Boulevard

City of Bellingham Parks and RecreationDesign and Development Division

Over Water WalkwayGreenway Committee Meeting April 4, 2013Presented by Gina Gobo Austin, PE

Vicinity Map

Over Water Walkway

New Waterfront Trail

Why Build an Over Water Walkway?

• Public demand for visual and physical access to the waterfront

• Provide trail connection to the waterfront district

• Remove existing damaged wharf, dock, and piling at Boulevard Park as mitigation

Existing Eelgrass

Walkway Alignment

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Proposed Layout

BoulevardPark

Cornwall Landfill

Waterfront Projects are a Priority

• Waterfront Futures Group Vision and Framework Plan 2004 “Improve waterfront access.”

• Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan 2008 “Waterfront projects... [are]…

a high priority.”

• Shoreline Master Program Final Draft 2009 “…increase public

access to the

shoreline...”

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Taylor Dock, A Popular Attraction• Coast Millennium Trail Route• Alternative Transportation Route• Successful eelgrass mitigation results• Over 500,000 users per year• Supports Economic Vitality

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LegendOver Water WalkwayRailroadSouth Bay Trail Waterfront TrailCornwall Avenue Landfill SiteSSSMGP Cleanup Site

Future Waterfront Park

NewWaterfront Trail

Waterfront Trail

Wharf Street

Over Water Walkway & the South Bay Trail

South Bay Trail is…• Direct link to downtown Bellingham• Horizontally separated from the waterfront by the railroad 40 to

150 feet from shoreline• Vertically 20 to 40 feet above shoreline

Access to waterfront from South Bay Trail requires…• Two at-grade railroad crossings• No sidewalks on Wharf Street, Wharf may close• Steep grades via Wharf Street that don’t meet ADA• 1.1 mile back-tracking to get to new waterfront park

Over Water Walkway & the South Bay Trail

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Wharf Street

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Wharf Street

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Public Process 2002 through 2013• Waterfront Futures Group Public Participation 2004• PRO Plan, Comp Plan Update, TIP, STIP, City Capital Budget Approval• Whatcom County Council of Governments Listed Project• Bellingham Bay Action Team Bimonthly Meetings and Status Updates• Monthly Email Updates to Interested Parties• Public Comment Tracker Posted to Website and Updated Monthly• Project Website Created in 2008• Public meeting June 26, 2008 • Updates to Park Board & Greenway Advisory Board since February 2009 • 500ft Neighborhood Mailer Sent May 15, 2010 • Project Signs Posted at the Site May 17, 2010• City Council May 2010, January 2011• SEPA Public Mailing Notice June 2010• Hearing Examiner Mailing and Notice 2010• Hearing Examiner Public Meeting November 17, 2010• City Council March 2013

Project Status and Timeline

• $4M Greenway Levy III• $2.1M Federal Grant• $150k REET• $600k PIF• Feasibility Report 2008• 60% Design is Complete• SEPA & JARPA June 2010• Construction Docs

Pending Discussions with Tribes

• Construction Start 2015 at the soonest

To Cornwall

Walkway Photo Simulation

14’-0”

Permit or Approval Agency Submitted? Status

Shoreline Conditional Use Permit City of Bellingham Yes Approved

March 30, 2011; SHR2010-00028 Shoreline Substantial Development Permit City of Bellingham No Need footing design

Critical Areas Review City of Bellingham Yes Complete

State Environmental Policy Act Concurrence City of Bellingham Yes

Approved MDNS; September 23, 2010 SEP2010-00027

Building Permit City of Bellingham No Submit two months before bidding

Stormwater Permit City of Bellingham No Submit two months before bidding

Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA)

Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife

Yes Pending response to all comments; conditions regarding cleanup

401 Water Quality Certification

Washington State Department of Ecology Yes Pending Consultant Response

to Ecology Letter Dated 12/13/2010 Interim Cleanup Action/Planned Action

Washington State Department of Ecology No Pending Results of SSSMGP RI/FS

Coastal Zone Management Act Consistence

Washington State Department of Ecology Yes

Need approved Shoreline, CUP and 401 approval

Aquatic Resources Use Authorization & Signed Lease

Washington State Department of Natural Resources

No On hold until all permits are issued

Individual Bridge Act Permit United States Coast Guard Yes On hold until agreement reached with Tribes; Add’l approvals required CZM, CUP, 401 and Shoreline

National Environmental Policy Act Concurrence

Federal Highways Administration Yes

Applied June 2010 On hold until Agreement Reached with Tribes

National Historic Preservation Act Concurrence

Federal Highways Administration/Washington State Department of Archaeological and Historic Preservation

Yes Complete

Endangered Species Act Concurrence

National Marine Fisheries Services and US Fish and Wildlife Service

Yes On hold until Agreement Reached with Tribes

ROW Certification Approval Washington State Department of Transportation

No On hold until DNR approval

Permit Status

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“In consideration of the city Hearing Examiner’s record and the excellent staff report, and based on extensive field investigation, Ecology has determined that the proposed over-water walkway may be allowed.”

“Ecology has also determined that marine mammal and avian wildlife will not be unduly disturbed. The large separation from the nearshore eelgrass and macroalgae beds, juvenile samonid migratory corridor, and marine bird foraging areas provides an adequate buffer from human activities along the walkway.”

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“Adequate opportunity for public comment was provided...” pg. 37

“The applicant as adequately addressed issues relevant to the Shoreline Conditional Use Permit...” pg. 38

“The applicant has demonstrated compliance with the requirements of the SMP...” pg. 39

“The applicant has demonstrated compliance with the requirement of WAC…”pg. 39

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“The applicant has demonstrated that the proposal can comply with the requirements of the CAO...” pg. 40

“The applicant has demonstrated consistency with the policies of RCW…” pg. 39

“…the proposal will not cause significant adverse effects to the shoreline environment…” pg. 39

“The public interest will not suffer substantial detrimental effects from the proposal, but will be served by it…” pg. 39

• Mitigating design elements include:• Minimize eelgrass impacts• Walkway grating• Provide fifty-foot spans to

minimize new piling • Limit armoring to above the

OHWM• Remove 87 creosote-treated

piles, vertical concrete seawall, 8 steel H-piles, & 13 additional creosote-treated piles

• Additional agency requirements: • Baseline eelgrass surveys• Eelgrass Monitoring and

Mitigation Plan

Habitat Restoration & Mitigation

Existing Eelgrass

Walkway Alignment

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Cornwall Landfill

• Construction will be coordinated with three cleanup sites

• A formal notification for planned actions will be provided

• Documentation to Ecology will include

• description of the planned action• relationship to the cleanup action

identified in the consent decree• steps to minimize sediment

disturbance • post-construction

monitoring/results, and • planned contingencies

Cleanup Actions

Pattle Point Over Water Walkway

Taylor Dock Over Water Walkway

Boulevard Over Water Walkway Whatcom

Waterway Area 9

Cornwall Landfill

SSSMGP

For more information and project updates, visit the www.cob.org and enter “Over Water Walkway” in the search box.

City of Bellingham Parks and RecreationDesign and Development Division