A long-awaited master plan for the Oak Bluffs waterfront was unveiled Tuesday at the Oak Bluffs selectmen’s meeting, with a vision that includes rebuilding the crumbling seawall along the North Bluff and bringing in massive amounts of sand to replenish town beaches along Sea View avenue that have been ravaged by erosion.

The price tag for the plan is close to $7 million; town leaders say they are working to secure state and federal grant money to cover most of the cost.

The plan was spearheaded by the town conservation commission and the Sea View waterfront committee, created by selectmen in June of 2008 after a 30-ton retaining wall at the old Pay Beach suddenly collapsed.

Since then the town has hired CLE Engineering of Marion to help devise a plan for landside repairs to the waterfront, while Applied Coastal Research and Engineering of Mashpee was hired to assist with a plan for the shoreline.

Refurbishment of the clay and brick comfort station near the Steamship Authority terminal and a new fishing pier adjacent to the ferry wharf have also been added to the master plan.

On Tuesday selectmen heard presentations from representatives of the various components of the plan. The meeting was attended by town employees and elected officials, as well as Cape and Islands Rep. Tim Madden and his Vineyard liaison, Nell Coogan.

“This is a very exciting night . . . tonight we will get the information we have waited several years for, and it was well worth waiting for,” said selectman Kerry Scott, who is also chairman of the Sea View waterfront committee.

John Ramsay, an engineer for Applied Coastal Research and Engineering, gave a power point presentation showing historic effects of erosion on the town beachfront. From 1846 to 2005, he said the town lost between 100 and 150 feet of shoreline, to the point where many beach areas have completely washed away.

Mr. Ramsay said wave action along town beaches generally moves to the south, and he recommended that the longer groin between the Inkwell and Pay Beach be reduced while the jetty on the other side of the Inkwell is rebuilt and expanded. He suggested that three new revetments be built between the Steamship Authority terminal and the Inkwell.

This would slow down erosion, he said, but would not replace the sand that is already gone. His recommended plan to rebuild the beach would require 70,000 cubic yards of sand.

Mr. Ramsay said protecting the Oak Bluffs shoreline is urgent because it serves as a bulwark for Sea View avenue. “I think we’re already at the stage where you have to do something. You are basically getting to the point where you are going to have a failure,” he said.

The estimated cost of beach renourishment and building revetments is about $2 million.

Engineer Carlos Péna gave a presentation on proposed repairs to the crumbling seawall along the North Bluff, calling it an emergency. “The seawall there is currently rated F by the Coastal Infrastructure Inventory and Assessment, which means we recommend immediate action,” he said.

Mr. Péna is recommending the construction of a new seawall at an estimated cost of $4.4 million; in addition to the wall, the cost includes construction of a boardwalk that is accessible for people with handicaps, lighting, benches, bicycle racks and other amenities.

Mr. Péna said the project is almost fully permitted, and work could begin as early as September, depending on funding.

Engineer Stephanie Mashek, who designed the plans for the comfort station, said that project would be paid for through a combination of Community Preservation Act funds and a state grant. She said work could begin as early as this spring and continue through the summer.

Doug Cameron, assistant director of the office of fishing access, said the new fishing pier would be paid for through state bonds.

Comment at the meeting was mostly positive, although some questioned how the town — which is currently facing a $1.5 million deficit for fiscal year 2011 — will find money for the improvements. “I think the whole process is incredibly exciting. And I can’t wait to find the money to do it,” selectman Kathy Burton said.

Following the meeting, town administrator Michael Dutton said the plan is to pay for 100 per cent of the project with state and federal funding.

“At this point there is no plan to ask taxpayers for a substantial sum of money. We will first look to get federal stimulus money, as well as grant money. We don’t have a lot of discretionary funding right now, so the plan is to aggressively seek funding from outside sources to pay for this,” Mr. Dutton said.

Ms. Scott said there will be more opportunity for public comment in the near future.

“We will be holding several public hearings . . . this is the townspeople’s waterfront after all, and this is their plan. We want to get them involved as much as possible,” she said.