A Tale of Two Waterfronts: Burlington, Vermont’s Story

Sandrine Thibault, AICP

David E. White, AICP

Burlington Department of Planning & Zoning

Period of Industrialization: 1820-1900

• Canals, Breakwater and Fill: 1820 - 75

• Boats: 1820 - today

• Wood: 1840 - 1900

• Petroleum: 1900 - 1990’s

Period of Transition 1960-20??

• Turning Point

– Increased dominance of rail and highways for freight movement

– Water-base infrastructure falling into disrepair.

– Rising interest in water-based recreation

• Redevelopment options and opportunities

• Mix of private and public initiatives

• Struggle to find consensus and achieve results

Burlington’s First Waterfront Plan:

The Waterfront Report • Conceptual Framework

•Visual Corridors

•Shoreline Access

•Vehicular circulation

• Created Sub-Areas

•North of College

•College to Maple

•South of Maple

• Performance Standards

•Visual Corridors

•Vista Protection

•Pedestrian circulation

•Vehicular circulation

•Utilities

Alden Plan – 1984

• 65,000 sqft of retail

• 150 slip marina

• 200-room inn

• 300 housing units

• 145,000 sqft of office space

• 2 parking structures for 1,200 cars

• another 90,000 sqft of mixed use

Waterfront ’95

• market-rate and affordable

housing

• a 150-rm hotel

• community boathouse

• 400-car parking deck

• office/retail/restaurant

• public marina

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• generous park and open space

for public use and enjoyment;

• intrusion by the automobile

should be minimized through

dual footprint, underground,

off-waterfront parking

structures and innovative

public transportation;

• Urban Reserve should be

preserved for future

generations;

• access to the Lake be

incorporated into public

development activities;

Burlington Waterfront Revitalization Plan – 1990 & ‘98

Harbor Management Plan

• Marina related Service

Areas

• Regulated Overnight Fixed

Moorings

• Regulated Private Docks

and Moorings

• Designated Anchorage

Areas

• Scenic and recreational

Reserves

Our Waterfront

Today

Tools and Investments

• Tools

– Urban Revitalization Plan

– Tax Increment Financing

– Public Trust

– Land Acquisition

– Zoning

– Inclusionary Housing

• Public Investments

– Oil tank Clean-up

– Waterfront Bike Path

– Community Boathouse

– Lake Street redesign

– Affordable Housing

– Coast Guard Station

– Public boat launch

– Waterfront Park

– Fishing Pier

– Waterfront Shelter

Private Development

ECHO

Non-Profit Investment

Moran Center

Future Public Investment?

Challenges and Priorities

• Industrial Legacy

– Brownfield contamination

– Public Trust Lands

– Historic resources – land and water

• Difficulty in achieving consensus for a vision

• Lack of interconnection between plans

• Public Priorities

– Public access to the water

– Economically inclusive

– Mixed uses

– Year-round activity

– Protect lake water quality

– Expanded marine activities and services

– Connections with downtown

So what’s next?

Low-Tech

• Speaker Series

• Public Meetings

• Local Media

• Art Contest/Exhibit

• The Road Show

• Community Survey

• Word of Mouth

• Stakeholders Meetings

• Design Charrette

• Open House

High-Tec

• Direct Communication (Constant Contact)

• Social Media (Facebook)

• Public Input Web Tool

• Project Website

• Draft Plan Commenting Tool

We’re not kidding… 13+ steps to Public Engagement

1,400 participants

672 ideas/comments

45,000 votes

You mean we can share ideas online?

A Magazine! What?

Background Burlington in Context

planBTV What’s that all about?

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz – 12 steps to public engagement

So you think you know Burlington? …look again

What works

Urban is back

The Plan Burlington Values & Plan Themes The Burlington Downtown and

Waterfront Plan – The BIG Ideas Building Market Share Waterfront Users The Housing Donut The Creative Economy Farm to City Getting Around Town – A

complete streets solution Connectivity – Making

Connections The Green Machine

Putting these Ideas into Action: A Tour Around the Burlington Plan

planBTV Content

When asked to describe Downtown’s future in one word

We heard…

7 Place-Based Themes …for a sustainable future

Vibrant Economy – local food, local business, local character

Housing Choice – choice, affordability, dignity

Transportation Choice – walking, biking, transit, driving

Active and Healthy Living – access to nature, recreation, people,

entertainment

Environmental & Cultural Stewardship – access to clean air &

water, cultural & natural spaces

Sense of Place – civic pride, tolerance, community

Creativity & Innovation – innovation, arts, creativity

Market diversity and expansion

Expand the Business Improvement District

Downtown Development Revolving Loan Fund

A path forward for economic expansion

Big Idea!

The HOUSING Donut

A HEALTHIER OPTION

More housing…period Increase Housing Diversity Reducing Barriers to Development

Big Idea!

GETTING AROUND TOWN A Complete Street Solution

Before the advent of the car, people needed to live in urban areas. Now people want to be in urban areas

so they can choose to not use a car.

Big Idea!

Connectivity

Around the

Burlington Plan

Main Street

Church Street

The Mall

The South End District

North Waterfront

South Waterfront

North Waterfront

1 BATTERY PARK MASTER PLAN

2

3

BATTERY PARK OVERLOOK

DEPOT STREET REDESIGN

4

5

STAIRWAY STREETS

WATERFRONT PARK REDESIGN

6 WATERFRON PARKING STRUCTURE(S)

7 CREATIVITY VILLAGE

8 SEASONAL SKATING RINK

9 WATERFRONT PAVILLION

9 WATERFRONT PAVILLION The master plan calls for a new civic building to be located at the corner of Lake and College Streets. The design of this open and flexible building is representative of the old rail station that once occupied a site nearby. Such as structure will be a defining icon for Burlington’s waterfront and could be home to a winter farmer’s market, seasonal craft markets, indoor concerts, etc.

North Waterfront

1 LAKEFRONT MARITIME MUSEUM

2

3

ADAPTIVE REUSE AND INFILL

RELOCATED FERRY TERMINAL

4

5

MARINA SUPPORT SERVICES

HARBOR LAUNCH

6 MITIGATE ODORS FROM THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN

South Waterfront

7 BREAKWATER & MARINA EXPANSION

Waterfront

1 CONNECTIVITY OF THE URBAN GRID

2

3

RETAINED BUT REORGANIZED RAIL FUNCTIONS

STRATEGIC URBAN INFILL AND LINER BUILDINGS

4

5

FLEX-SPACE/LIVE-WORK UNITS

PERIPHERY PARKING

The South End District

6 STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS

7 TRAIL/BIKE PATH CONNECTION

8 EMBRACE THE BARGE CANAL

800+ participants

500

comments

Draft Plan on the Web!!!

Yes, an Open House!

New Zoning Regulations are coming too…

www.burlingtonvt.gov/PlanBTV/

Facebook: Burlington Downtown & Waterfront Plan

Plan Adoption Winter 2013…