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WATERFRONT EDGE DESIGN GUIDELINES BEST PRACTICES FOR WATERFRONT DESIGN IN CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY HOW TO PROMOTE RESILIENCE, ECOLOGY, AND ACCESS AT THE WATER’S EDGE A WATERFRONT ALLIANCE PROGRAM TABLE OF CONTENTS OVERVIEW PG 2 INTRODUCTION PG 2 LOCAL CONTEXT FOR APPLYING WEDG BEST PRACTICES IN CAMDEN PG 3 Category 0 Site Assessment & Planning Assess site-wide social and ecological context and vulnerabilities PG 3 Develop and implement an equitable plan for community engagement PG 4 Category 1 Responsible Siting & Coastal Risk Reduction Avoid or reduce risk from coastal hazards PG 5 Category 2 Community Access & Connections Provide quality public access areas on the waterfront PG 8 Increase transportation access to the waterfront PG 8 Support diverse and sustainable maritime activity PG 9 Category 3 Edge Resilience Choose an appropriate edge strategy for the context and intended use PG 9 Category 4 Natural Resources Reduce and manage stormwater quantity PG 11 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS PG 12 WATERFRONT EDGE DESIGN GUIDLINES: CAMDEN ADDENUDUM 1 Overview In 2019, Cooper’s Ferry Partnership of Camden, New Jersey partnered with the Waterfront Alliance to apply WEDG® (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines) principles in the Camden context for use in project design, and to develop a broader network of designers, engineers, developers, and community members engaged in shaping positive waterfront design outcomes in the broader Camden region. The following addendum was developed in partnership with an advisory committee of 25 stakeholders from engineering, design, planning, and community development, and aims to guide practitioners who are using WEDG to inform waterfront projects, policy, and community visionings in the Camden region. Source: New Jersey Future Source: New Jersey Economic Development Authority Introduction Situated between the Delaware and Cooper Rivers and adjacent to Philadelphia, Camden has a rich water- front history. In the last several decades, Camden’s waterfront has been redefined by community priori- ties for enhanced educational and research opportunities, waterfront access and parks, and affordable housing. Amidst this reinvestment in Camden’s waterfronts, the Camden region is facing increased risks of flooding from storms like Hurricane Sandy and Irene. The following provides guidance for waterfront design professionals, as well as community leaders and public agencies, to ensure that the future of Cam- den’s waterfronts meet the highest standard for resilience, ecology, and access. This document should be used in concert with the WEDG manual, a voluntary rating system and set of guidelines developed by a cross-cutting field of experts to shift the market towards more resilient, ecologically-sound, and accessi- ble waterfront design. 2 WATERFRONT EDGE DESIGN GUIDELINES: CAMDEN ADDENDUM Local Context for Applying WEDG Best Practices in Camden This document provides guidance for designers, planners, developers, and engineers, as well as commu- nity leaders and public agencies, to ensure that the future of Camden’s waterfronts meet the highest stan- dard for resilience, ecology, and access. 0.2: Assess site-wide social and ecological context and vulnerabilities Project leads should develop multi-disciplinary teams (as described in Credit 0.1) to conduct a site-wide analysis of the environmental, social, and economic factors which affect the site. The following should be considered in conjunction with Credit 0.2 and Appendix A of WEDG. a) Local Laws The following references provide planning and environmental context for project teams to assess in the earliest phases of design. WEDG requires a multi-disciplinary project team (at minimum one of each: engineer, architect, and environmental professional) to conduct a series of initial assessments for understanding the social, environmental, and climatic context of the site. i) Planning and zoning1 a) FutureCAMDEN (2002 Masterplan) and 2018 Reexamination/Amendment Report can inform the city’s priorities for waterfront development and sustainability. b) Article XIX – XX of the zoning text provides requirements for Waterfront Zones. c) Article XXII – XXIII of the zoning text provides requirements for Conservation Overlay Zones. d) Ord. No. MC-3690 (Greenway Conservation Overlay Zone requirements). ii) Environmental regulations a) (State) New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Coastal Areas permits will be required for in-water and waterfront projects. b) (State) New Jersey Stormwater Management Rules should be referred to to understand specifications for green infrastructure and other stormwater design components. Note that WEDG requires an analysis of climate change impacts on precipitation patterns. For more information see the “Methods” section of Appendix A in the WEDG Manual. c) (City) Ord. No. MC-4879 (Sustainability Ordinance) requires applicants for new development or modifications to existing development to complete an Environmental Impacts and Benefits Analysis, which documents all potential environmental ramifications of the project. The goal of the ordinance is to provide the Camden City Planning Board with an additional layer of information upon which to review a potential project. 