1 Waterfront Futures Group Update, Initial Findings, and Next Steps September 29, 2003 Report to the...

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Waterfront Futures GroupUpdate, Initial Findings, and Next Steps

September 29, 2003

Report to the Bellingham City Council and Port Commission

September 26, 2003City Council/Port Commission

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Waterfront Futures Project Phase 2

Education, Analysis, and Focused Work Groups


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Work Groups

Character, Uses, and Design

Jobs and the Economy

Natural Systems and the Environment


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Information Gathering & Analysis

Other Waterfronts

Guest Forums

Research, Reports, and Databases


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Public Involvement, Input, and Information Sharing

Guest Forums taped and aired Notebook materials and videos available Presentations and meetings with community

groups Website information and input


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Character of Bellingham and our region


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Elements and OutcomesFeatures of Successful Waterfront Communities

Access

Character, Uses, and Design Jobs and Economic Development

Environmental Quality

Public Process


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Character Land Uses and Design Initial Findings (for Ted’s notes)

A bold conceptual design must be developed that creates an image of greatness and a feeling of opportunity

Existing small business is one of Bellingham’s most important strengths

Water-related industries/ businesses/ activities should be prioritized

Old Town and the Cornwall Landfill are two of the most important waterfront transition zones

Community and policy-maker buy-in are the keys to success in terms of implementation and quality of design


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Ted’s notes…

The most significant development choices will occur in Fairhaven and City Center

Chuckanut and Edgemoor, especially Chuckanut, will not experience much development

There is no “parking crisis” in Bellingham, and the waterfront should not be planned as if there is one

Access is not just physical, but visual and economic as well

Bellingham offers a unique blend of hard and soft shorelines


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Character, Uses, and Design Initial Findings

“Character" should lead the way to redevelopment options, uses, and design.

History contributes to our region’s character

Our city and county continue to grow

Our waterfront is where our city started

Early industries sought waterfront locations

Our waterfront is an industrial “landscape”


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Character, Uses and Design continued…

Waterfront sees itself as a working waterfront

Attractive and accessible waterfront areas already exist

We need more pedestrian friendly links

Downtown and waterfront areas need not compete

Create waterfront neighborhoods

A benchmark of quality needs to be set

The G-P site needs to be integrated into the vision


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Access


Jobs and Economic Development Environmental Quality

Public Process


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Steve’s notes…

Despite the closure of Georgia Pacific and other visible shut-downs, most of the businesses on the waterfront are healthy and the area is diverse – a waterfront that works

Many of the traditional economic indicators do not apply to the waterfront due to seasonality, contract labor, “under-the-table” business transactions

It is unlikely that a single large industry or business will appear on the waterfront in the near future

Bellingham Cold Storage is a part of the waterfront infrastructure Existing businesses inject a distinct sense of place to the

community Deep water channels remain an important part of the working

waterfront


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Jobs and the Economy Initial Findings…

Cooperative economic development strategies work

Local “living wage" jobs benefit the community

‘Spill-over’ and niche markets exist for Bellingham

Competitive rail freight rates would encourage commerce

Mosquito fleets and ‘home ports’ benefit waterfront economies


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Jobs and the Economy continued…

Bellingham Bay waterfront is not the best location for heavy industry that is not water dependent

Economic development relies on adequate hard and soft infrastructure

Demand continues for marinas here and in the county

Multi-modal transportation serves our community well


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Access


Jobs and Economic Development

Environmental Quality Public Process


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Environmental Quality initial findings…

Chuckanut Bay and Clark’s Point:

Constrained natural system and prime location for wildlife

Post Point to Marine Park:

Beach nourishment, enhanced storm water control, re-establish shoreline

Marine Park to Taylor Avenue:

Reestablish habitat and protect

Taylor Avenue to Boulevard Park:

Taylor Avenue: Protect this area from injurious incursions; an environmental education opportunity

Boulevard Park: Remove shore armoring, constructed gravel beach for access


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Environmental Quality initial findings continued…

Cornwall Ave Landfill:

Control groundwater flow, curtail pollutants entering Bay Remove sheet piling and reestablish the beach

Colony Wharf:

Substantial clean-up prior to redevelopment with significant removal of contaminated soils

I and J Waterway:

Near shore fish habitat and passage

Mt. Baker Plywood to Cement Plant dock:

Right conditions for a successful fish habitat

Squalicum and Little Squalicum:


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Access




Public Process

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Photos for Public Process


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Access Character, Uses, and Design



Public Process

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Access


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Access Character, Uses, and Design



Public Process

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Access

Jobs and the Economy

Character Uses & Design


Public Process

ELEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL ELEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL WATERFRONTWATERFRONT

DESIRED OUTCOMESDESIRED OUTCOMES

Priority

Cost

Timeline

Lead Agency

PROJECTPROJECT

DETAILSDETAILS

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Increases Contact with the Shoreline and Water

Maximizes Public Space at the Water’s Edge

Creates Connections to the Urban Core and Neighborhoods

Further Develops Multi-Modal Transportation

Is Welcoming to All

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Budget Priority

Creates Ties to Educational Institutions

Identifies and Builds on Heritage and Culture to Create a Sense of Place

Retains Authenticity

Facilitates Changing Economic and Market Conditions

Ensures Mixed Uses with an Emphasis on Water-Related, Oriented, and Dependent Uses

Plans for Significant Residential Development and a Diversity of Housing Choices

Creates Opportunities for Marine-Related Educational Experiences

Creates Compatibility of Design Elements

Timeline

Relates to Existing Upland Development


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Next Steps

Hear from business and property owners, neighborhoods, and other specific project constituents and stakeholders

Sponsor Waterfront Center to engage the public and stimulate creative thinking

Build upon framework of Features of Successful Waterfront Communities


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Next Steps continued…

Conduct a Design Assistance Team to inform our work

Continue research into existing employment base and economic trends

Learn more about job training, "responsible bidding," and other aspects of our job base

Map shoreside conditions and opportunities


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Our Waterfront is the Connector

But look! Here come more crowds, pacing straight for the

water, and seemingly bound for a dive. Strange! Nothing will

content them but the extremist limit of the land; loitering under

the shady lee of yonder warehouses will not suffice. No. They

must get just as nigh the water as they possibly can without

falling in. And there they stand – miles of them – leagues.

Inlanders all, they come from lanes and alleys, streets and

avenues – north, east, south, and west. Yet here they all unite.

Herman Melville, Moby Dick

1 Waterfront Futures Group Update, Initial Findings, and Next Steps September 29, 2003 Report to the...

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