Salem Harbor Plan Update

utiledesign.comCity of Salem 1RKGDurand & Anastas KleinfelderGEI Brown Richardson + Rowe

Salem Harbor Plan UpdateProject Kickoff August 25, 2020


• Sign-in and Q&A instructions • Mayor’s Introduction • What is a Harbor Plan Update? • Why are we doing this plan? • Schedule • How to stay Involved

Agenda


Mayor’s Introduction


IntroductionsCity teamMayor Kimberley Driscoll, Mayor Seth Lattrell, Port Authority Deputy/PlannerTom Daniel, Director of Planning and Community DevelopmentKathy Winn, Deputy Planning and Community Development Director

Consultant teamUtileMatthew Littell, PrincipalDurand & AnastasTom Skinner, Partner RKG Associates Craig Seymour, Managing Principal

AdvisorsKleinfelderResilience GEI Marine Engineering and Infrastructure Brown Richardson & RoweLandscape Architecture

Agency DEP Daniel PadienCZM Kathryn Glenn


What is a Harbor Plan Update?


A Harbor Plan is a state-approved document establishing community goals, standards and policies to guide public and private land use along harbors:

• Allows for Chapter 91 standards to be altered to implement a community vision for the waterfront

• Relies on input from the public and from an advisory committee

• Builds from previous Harbor Plans and promotes long-range waterfront planning goals

• Administered at the state level by the Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM)

What is a Harbor Plan Update?


Chapter 91, The Massachusetts Public

Waterfront Act, was created in 1866 to

regulate waterways. After a 1979 court

case, Chapter 91 was expanded to

regulate filled tidelands.

Purpose of Ch. 91:

• Preserve and protect pedestrian

access to the water

• Establish priority for water-dependent

uses

• Ensure that private uses of tidelands

and waterways serve a proper public

purpose

What is Chapter 91?


DPAs are land and water areas set aside for working port industrial uses that need to use the water to operate.

• Land and water uses are limited primarily to Water-Dependent Industrial (WDI) activities

• In a DPA Master Plan, a municipality may request flexibility for certain use standards, but must balance that flexibility with strategic elements that ensure that DPA interests are still protected

What is a Designated Port Area (DPA)?


Chapter 91 has dimensional standards for all nonwater-dependent usedevelopments. These standards may be tailored using substitute provisions and offsets in a community’s approved MHP.

Key standards include:• Building heights: 55’ within 100’ of

the water, increasing 1’ in height for every additional 2’ from the project shoreline

• Water Dependent Use Zones (WDUZs): up to 100’ from the project shoreline

• Open space: 50% of the site area• Harbor walk: a minimum of 10’ wide,

clear to the sky• Commonwealth tidelands: 75% of the

first floor must be facilities of public accommodation (FPAs)

Chapter 91: Nonwater-dependent use standards

Required open space

(50% of site area)

Building heights 55’ within 100’ of

the project shoreline

Harbor Walk

On Commonwealth tidelands, publicly accessible uses on

the first floor


Chapter 91 has other non-dimensional standards that may be used to promote a community’s waterfront vision by providing details on how those standards are implemented.

Through amplifications, a community’s expectations for open space, public amenities, and climate resiliency may be required in an approved MHP:• Chapter 91 engineering standards

may be amplified to increase coastal elevations for climate resiliency

• An amplification to public amenities standards may provide details as to the type of activities or a funding and management protocol

Chapter 91: Amplifying other regulatory provisions


Why are we doing this plan?


The original Salem Harbor Plan was approved by EEA in 2000 and served to guide waterfront development and public infrastructure projects in the harbor through 2006.

The revision to the 2000 Salem Harbor Plan was approved by EEA in June 2008.

The focus of this renewal is the Industrial Port district within the Salem DPA and the North River district, including Crescent Lot.

Amending the Salem Harbor Plan


Salem has successfully initiated or completed recommendations set forth in the Harbor Plan including:

• Construction of portions of the harborwalk and public park along the South River Basin

• Construction of a new wharf and marina at BlaneyStreet

• Operation of a ferry service between Salem and Boston

• Upgrades to Winter Island including restoration of Fort Pickering and construction of a perimeter public pathway

• Preliminary design of the South River dredging

Accomplishments since 2000/2008 MHP


• Build upon past efforts to restore the City's connection to the waterfront

• Along the North River, strengthen the pedestrian connection between North Salem and Downtown

• Reuse of the land surrounding the Salem Harbor Power Station

• Redevelopment of the Crescent Lot and improved activation of the North River waterfront.

• Consider new traffic and transportation concerns

• Address risks related to climate change

Goals of this MHP Update


Provide Feedback Moving Forward: Public Meetings

Project Kickoff August 25 2020

Introduction to the Project

Public Meeting #1TBD

Market Analysis

Public Meeting #2TBD

Planning Recommendations

Public Meeting #3 TBD

Master Plan Draft

Introduce & ReviewMHPCh 91DPA

Project SiteProject Schedule

Present PlanMHP Update will be submitted for public

comment and reviewed by EEA Secretary for final

decision

Present Analysisexisting and

projected market conditions

surrounding the planning area

Present Recommendations

opportunities to improve resilience and develop action

plan


Schedule


How to Stay Connected: https://harborplan.salem.com/


Questions?

Documents

Salem Harbor Plan Update