Chelsea Creek Municipal Harbor Plan Vision, Policies, and Implementation Strategies City of Chelsea: Chelsea Creek Municipal Harbor Plan Public Meeting 3 November 28th, 2018 utiledesign.com 1 Outline 1. Regulatory Framework – MHP/DPA Plan Process 2. Community and Stakeholder Feedback 3. Overall Themes for MHP 4. Policy Areas and Recommendations City of Chelsea: Chelsea Creek Municipal Harbor Plan Public Meeting 3 November 28th, 2018 utiledesign.com 2 I. Regulatory Framework Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution “The people shall have the right to clean air and water, freedom from excessive and unnecessary noise, and the natural, scenic, historic and aesthetic qualities of their environment” City of Chelsea: Chelsea Creek Municipal Harbor Plan Public Meeting 3 November 28th, 2018 utiledesign.com 3 I. Regulatory Framework Tree Massachusetts Article 97: “The people shall have the right to clean air and water, freedom from excessive noise, and the natural, scenic, Constitution historic, and esthetic qualities of their environment; …” US Federal 16 USC 1451 et seq – The Coastal Statutes Zone Management Act of 1972 Colonial Ordinances of 1641 - 1647 Massachusetts Ch. 21A (2006) Ch. 21A § 4A (1979) General Laws Ch. 91 – The Massachusetts Public Waterfront Act (1866) Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Massachusetts Department of Office of Coastal Zone State Agencies Environmental Protection Management Waterways Division Code of 301 CMR 20 – 301 CMR 23 – 301 CMR 25 – 310 CMR 9 – Coastal Zone Review and Approval of Designation of Port Massachusetts Waterways Regulations Management Program Municipal Harbor Plans Areas City of Chelsea: Chelsea Creek Municipal Harbor Plan Public Meeting 3 November 28th, 2018 utiledesign.com 4 I. Regulatory Framework: What is a Municipal Harbor Plan? A document stating the community’s goals, standards, and policies to guide public and private land use along harbors. If approved by the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the plan will help guide and coordinate local, state and federal actions along the Chelsea Creek waterfront. City of Chelsea: Chelsea Creek Municipal Harbor Plan Public Meeting 3 November 28th, 2018 utiledesign.com 5 I. Regulatory Framework: What is Chapter 91? Chelsea Chapter 91, the Massachusetts Public Waterfront Act : East Charlestown Boston • Set jurisdictional lines to provide public access to waterways • Preserves and protect the rights of the public • Establishes priority for water-dependent uses Boston • Guarantees that private uses of tidelands and waterways serve a proper public purpose. • Codifies the Public Trust Doctrine of 1641-47 South Filled Tidelands / Boston Ch 91 Jurisdiction Historic Shoreline City of Chelsea: Chelsea Creek Municipal Harbor Plan Public Meeting 3 November 28th, 2018 utiledesign.com 6 I. Regulatory Framework: What is Chapter 91? Chelsea Where is Chapter 91 jurisdiction Creek along Chelsea Creek? It includes filled tidelands extending up to Chelsea the first public ROW. It is bound by the yellow boundary and the area seaward of it. East Boston Chapter 91 Jurisdiction City of Chelsea: Chelsea Creek Municipal Harbor Plan Public Meeting 3 November 28th, 2018 utiledesign.com 7 Chelsea Creek I. Regulatory Framework: What DPA is a Designated Port Area? Chelsea • An area regulated to allow specific working port Mystic River industrial uses that need to use the watersheet to DPA operate. East • Land use is limited to Water-Dependent Industrial Charlestown Boston (WDI) uses. East Boston • In a DPA Master Plan, a municipality may request DPA flexibility for certain use standards, but must balance that flexibility with strategic elements that ensure that DPA interests are still protected. Boston South Boston DPA South Boston City of Chelsea: Chelsea Creek Municipal Harbor Plan Public Meeting 3 November 28th, 2018 utiledesign.com 8 II. Feedback from public engagement What do you like about Chelsea Creek and the planning process? Advocacy for change can work here. • An active interest in changing the character PORT Park wasn't here 10 years ago! of the creek • Opportunities to participate and actually be heard • Seeing evidence of change over time Areas that are open aren't the most • Balance of industry and public access comfortable for pedestrians (e.g. harbor walk.) What frustrates you most about the Chelsea Creek? • No access to the water • Unfriendly pedestrian environment with Clean up wooden abandoned buildings along Marginal St. piles between PORT Park and Greenroots. City of Chelsea: Chelsea Creek Municipal Harbor Plan Public Meeting 3 November 28th, 2018 utiledesign.com 9 II. Stakeholder feedback: Property and business owners Public access: • Existing public access provided through temporary licenses is