Waterfront Development
Contents
- Introduction
- General Waterfront Development Resources
- Selected Waterfront Development Links in Washington Cities
- Zoning for Waterfront Areas
- Waterfront Parks and Trails - Examples
- Waterfront Communities in Other States
- MRSC Related Pages
Introduction
Waterfront communities have a distinctive sense of place created by their history, their shoreline location, and their characteristic sights, sounds, and smells. Waterfront communities seek to make the best use of limited land while protecting the shoreline environment. For information on shoreline regulations, see MRSC's Web page on the Shoreline Management Act.
Waterfronts provide unique opportunities for economic development, recreational activities, and water dependent uses, such as marinas, port facilities, and ferry landings. Many cities have revitalized their urban or industrial waterfronts or created shoreline parks and waterfront trails.
General Waterfront Development Resources
The following include waterfront organizations, articles about waterfront development, and a few resources from other states.
- The Waterfront Center - Nonprofit organization that helps communities enhance their urban waterfronts through a variety of educational and advisory services
- Waterfronts, Project for Public Spaces - PPS program geared specifically toward working with waterfront communities to develop a new vision for the future
- Coastal and Waterfront Smart Growth, NOAA - Includes Coastal and Waterfront Smart Growth Report, 09/2009
- MarinaREF - Waterfront development reference and clearinghouse for sustainable waterfront information
- Waterfront.net - Waterfront informational network; provides information and services in the field of waterfront redevelopment in cities all over the world
- Integrating Local Waterfront Revitalization Planning into Local Comprehensive Planning and Zoning, by Patricia E. Salkin, Pace Environmental Law Review, Fall 2005
- Reclaiming the Waterfront, by Teresa Gillotti, Let's Talk Business, 09/2005 (
)
- Redirecting Waterfront Development, by Mary Vogel, Urban Land, 10/2007 ()
- Special Waterfront Redevelopment Issue, Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 11/19/2009
- Remaking urban waterfronts: not just in Seattle, by Mark Hinshaw, Crosscut, 06/06/2011
- Waterfront Redevelopment under the National Coastal Zone Management Program, Conference, 2007, Portland, OR ()
- Florida Planning Toolbox: Coastal Planning Tools: Working Waterfront Plan, Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions, Florida Atlantic University
- Maine Working Waterfront Initiative, Maine State Planning Office
Selected Waterfront Development Links in Washington Cities
Many Washington communities have redeveloped their urban waterfronts; the following are a few examples.
Bellingham
- Bellingham Waterfront Futures - Collaborative effort with Port
- Bellingham Waterfront Planning
Bremerton
- Harborside District
- Economic Impacts of the Bremerton Boardwalk, by ECONorthwest, 11/2007 ()
Edmonds
Everett
Kennewick
- Bridge to Bridge Revitalization Area
- Clover Island Master Plan ()
- Port of Kennewick - Award-winning urban renewal and waterfront restoration projects, including Clover Island
Kirkland
Mukilteo
Port Angeles
Renton
Seattle
- Seattle Central Waterfront Plan
- Creating a Great Waterfront, Department of Planning and Development - Portal to Seattle's central waterfront planning process
- Waterfront Seattle - Website for current Seattle Central Waterfront planning in 2011
Snohomish
- Riverfront Master Plan, 2002 Update ()
Tacoma
- Thea Foss Development Authority - Coordinating agency for Thea Foss Waterway waterfront development
- Thea Foss Waterway Comprehensive Review
Vancouver
Wenatchee
Zoning for Waterfront Areas
Because waterfront areas may require special protection of water-dependent uses, views, and access to the water, some cities have created special zoning districts for waterfront areas.
- Aberdeen Municipal Code Ch. 17.40 - W-D Waterfront Development District
- Bainbridge Island Municipal Code Ch. 18.75 - Water-Dependent Industrial Zone
- Bellevue Land Use Code Part 20.25E - Shoreline Overlay District
- Blaine Municipal Code Ch. 17.23 - CB-Wharf Zoning District
- Edmonds Municipal Code Ch. 16.55 - CW-Commercial Waterfront Zone
- Everett Zoning Code Sec. 1.050(C)(7) - Waterfront Commercial Zone, Ch. 23 - W-C Zone, Ch. 5 - Use tables, and Ch. 33D - Shoreline Overlay District
- Gig Harbor Municipal Code Ch. 17.46 - Waterfront Residential (WR), Ch. 17.48 - Waterfront Millville (WM), and Ch. 17.50 - Waterfront Commercial (WC)
- Twisp Zoning Ordinance, Riverfront Commercial District, see section IV, part 6
- Vancouver Municipal Code Ch. 20.560 - Waterfront Plan District
- Wenatchee Municipal Code Ch. 10.32 - Waterfront Mixed-Use (WMU) District and Ch. 10.40 - Overlay Districts, see Waterfront Overlay Districts
Waterfront Parks and Trails - Examples
Waterfronts offer unique opportunities for open space, viewpoints, trails, and public access to the water.
- Bainbridge Island Eagle Harbor Waterfront Park
- Kennewick Columbia Park Master Development Plan
- Lake Forest Park, Lyon Creek Waterfront Park
- Leavenworth Waterfront Park
- Mukilteo Lighthouse Park Master Plan, 2004 ()
- Olympia Percival Landing
- Port Orchard Mosquito Fleet Trail Master Plan, August 2001 ()
- Renton Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park
- Spokane Riverfront Park
- Tri-Cities Sacajawea Heritage Trail
- Vancouver-Clark Waterfront Renaissance Trail
Waterfront Communities in Other States
This section includes links to waterfront planning and redevelopment sites in other states.
- Sources of Waterfront Information, maintained by the City of Bellingham
Cleveland, OH
Portland, OR
- Downtown Waterfront
- South Waterfront Plan
- Portland's Working Rivers: The Heritage and Future of Portland's Industrial Heartland, Prepared by Carl Abbott for the Working Waterfront Coalition, 01/2008 ()
MRSC Related Pages
- Shoreline Management Act, MRSC