Cornwall Beach Park Master Plan AlternativesPresented to: Master Plan Steering Committee

Presented by:Jonathan Schilk and Peter Hummel

November 14, 2013

Overview

• Agenda Review• Master Plan Schedule• Project Updates• Habitat Approach• Master Plan Alternatives• Alternatives Comparison Matrix• Questions and Comments

• Updates since last meeting: 10 min.  Jonathan • Summary of Public Meeting #1: 5 min. Jonathan• Approach to Habitat Enhancement: 15 min. Peter• Presentation of Alternative Designs: 20 min.

Peter/Jonathan• Comments on Alternative Designs: 40 min. All• Close and Upcoming Public Meeting #2: 1 min. Jonathan

Name

the

Park!!!! Open season: now to January 31, 2013

Tickler:• The 2.4 acre development pad• Buffer, Habitat, Enhancement,

Connectivity

Scheduled Item Start FinishTASK 4 - ALTERNATIVE CONCEPTS DESIGN

10/17/13 11/5/13

City Staff Meeting   11/7/13City Review 11/13/13Other City Staff Meetings 11/13/13P&RAB UPDATE 11/13/13Steering Committee Meeting #2 11/14/13Waterfront Meeting/Presentation of Alternatives

11/20/13

Public Meeting #2 11/20/13

TASK 5 - PRELIMINARY MASTER PLAN 11/21/13 12/4/13

Staff Meeting 12/12/13City Review 12/13/13Other City Staff Meeting 12/16/13Steering Committee #3   12/18/13Agency Meeting 12/20/13Public Meeting #3 1/7/14TASK 6 - FINAL MASTER PLAN 1/8/14 1/24/14City Review   1/30/14Parks and Rec Advisory Board   2/12/14City Council Approval   2/25/14

TASK 7 - GRADING PLAN 2/26/14 3/4/14

UPDATES

UPDATES• RG Haley interim clean up wrapping up and draft

Remediation Investigation is being prepared.• Cornwall Ave. Landfill RI/FS status: DOE expects

their responses to public comment to be complete by end of Nov 2013.

• Habitat as touchstone, especially inside the shoreline jurisdiction (more about this coming up).

UPDATESPublic Meeting #1 Some Comments Among Many• Good park to attract people to our community, creates

opportunity• Stable & sandy beach, and beach access, is desirable. • Convenient access to park amenities for certain

demographics.• Interest in habitat, wetland construction, be it seals, fish, deer,

critters, etc.• Interest in amenities that are typical of community parks• Hill is desirable.• Places for kids.• No commercial development in parks.• Off shore marine park with floating logs, islands, scuba

access.

Habitat Approach, Overview

• Landscape Ecology Principles• Nearshore Habitat Studies• Upland/Terrestrial Habitat Guidance

Landscape Ecology Emphasis and Principles

Based on Work by Forman and Godron, the Main Working Concepts are:

1. Patches, Matrices, and Corridors2. Edges and Ecotones3. Disturbance and Fragmentation

Existing Nearshore Habitat Studies Relevant to this Project• Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot

Project• Waterfront Futures• Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem

Restoration Project (PSNERP)• WRIA 1 Nearshore

Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot Project, Habitat Restoration Portion• Purpose and Scope: Comprehensive study

of the Bay looking at nearshore habitat and cleanup issues

• Timeframe: FIES completed in 2000• Recommendations affecting Cornwall

Beach Park: Cornwall Landfill identified as a key site for cleanup and opportunities for habitat restoration

Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot Project, Habitat Restoration Portion

Waterfront Futures Project: Habitat Restoration and Water Access Report

• Purpose and Scope: Workshop and report covering all of City waterfront

• Timeframe: Interagency workshop and report completed in 2004

• Recommendations affecting Cornwall Beach Park: Identifies trail connections, stormwater outfalls, beaches, and intertidal habitat benches

Waterfront Futures Project: Habitat Restoration and Water Access Report

Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP)

• Purpose and Scope: State and federal soundwide restoration focused effort where habitat forming processes can be restored

• Timeframe: Ongoing, key reports completed in 2008-2011

• Recommendations affecting Cornwall Beach Park: Indirect; PSNERP is not focused on urban waterfronts

Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP)

WRIA 1 Nearshore and Estuarine Assessment and Restoration Prioritization• Purpose and Scope: Most recent nearshore

assessment of nearshore area including Bellingham Bay

• Timeframe: Completed 2013• Recommendations affecting Cornwall

Beach Park: Identifies two enhancement sites within master planning area

WRIA 1 Nearshore and Estuarine Assessment and Restoration Prioritization

Olympic Sculpture Park: Lessons from Monitoring an Urban Waterfront Habitat Restoration Project

Existing City of Bellingham Upland Habitat Guidance relevant to the Project

• 2013 Bellingham SMP - Restoration Plan • Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan;

2008 • Bellingham Wildlife and Habitat

Assessment; 1995 and 2003

Upland Habitat and Habitat Connectivity

• Improve connectivity of the shoreline environments to one another and to adjacent habitat corridors and/or habitat blocks that support priority species and species of local significance

• Incorporate unique ecological features and resources into the park system to protect threatened species, preserve habitat, and retain migration corridors that are unique and important to local wildlife

• Identify and conserve wildlife habitat including nesting sites, foraging areas, and migration corridors within or adjacent to natural areas, open spaces, and the developed urban area

• Aquatic to upland habitat interface is one of the most important habitat connections and riparian vegetation is essential to link upland terrestrial with aquatic and marine habitat

Upland Habitat Guidance

Alternative 1: Recreation Focus

Alternative 2: Habitat Focus

Alternative 3: Blended Approach

2.4 ACREDEVELOPMEN

T PAD

Alternatives Comparison Table

Questions and Comments