The Mystic The Mystic RiverRiver Corridor Corridor Strategy ProjectStrategy Project

Metropolitan Area Planning CouncilMetropolitan Area Planning Council

Boston Redevelopment AuthorityBoston Redevelopment Authority

City of Chelsea City of Chelsea

City of EverettCity of Everett

City of MaldenCity of Malden

City of MedfordCity of Medford

City of SomervilleCity of Somerville

FundingFunding

This project is being funded under the This project is being funded under the District Local Technical Assistance District Local Technical Assistance Fund created by Chapter 205 of the Fund created by Chapter 205 of the Acts of 2006 and a contribution from Acts of 2006 and a contribution from the Massachusetts Water Resources the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.Authority.

The Study AreaThe Study Area

Mystic River Watershed: 76 square miles; 21 Mystic River Watershed: 76 square miles; 21 communities north and west of Boston.communities north and west of Boston.

The Corridor Project study area is 6 The Corridor Project study area is 6 communities and 6.14 square miles.communities and 6.14 square miles.

¼ mile wide corridor on either side of the river from the ¼ mile wide corridor on either side of the river from the southern terminus of the Mystic Lakes to the Chelsea Street southern terminus of the Mystic Lakes to the Chelsea Street Bridge, including the daylighted portion of the Malden River Bridge, including the daylighted portion of the Malden River and the portion of the Island End River in Everett and Chelsea.and the portion of the Island End River in Everett and Chelsea.

The Study AreaThe Study Area

Purpose of the ProjectPurpose of the Project

A collaborative effort to create a A collaborative effort to create a collective vision for the river corridor collective vision for the river corridor and a strategy to achieve that vision.and a strategy to achieve that vision.

To achieve the full potential of the Mystic To achieve the full potential of the Mystic River.River.

To identify key opportunities for To identify key opportunities for conservation and developmentconservation and development

Purpose of the ProjectPurpose of the Project

An opportunity for the communities to An opportunity for the communities to learn about and discuss projects that learn about and discuss projects that are planned or underway in their are planned or underway in their neighboring communities neighboring communities

The project will result in a strategy for The project will result in a strategy for the communities of the Mystic River the communities of the Mystic River study area to work together to mutually study area to work together to mutually support each other’s efforts.support each other’s efforts.

Portions of the Mystic River have Portions of the Mystic River have abundant open space…abundant open space…

The lower portion of the river is The lower portion of the river is more urban and industrialmore urban and industrial

Task 1: MappingTask 1: Mapping

Base mapBase map

Open space initiativesOpen space initiatives

Hazard mitigationHazard mitigation

Transportation projectsTransportation projects

Environmental Justice populationsEnvironmental Justice populations

DevelopmentDevelopment

Environmental Justice MapEnvironmental Justice Map

Data is from the Census 2000 block groups.Data is from the Census 2000 block groups.

EJ Populations in MA determined by the EJ Populations in MA determined by the following criteria:following criteria:

Households earn 65% or less of the statewide Households earn 65% or less of the statewide household median income; orhousehold median income; or

25% or more of the residents are minority; or25% or more of the residents are minority; or 25% or more of the residents are foreign-born; 25% or more of the residents are foreign-born;

oror 25% or more of the residents are lacking 25% or more of the residents are lacking

English language proficiencyEnglish language proficiency

Task 2: Reviewed previous plans and Task 2: Reviewed previous plans and studiesstudies

Task 3: Issues IdentificationTask 3: Issues Identification

Analysis of previous plans.Analysis of previous plans.

Discussion at two steering Discussion at two steering committee meetings.committee meetings.

Preparation of an issues paperPreparation of an issues paper..

Major IssuesMajor Issues

#1:Ensure that impacts on the Mystic River #1:Ensure that impacts on the Mystic River Corridor are considered in the review of Corridor are considered in the review of private developments and public private developments and public infrastructure projects at the local and infrastructure projects at the local and regional level.regional level.

#2: Develop a regional strategy for open space #2: Develop a regional strategy for open space land protection and acquisition to ensure land protection and acquisition to ensure access, connectivity and an equitable access, connectivity and an equitable distribution of open space.distribution of open space.

Major IssuesMajor Issues

#3: Seek innovative approaches to #3: Seek innovative approaches to improving public access that improving public access that respect respect the critical role that the the critical role that the Designated Designated Port Areas play in the Port Areas play in the regional economy.regional economy.

