A Green Infrastructure Plan for Norfolk: BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES JUNE 2018 Prepared for the City of Norfolk by the Green Infrastructure Center Inc. A Green Infrastructure Plan for Norfolk: BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES Executive Summary 01 Vision 2100 46 Goal Summary 04 New Zoning Ordinance 47 Partnerships Make It Possible 48 Introduction and Purpose 06 Project Partners 07 Plan Strategies 50 A Resilient City – Past, Present and Future 07 Land Goals and Objectives 51 Water Goals and Objectives 56 Process to Create the Green Timeframe for Achievement 57 Infrastructure Plan 08 Plan Review 08 Conclusion 58 Public Engagement 08 Appendixes 59 Data Creation and Analysis 09 Appendix A: Resources for Funding and Project Development 59 Green Infrastructure Plan Focus 10 Natural Assets: Habitats, Water, Water Access 59 Recreation, Cultural 12 Low Impact Development and Stormwater Management 60 Habitats and Tree Planting 60 How Green Is Norfolk’s Land? 12 Walkabilty 60 Water: Living in an altered landscape and hydrology 12 Open Spaces and Nature Based Recreation Assets 17 Appendix B: Case Example of Stormwater Playgrounds – A Fun Way to Treat Rain Water Cultural and Historic Assets 18 and People 61 The Green Infrastructure Network 19 The Future Green Infrastructure Network 20 Appendix C: Mapping Rules for Marsh Migration, Using the Maps 21 Shoreline Restoration and Buffer Planting 64 Analysis: Options to Create a Greener, More Appendix D: References 65 Resilient City 22 Appendix E: References for Map Locations 67 Tree Canopy 22 Living Shorelines 31 Norfolk’s Strategic Focus on Becoming a Resilient City 42 Funding for this plan was supported by a grant to the City of Norfolk from the Resilience Strategy 43 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Building Resilience through Green Infrastructure 44 National Fish and Wildlife Service. The grant funds were allocated to communities to create green infrastructure plans following Superstorm Sandy. Additional funds plaNorfolk2030 45 and matching dollars were provided by the City of Norfolk. Old Dominion University prepared the sea level rise data used in this plan. This plan, data and maps were created by the Green Infrastructure Center Inc. for the City of Norfolk. PRINTED JULY 2018 Executive Summary Norfolk has adopted a key focus for its future – that of being a land cover (tree canopy, water, and impervious surfaces), the Existing city goals and programs were reviewed to understand resilient city. It is one of 100 Resilient Cities designated by the connectivity of its trails and parks, and the locations of large strategic directions, and data and reports were analyzed to determine Rockefeller Foundation. As a city whose 66 square mile area is patches of intact open spaces, marshes and shorelines. Highlights of what is achievable, given current city conditions and anticipated future about a third water, living with water is a key theme for the city’s findings from the analysis and community input include: changes from rising seas and redevelopment. resilience strategy. Many more opportunities for enhancing walkability, access to parks, This green infrastructure plan will help the city ‘design the coastal Norfolk’s current urban tree canopy is 25.8% and trails, and water were identified. Strategic maps show where trails, community of the future’ by using its natural assets to improve the new canopy goal is to increase canopy to 30%. green streets, or other key linkages are needed. Implementation environmental and community health and to protect infrastructure, This will require the planting of 104,000 more trees strategies were developed around two focal themes described below. such as roads and buildings. This plan is the culmination of a two- at a rate of 5,200 trees annually to reach the goal year effort to map and plan for Norfolk’s green infrastructure. Just within 20 years. This additional canopy will help the as the city plans for its ‘gray infrastructure,’ such as roads, sidewalks city absorb and clean more stormwater and reduce or storm drains, it also needs to plan for its ‘green infrastructure’, flooding. including the marshes, creeks, parks and trees that provide habitat, TWO THEMES FOR FOCUS: Of the city’s miles of shoreline, miles are filter the air and water, moderate air temperatures, and provide 211 61 currently hardened; of those, miles could be recreation and scenic beauty. These green features are referred to 35 naturalized thereby reducing erosion, protecting as ‘green infrastructure’ because they are an important part of the property from wave-action, and improving habitats city’s infrastructure. for people and wildlife. Many community partners, city agencies, and members of the public There are 378 