Crown Heights/Atlantic Avenue Rezoning and Revitalization Efforts

gzadan — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 18:47:34 +0000

Crown Heights/Atlantic Avenue Rezoning and Revitalization Efforts gzadan Mon, 08/07/2023 - 14:47

GZA planners have been deeply involved in this Crown Heights neighborhood for 10+ years, providing planning services to optimize its revitalization. Zoning had outgrown historical uses, resulting in conforming but waning manufacturing uses, brownfields, non-confirming residential housing, and blighted land uses. The neighborhood’s ready access to a vital transportation corridor added great value to its potential.

Challenge

As developer interest and stakeholder participation intensified regarding the neighborhood’s evolution, a politically charged environment threatened to complicate development approvals that could spur neighborhood revitalization.

Solution

Having previously worked with the local community board and multiple developers on other projects in the immediate Crown Heights/Atlantic Avenue neighborhood, GZA planners had established themselves as a trusting, mediating voice in the contentious political environment, facilitating community-based planning efforts. GZA planners helped build support between community board members, city planners, architects, and developers to negotiate M-Crown District criteria for density, affordable housing criteria, building heights, etc. by contributing unbiased environmental planning. The 1034 Atlantic Avenue project was successfully approved for two, 10-story mixed-use residential buildings that provide significantly more high-quality and affordable housing, a walkable environment, and commercial opportunities. Other rezoning/revitalization projects in the immediate neighborhood to which our planners have contributed include 1919 Pacific, 1010 Pacific, 1050 Pacific, Grand and Pacific, and 1209 Atlantic Avenue.

Benefit

GZA’s innovative problem solving and direct involvement in the collaboration with community members, political entities, and regulators resulted in consensus and development of a successful, sustainable development benefitting the neighborhood as well as the developers. It has provided a roadmap for a neighborhood-wide plan.

Environmental planning
Mixed use development
CEQR
Land use, zoning, and public policy
Comprehensive studies included noise, transportation, air quality
High profile
Roadmap for neighborhood-wide plan

New York

Buildings & Real Estate Development

Land Use and Environmental Planning

City of Springfield Lake & Pond Management Plan

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 19:29:03 +0000

City of Springfield Lake & Pond Management Plan Anonymous Thu, 09/26/2019 - 15:29

Challenge

The City of Springfield is responsible for 22 waterbodies within its borders. These desirable natural resources in an urban setting provide a valuable public recreational resource but are adversely affected by the encroaching urban development. GZA has been engaged by the City to stay abreast of related wetlands regulatory compliance and to address ongoing issues with invasive species and other negative impacts at the lakes and ponds.

Solution

GZA’s natural resource specialists have worked closely with the City since 2002, conducting annual comprehensive Aquatic Plant Surveys on six lakes and ponds in Forest Park, in compliance with MEPA and wetlands permitting as well as to control invasive species within the waterbodies. In 2007, GZA’s scope of work expanded to provide more comprehensive services to meet the City’s needs. GZA developed an iterative management plan for each of Springfield’s lakes and ponds. GZA aquatic biologists evaluated each of the waterbodies, performing aquatic vegetation surveys; bathymetric and soft sediment evaluations; watershed analysis; nutrient loading modeling; and other related studies. In the resulting three-volume document, GZA provided a list of lake management options and alternatives for management and/or restoration for each waterbody. GZA has worked with the City since that time to implement many of the recommendations at each of the waterbodies, responding to the prioritization based upon need and available funding. Between 2015 and 2018, GZA was further asked to update the plans and provide permitting for the routine management tasks at 18 of the water bodies under a single comprehensive permit; four of the remaining water bodies will be addressed under more specialized permitting, due to the presence of rare species.

Benefit

GZA has continued to provide services at individual lakes and ponds in accordance with the management plan—including vegetation monitoring and phased implementation of the management recommendations. GZA’s institutional knowledge of the City’s water bodies, as well as the firm’s natural resources expertise and permitting experience in the region, adds great value to the project and facilitates the successful management of these water bodies.

Insights

Aquatic Vegetation Surveys
Bathymetric and Soft Sediment Evaluation
Watershed Analysis
Nutrient Loading Modeling
Diagnostic/Feasibility Plans for Citywide Lake & Pond Management
Comprehensive Permitting

Massachusetts

Water

Government

Water Resources

Natural Resources and Ecological Services

Land Use and Environmental Planning

Comprehensive Planning

Crown Heights/Atlantic Avenue Rezoning and Revitalization Efforts

Challenge

Solution

Benefit

City of Springfield Lake & Pond Management Plan

Challenge

Solution

Benefit