#4: Ensure that development #4: Ensure that development regulations encourage the provision regulations encourage the provision of of water transportation to meet water transportation to meet existing and future demand.existing and future demand.

Major IssuesMajor Issues

#5: Improve environmental quality #5: Improve environmental quality within within the Mystic River study area.the Mystic River study area.

#6: Ensure that the Mystic River #6: Ensure that the Mystic River Corridor Corridor Strategy addresses implementation Strategy addresses implementation issues.issues.

Other themes:Other themes: Environmental JusticeEnvironmental Justice

Role of transportationRole of transportation

#1: Ensure that impacts on the Mystic River are #1: Ensure that impacts on the Mystic River are considered in the review of private developments and considered in the review of private developments and public infrastructure projects at the local and regional public infrastructure projects at the local and regional level.level.

Rivers EdgeRivers Edge

Assembly SquareAssembly Square

Green Line ExtensionGreen Line Extension

Urban RingUrban Ring

Smaller scaleSmaller scale transportation projectstransportation projects

#2: Develop a regional strategy for open space land #2: Develop a regional strategy for open space land protection and acquisition to ensure access, connectivity protection and acquisition to ensure access, connectivity

and an equitable distribution of open space.and an equitable distribution of open space.

Distribution of Open SpaceDistribution of Open Space

CommunityCommunity Acreage in Acreage in Study AreaStudy Area

Acres of Acres of Open Open SpaceSpace

% Open % Open SpaceSpace

BostonBoston 711711 4242 5.9%5.9%

ChelseaChelsea 358358 2828 7.8%7.8%

EverettEverett 511511 5858 11.3%11.3%

MaldenMalden 317317 1717 5.3%5.3%

MedfordMedford 1,5621,562 313313 20.0%20.0%

SomervilleSomerville 469469 6565 13.8%13.8%

#3: Seek innovative approaches to improving #3: Seek innovative approaches to improving public access that respect the critical role that public access that respect the critical role that the Designated Port Areas play in the regional the Designated Port Areas play in the regional

economy.economy.

Overview of DPA RegulationsOverview of DPA Regulations 12. Designated Port Areas (DPAs)12. Designated Port Areas (DPAs) Authorities: Authorities: M.G.L. c. 91: Public Waterfront Act; M.G.L. c. 91: Public Waterfront Act;

301 CMR 25.00: Designation of301 CMR 25.00: Designation of Port Areas; 310 CMR 9.00: Waterways Port Areas; 310 CMR 9.00: Waterways

RegulationsRegulations Jurisdiction: Jurisdiction: State-designated areas of State-designated areas of

concentrated maritime industrial activitiesconcentrated maritime industrial activities Regulatory Summary: Regulatory Summary: Under the provisions of Under the provisions of

Chapter 91, the state may designate areas in Chapter 91, the state may designate areas in developed ports for the purposes of promoting and developed ports for the purposes of promoting and protecting marine industrial activities and certain protecting marine industrial activities and certain supporting uses. Recreational marinas are not supporting uses. Recreational marinas are not allowed in designated DPAs. allowed in designated DPAs.

Examples of land uses in the Examples of land uses in the DPADPA

#4: Ensure that development regulations encourage #4: Ensure that development regulations encourage the provision of water transportation to meet existing the provision of water transportation to meet existing and future demandand future demand..

#5: Improve environmental quality along the #5: Improve environmental quality along the Mystic River.Mystic River.

#6: Ensure that the Mystic River Corridor #6: Ensure that the Mystic River Corridor Strategy addresses implementation issues.Strategy addresses implementation issues.

Identify opportunities for funding.Identify opportunities for funding.

Consider ways to leverage the work of Consider ways to leverage the work of other organizations.other organizations.

Consider regulatory climate for action.Consider regulatory climate for action.

Theme: Environmental JusticeTheme: Environmental Justice

Theme: Transportation and Theme: Transportation and AccessAccess

Potential elements of the Potential elements of the strategystrategy

Legislative action such as support for House Legislative action such as support for House Bill 841: An Act Establishing a Mystic River Bill 841: An Act Establishing a Mystic River Water Quality Commission.Water Quality Commission.

Development of principles to guide Development of principles to guide communities’ in their review of waterfront communities’ in their review of waterfront projects under the MEPA process.projects under the MEPA process.

Focus will be on short term action items that Focus will be on short term action items that can advance projects or initiatives underway can advance projects or initiatives underway or begin new initiatives.or begin new initiatives.