of poor quality. • Permanent public access is not permissible within the DPA with the exception of point access. Regulations: • Many temporary licenses are coming up for renewal. • This is an opportunity for re-negotiating terms of public Flex open space, Eastern Salt, Marginal St. access. Jobs: • Some businesses owners are interested in expanding industrial/warehousing operations which would add more jobs along the Creek. Potential for a light industrial uses buffer upland of Marginal St. City of Chelsea: Chelsea Creek Municipal Harbor Plan Public Meeting 3 November 28th, 2018 utiledesign.com 10 II. Stakeholder feedback: City of Chelsea Public access: • Require a linear harbor-walk on any parcel decommissioned from the DPA. • Require that new development within the DPA provide point access. Regulations: • Align local zoning with statewide regulations and economic development vision for Chelsea Creek. Connected and continuous • Suggest substitutions or amplifications to existing harbor walk Ch91/DPA regulations. • Alter use allocation and rules around points of public access. Jobs: • Interest in maintaining industry which provides living wage jobs in Chelsea, especially a higher concentration of jobs, i.e. processing vs warehousing & distribution. Potential harbor walk between 295 and Forbes site City of Chelsea: Chelsea Creek Municipal Harbor Plan Public Meeting 3 November 28th, 2018 utiledesign.com 11 II. Stakeholder feedback: DEP / CZM Public access: • Take a point access approach towards public waterfront use in DPA (similar to PORT Park.) • Limit lateral access (waterfront path) to parcels with temporary licenses or those out of the DPA. • Lateral access should be removed when a WDIU is recruited. Temporary harbor walk, 257 Marginal St. Regulations / Industrial Character: • Analyze the existing land use allocations and rebalance the distribution of water-dependent and supporting uses. PORT Park provided as point access on Eastern Salt parcels City of Chelsea: Chelsea Creek Municipal Harbor Plan Public Meeting 3 November 28th, 2018 utiledesign.com 12 III. Overall Themes and Community Vision Public access Jobs Provide living wage jobs for local residents and Provide public access based on preferences of the businesses/operators that aim for a higher job community and alignment with state regulations. density where possible. Regulations Reduce number of temporary licenses and regulate Industrial Economy the waterfront for uses that serve the needs of the Maintain the Chelsea Creek as a resource for water local economy; the public’s enjoyment of the dependent and other appropriate industrial uses that waterfront; ongoing operations; and economic support the tax base and regional economy. health of a working port. City of Chelsea: Chelsea Creek Municipal Harbor Plan Public Meeting 3 November 28th, 2018 utiledesign.com 13 III. Overall Themes and Community Vision • Build upon the area’s considerable history as a driver of the local and regional economy • Address the need to reclaim strategic locations for recreational and cultural uses by residents in nearby neighborhoods 1. Enhance public access 2. Increase density of living-wage jobs for Chelsea residents 3. Preserve the industrial and commercial character of the waterfront and adjacent upland area 4. Encourage water-dependent industrial uses and opportunities that contribute to the local tax base Municipal Harbor Plan public meeting in PORT Park City of Chelsea: Chelsea Creek Municipal Harbor Plan Public Meeting 3 November 28th, 2018 utiledesign.com 14 IV. Policy Areas 1. Public Access 2. Public Programming 3. Economic Development 4. City Zoning 5. Transportation 6. Infrastructure Improvements Public Access, Programming, 7. Climate Change and Streetscape Improvements Point Access 8. Pollution Linear Access Transitional Areas Long-term Industrial Uses Light-industrial / Commercial Buffer Future Development City of Chelsea: Chelsea Creek Municipal Harbor Plan Public Meeting 3 November 28th, 2018 utiledesign.com 15 IV. Policy Areas 1. Public Access 2. Public Programming 3. Economic Development 4. City Zoning Ordinance 5. Transportation 6. Infrastructure Improvements 7. Climate Change 8. Pollution City of Chelsea: Chelsea Creek Municipal Harbor Plan Public Meeting 3 November 28th, 2018 utiledesign.com 16 Public Access: Location What features and activities would make these points of public access attractive to you? Better seating, Water-related Public Seasonal lighting, signage activities art activities Takeaways: • Strong preference for public access at Kalick Piers • Better seating and lighting along existing harbor walk • Desire for public art near the Chelsea St. bridge Feedback exercise on public features and activities for the waterfront City of Chelsea: Chelsea Creek