Balancing Development and Conservation along the

Balancing Development and
Conservation along the Rhode Island
Coastline
Jennifer McCann, URI Coastal Resources Center/RI Sea Grant
URI / Rhode Island Sea Grant / Coastal Resources Center
Narragansett Bay: Rhode Island biggest Jewel
Urban, Suburban and Rural Coastal Population in Rhode Island
1790 to 2000, projected to 2030
900,000
Coastal Urban
800,000
Coastal Suburban
Coastal Rural
700,000
Total Coastal
People
600,000
500,000
400,000
Statewide
Planning
300,000
Forecast
200,000
100,000
0
2025
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census. Graphic by D. Robadue, CRC-GSO-URI
2015
2005
1990
1970
1950
1930
1910
1890
1870
1850
1830
1810
1790
Year
Cumulative trends in CRMC assents for new site uses versus
intensified use of existing sites in MetroBay SAMP Towns
Type A, B, M, W
700
New site use
Total
500
400
300
200
100
0
19
70
19
72
19
74
19
76
19
78
19
80
19
82
19
84
19
86
19
88
19
90
19
92
19
94
19
96
19
98
20
00
20
02
20
04
Cumulative assents
600
Intensify site use
Year
CRMC’s charge: "...to preserve, protect,
develop, and where possible, restore the
coastal resources of the state for this and
succeeding generations….”
The MRDP: Maintaining Coastal Character
RI Regional Map
What’s a SAMP?
Public Involvement
is Key
CRMC Special Area Management Plans
Metro Bay
SAMP Boundary
•Cranston
•Providence
•Pawtucket
•East Providence
Proposed
Redevelopment
More than $600
million in public
and private
economic
investment
Current CRMC Buffer Policy
• Buffers based on lot size & adjacent
water type classification
• Native vegetation required in
vegetated buffer with minimal
maintenance
• No public access requirement
Better Solution
• Revised buffer policy tailored to urban
areas that:
– Acknowledges the spatial and financial
constraints of urban (re)development
– Allows flexibility in meeting requirements
– Streamlines the permitting process
– Reduces variance requests
– Accomplishes CRMC’s mission to preserve,
protect, develop, and where possible restore
coastal resources
15% Vegetation Requirement
Street
• Sustainably landscaped
• May include green
roofs, rain gardens,
landscaping elements,
surface stormwater
treatments, etc.
• “Appropriate mix” of
trees and shrubs, with
minimal use of sods
and grasses
BUILDING
SETBACK
Shoreline or Coastal Feature
• Sloping vegetated
revetments may receive credit
toward the 15% requirement.
100% Stormwater Management
• 100% on-site management of
the water quality volume (per
the RI SW Quality Manual)
• Preference for vegetative
treatment (swales,
bioretention, green roofs,
etc.) and practices that
support infiltration and
groundwater recharge.
http://www.wbdg.org/design/lidtech.php
Public Access
• Continuous alongshore access.
• Arterial (perpendicular) access connects
public sidewalk to the alongshore access
pathway.
• Pervious surfaces.
• 2 parking spaces adjacent to access point, and
additional space/100’ linear shoreline.
• If no public access, applicant must provide
mitigation.
Urban Coastal Greenway
Zone Map
Area of Particular Concern
Inner Harbor & River
Development
Residential
UCG Compensation
• To reduce UCG from standard width, or
when a variance is granted, applicant must
provide compensation for lost Greenway
area.
– Metro Bay Regional Habitat Fund
– On-site Compensation Measures
– Coastal Greenway Credits
Shoreline Vegetated Buffers
Ideal Buffer
(2002)
Today
(2005)
Typical dense shoreline development (no buffers)
Metro Bay: “Achilles’ Heel of the Northeast” (FEMA)
Surge Height 4.5 m (MLLW)
Lower Fields Point
Redevelopment Site
- Providence
r
Save the Bay
Johnson & Wales
Harborside
Roger
ve
Williams A
Ha
D
ide
s
r
u
rbo
Phillipsdale Landing
Redevelopment Site –
Rumford, East Providence
Bourne
Ave
Omega
Pond
Current Uses
Other Businesses
#
0
Water Dependent
1
$
Water Related
"/
Water Enhanced
Rail
Development Areas
SAMP Boundary
CRMC’s regulatory tool – water types
Current Conditions
New Zoning Scenario
390 Acres of Type 6
1145 Acres of Type 6
Proposed Development Areas
SAMP Boundary
Projects within the boundary
require Council assent
•10%of NB
Waters - Type 6
•Of these 27%
are in Metro Bay
•Zoning changes
CRMC Water Classification
Type 1 - Conservation Areas
Type 2 - Low Intensity Uses
Type 4 - Multipurpose Waters
Type 6 - Industrial Waterfront/Com. Navigation
result in loss of
615 acres
Rezoning of Providence Harbor
in accordance with landside plans
of Providence and East Providence
results in net loss of 755 Acres of
Type 6 Waters
City of Providence’s vision for the waterfront
Contact us to get involved
RICRMC:
Jim Boyd, 783-7772,
jboyd@crmc.state.ri.us
URI CRC/RISG:
Jennifer McCann
874-6127
mccann@gso.uri.edu
http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/metrosamp/