1WEDG does not supplant zoning. These references highlight local planning frameworks and regulations within the city of Camden which provide a basis for assessing the site context for this credit. WATERFRONT EDGE DESIGN GUIDELINES: CAMDEN ADDENDUM 3 c) Opportunities for Partnership i) Resources to inform best practices for the following assessment methods from Appendix A: Risk and Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge; Stormwater Quality; and Water Use and Wastewater Management. a) Camden Collaborative Initiative/ Camden SMART (Stormwater Management and Resource Training) provides resources for stormwater management policy and development, as well as green infrastructure training programs. 1) Key partners: City of Camden, Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority, Cooper’s Ferry Partnership, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program, New Jersey Tree Foundation, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. See also, Preliminary Opportunities Analysis for areas vulnerable to flooding. ii) Relating to Employment Opportunities and stormwater assessments: a) PowerCorps is an AmeriCorps youth workforce development program that plays a key role in maintaining Camden’s green infrastructure installations including rain gardens, city and county parks, vacant lots, and stormwater inlets. 1) Key partners: Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA) and City of Camden. d) Additional Resources: Econsult. January 2019 i) The Positive Impacts of Investments in Camden, New Jersey, Social Determinants of Health. 0.3: Develop and implement an equitable plan for community engagement WEDG requires projects to respond to the complex social and economic conditions at play in waterfront communities by soliciting input from diverse stakeholders in the design and management of the project. Successful projects develop equitable community engagement plans informed by existing city-led and community-driven priorities and seek diverse input as early as possible in the process. a) Additional Resources i) Green + Healthy Camden Decision Support Tool: Provides GIS data on riverine flooding and other planning, decision making, and park creation support to drive equitable green infrastructure implementation across Camden, with a focus on schools and public spaces. 1) Key Partners: The Trust for Public Land. b) Precedents Case Study: Newark Riverfront Park Source: Newark Riverfront Park Overview Located on the Passaic River, Newark Riverfront Park is the result of decades of environmental justice activism and public-private collaboration to restore Newark’s neglected waterfront into a sustainable, accessible, and resilient public park. In 2008, the City of Newark launched Newark Riverfront 4 WATERFRONT EDGE DESIGN GUIDELINES: CAMDEN ADDENDUM Revival, an initiative of the Department of Economic Housing & Development, to revive the waterfront and ensure that the benefits of new development served its residents. Aspart of this effort, the City and Essex County partnered with the Trust for Public Land, Ironbound Community Corporation, Friends of Riverfront Park, and Newark Community Economic Development Corporation to build from community visions to create a fifteen-acre, waterfront park (source: City of Newark). Project Team • Essex County, the City of Newark, The Trust for Public Land, Ironbound Community Corporation, Friends of Riverfront Park, Newark Community Economic Development Corporation (NCEDC), Trust for Public Land, James Corner Field Operations. Strategies Used • Identified key community stakeholders early in the process to help facilitate outreach and solicit diverse input on the design and management of the project. • Aligned with broader city goals and initiatives to serve Newark residents. • Managed barriers for diverse participation by creating fun and engaging opportunities for Newark residents to provide input, such as walking tours, boat tours, exhibitions, school presentations, and more. • Used public health and community needs data to inform the design, from providing much needed green and open space, to creating greenway connectivity for active and sustainable transportation (also relates to Credits 2.1 and 2.6). • Provides robust waterfront programming, including kayaking lessons and boat tours, as well as arts and cultural programming (also relates