POLICY 1

RESTORE, REVITALIZE, AND REDEVELOP DETERIORATED AND UNDERUTILIZED WATERFRONT AREAS FOR COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL, AND OTHER COMPATIBLE USES.

Explanation of Policy

State and federal agencies must ensure that their actions further the revitalization of urban waterfront areas. The transfer and purchase of property; the construction of a new office building, highway or park; the provision of tax incentives to businesses; and establishment of enterprise zones, are all examples of governmental means for spurring economic growth. When any such action, or similar action is proposed, it must be analyzed to determine if the action would contribute to or adversely affect a waterfront revitalization effort.

It must be recognized that revitalization of once dynamic waterfront areas is one of the most effective means of encouraging economic growth in the State, without consuming valuable open space outside of these waterfront areas. Waterfront redevelopment is also one of the most effective means of rejuvenating or at least stabilizing residential and commercial districts adjacent to the redevelopment area.

In responding to this policy, several other policies must be considered: (1) Uses requiring a location abutting the waterfront must be given priority in any redevelopment effort. (Refer to Policy 2 for the means to effectuate this priority); (2) As explained in Policy 5, one reason for revitalizing previously dynamic waterfront areas is that the costs for providing basis services to such areas is frequently less than providing new services to areas not previously developed; (3) The likelihood for successfully simplifying permit procedures and easing certain requirements (Policy 6) will be increased if a discrete area and not the entire urban waterfront is the focus for this effort. In turn, ease in obtaining permits should increase developers' interest to invest in these areas. Further, once this concentrated effort has succeeded, stabilization and revitalization of surrounding areas is more likely to occur.

Local governments through waterfront revitalization programs have the primary responsibility for implementing this policy. Though local waterfront revitalization programs need not be limited to redevelopment, local governments are urged to identify areas as suitable for redevelopment, and establish and enforce redevelopment programs.

1. When a Federal or State action is proposed to take place in an urban waterfront area regarded as suitable for redevelopment, the following guidelines will be used:

a. Priority should be given to uses which are dependent on a location adjacent to the water (see Policy 2);

b. The action should enhance existing and anticipated uses. For example, a new highway should be designed and constructed so as to serve the potential access needs for desirable industrial development;

c. The action should serve as a catalyst to private investment in the area;

d. The action should improve the deteriorated condition of a site and, at a minimum, must not cause further deterioration. For example, a building could not be abandoned without protecting it against vandalism and/or structural decline;

e. The action must lead to development which is compatible with the character of the area, with consideration given to scale, architectural style, density, and intensity of use;

f. The action should have the potential to improve the existing economic base of the community and, at a minimum, must not jeopardize this base. For example, waterfront development meant to serve consumer needs would be inappropriate in an area where no increased consumer demands were expected and existing development was already meeting demand;

g. The action should improve adjacent and upland views of the water, and, at a minimum, must not affect these views in an insensitive manner;

h. The action should have the potential to improve the potential for multiple uses of the site.

2. If a State or Federal action is proposed to take place outside of a given deteriorated, underutilized urban waterfront area suitable for redevelopment, and is either within the relevant community or adjacent coastal communities, the agency proposing the action must first determine if it is feasible to take the action within the deteriorated, underutilized urban waterfront area in question. If such an action is feasible, the agency should give strong consideration to taking the action in that area. If not feasible, the agency must take the appropriate steps to ensure that the action does not cause further deterioration of that area.