked out in the next few months. The city's priority should be creating transit options for its residents.

"The Bay Area is in the process of building water transit infrastructure," he said. "Berkeley can either be a part of it or not be a part of it."

Not all windsurfers are opposed to the new terminal. Sofien Sehiri, a Cal Sailing Club member who lives in Berkeley, said he welcomes the club's new neighbors at the marina.

"As a windsurfer, I love ferry wakes," he said. "They're great to jump. I'm very, very happy."