acres (22%) of the 50-foot coastal For land, the focus is to protect, connect and contributed ideas to create this plan’s strategies. A total of ten buffer (1,695 acres) within the Chesapeake Bay community meetings were held to inform the plan’s development Resource Protection Area, available for planting re-green the landscape to provide pathways along with consultations with multiple city agencies and community vegetation to absorb wave and wind energy and to organizations. The plan was reviewed and supervised by the city’s filter runoff to protect surface waters. for people and wildlife, treat stormwater Watershed Management Task Force. The ideas provided by these groups are reflected in the strategies on page 50 of this plan. There is currently just one access point (16 and reduce flooding, and beautify the city. citywide) for every 12 miles of shoreline. The city To better manage its green infrastructure, an assessment was needs to add dozens of new access points to ensure conducted to determine the extent and conditions of the city’s water access for all residents, regardless of physical natural assets. This assessment included analysis of Norfolk’s abilities. For water, the focus is to restore shoreline habitats to support aquatic life, buffer areas Norfolk Pier from storm surge, and foster recreation, including birding, boating and fishing. Today, Norfolk is not yet a well-connected green network – but it can be. The future green infrastructure network map shown on the next page identifies new linkages in yellow that can be added to reconnect the city for improved access to nature, cultural sites and public spaces as well as pathways for pollinators or wildlife. Protecting and expanding linkages will facilitate a green network for residents to enjoy a revitalized and resilient Norfolk. The strategies show how to achieve a greener Norfolk that meets the themes for land and water. These strategies are covered in greater detail on page 50. 4 | A Green Infrastructure Plan for the City of Norfolk A Green Infrastructure Plan for the City of Norfolk | 2 GOAL SUMMARY: The following is a summary of goals and objectives. Detailed actions are included in the strategy section on page 50. Land Goal 1: Increase and maintain natural green Land Goal 2: Install and maintain constructed infrastructure – urban forest, shrub and meadow green infrastructure to detain and retain habitats – to support wildlife, infiltrate and clean stormwater and beautify areas where natural water, improve air quality, reduce high temperatures green infrastructure practices are less suitable. and provide scenic beauty. Obj. 1: Use schools and parks as demonstration sites for Obj. 1: Create a planting goal for tree canopy to achieve 30% low impact development – constructed and natural green canopy coverage (a 4% increase). infrastructure – and continue to engage students as designers. Obj. 2: Create incentives for tree planting by citizens and Obj. 2: Retrofit existing parking lots to create room for businesses. bioswales and other best management practices to infiltrate or store water. Obj. 3: Protect intact habitat patches in the city and connect or reconnect them with green pathways to support people, plants, Obj. 3: Encourage building owners to retrofit existing roofs for and animals. (See map of Future Green Infrastructure Network). stormwater treatment. Obj. 4: Encourage the use of native plantings. Obj. 4: Create an annual innovation award for those developments that use the greatest creativity in instituting and Obj. 5: Improve the city’s data on trees to ensure good maximizing the use of low impact development strategies. management and longevity. Obj. 5: Create and promote stormwater education through Obj. 6: Promote urban food production for healthful parks to demonstrate low impact development practices. communities and permeable landscapes. Obj. 6: Expand or create volunteer programs to maintain the Obj. 7: Daylight (re-surface) creeks that have been buried to aesthetics and health of green infrastructure projects. expand channel capacity and provide natural amenities for communities. Obj. 7: Increase knowledge about the infiltration capacity of the city’s soils to ensure projects account for local soil conditions when designing stormwater projects or land development plans. Field work for the project included site visits across the city to assess opportunities to improve shoreline habitats, connect and restore landscapes and improve access to the water. 3 | A Green Infrastructure Plan for the City of Norfolk A Green Infrastructure Plan for the City of Norfolk | 4 Water Goal 1: Protect and restore natural shorelines to support healthy aquatic life, storm Introduction & Purpose buffering and water filtration. This report is the culmination of a