public involvement in alexandria waterfront

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PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: PLAN, ADAPT & OVERCOME

Presented by:

Nancy J. Williams, Project ManagerVeronica O. Davis, PE

March 26, 2011


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Introduction Alexandria Waterfront Plan Overview Public Involvement ProcessThe ChallengeThe Plan

The Adaptation Lessons Learned Discussion

Agenda


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Daingerfield Island to Jones Point Unique role throughout history

Alexandria Waterfront Plan


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Builds on past planning efforts Community revitalized by the arts

Alexandria Waterfront Plan


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Multiple stakeholders along WaterfrontCityResidentsBusinessNonprofitsNational Park Service

Regulatory and Legal ToolsLand use agreementsZoning/historic district/height districts

The Challenge: Balancing Interests


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Connecting a Revitalized Waterfront tosurroundings in a harmonious way:

Good Neighbor to Old Town, North Old Town, City atlarge, Region

Avoiding Impacts: Scale/Traffic/Parking/Noise/RiverSensitivity to Areas Past: History/ArchitectureSustainable Future: Economical and EnvironmentalMaximizing Public Benefit: Amenity for all

Opportunity: Connectivity


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Waterfront as a Citywide amenityAccessibility to the waterfront: visual and physicalActivities for all age groupsAbility to traverse the waterfront along the waters

edge

Programming and activation of parksWater-based activities Art and History unifying features

The Challenge: Citywide Amenity


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6 Community Meetings

Kick-off Meeting Lessons Learned from around the world Community visioning Community Open House Concept Plan Design SchematicPublic Review Period

Public Involvement: The Plan


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6 Community Meetings 2 Walking Tours 1 Boat Tour Trip to NYC 4 theme nights Public Comment period

Public Involvement: The Adaptation


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WHAT WE DID


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Meeting #1 of 6

Kick-off eventGroups/organization were given 2 minutesVision for WaterfrontGuiding principles for the Plan

Community Open Mike Forum


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Purpose: give the community an opportunity to talkfirst

Lessons LearnedOpportunity to listenShape guiding principlesAcknowledge concerns and brainstorm solutions

Community Open Mike Forum


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Meeting #2 of 6

Expert PanelWaterfronts from aroundthe world

Best practicesLessons learned

Community Forum Expert Panel


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Lessons LearnedCommunity enjoyed seeing what has been doneShow examples of comparable communitiesHistorical ContextSizeScale

Show elements of extreme examples

Community Forum


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View of Waterfront from the water Discussed history, zoning & development sites

Boat Tour


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Representatives from all City Agencies Walked from Robinson Terminal to Terminal Challenges and opportunities

Walking Tour #1


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Waterfront Committee Annual Walking Tour 40 citizens walked from Robinson Terminal to

Terminal

Historic places & buildings

Walking Tour #2


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Lessons LearnedHelps people understand issues when they can see itExplore community from different perspectivesAllows community to provide feedback

Tours


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Meeting #3 of 6

Over 100 people attended

Day long visioning exerciseRed/Green DotDrawing on maps

Community Visioning Workshop


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Lessons LearnedSkilled facilitators are importantManage the discussion without guiding itMake sure everyone at tables participatesAllow community to draw on maps and measure their

preferences

Document feedback through plenary session andwebsite

Community Visioning


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Field Trip to NYC


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5 out of 7 Planning Commissioners Board of Architectural Review Parks & Recreation Commission Arts Commission Waterfront Committee

Field Trip to NYC


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Lessons LearnedExperience is more powerful than photos Important that leadership from stakeholder groups

attend

Have local representative guide tourQuestionsLessons learned

Field Trip to NYC


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Meeting #4 of 6

Presented maps & concepts based on all outreacheventsOver 100 people in attendance

Community Open House


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Open House Activity Map


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Purpose: to gather input from community expertsand lay persons on important components

History, Arts, and Marina NightOutreach to specific interest groupsWorkshop format

Theme Nights


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Outreach to all commissions with history in mission Purpose: Focus on how to reflect history in the plan Historical maps of the waterfront Identified places and historic buildingsCommunity used post-it notes

Waterfront historywhite paper followed

Theme Night: History


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Outreach to commercial and private boatingcommunities and local Waterfront Committee

Purpose:Understand operational needs and financial

requirements of a viable marina and local vision

Use of meeting to share consultant data Use of meeting to get practical information from

boaters, other users: water taxis, passengers of

local cruises, and Waterfront Committee

Theme Night: Marina


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Outreach to arts community Purpose: Integrate art into Waterfront PlanDetermine how to incorporate art and to marry it with

history and other cultural resources

Art Walk white paper followed

Theme Night: Arts


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Meeting #5 of 6

Concept Plan - Vision IllustratedGoals/IdeasConceptual Drawing w/Activity NodesPiers and Marina at Food of King

Public Plaza at Foot of KingExpansion of Parks Improvement of Parks Identification of Development Sites/Uses

Community Meeting: Concept Plan


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Concept Plan Design


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Meeting #6 of 6

Plan Design

Use of scaled modelUse of schematic design for core areaUse of illustrative perspectivesProvided time for group feedback sessions &plenary session

Community Meeting: Plan Design


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Plan Design


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Lessons Learned last two meetings

Use of media for outreach and informationUse of other technology for outreachEffective use of visual toolsTie products to previous agreed upon visioning

goals and objectives reinforce oftenKeep lines of communication open

Community Meetings: 5 and 6


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Tours were excellent tool; All tours beforecommunity visioning

Ongoing citywide outreach clear message Communicate often with neighboring stakeholders Efficient use of technology for outreach

Effective use of visual tools model; illustratives Keep community leaders involved and informed Provide ongoing mechanism for feedback Demonstrate that community has been heard

General Lessons Confirmed


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Staff attendance at commission, board & civicassociation meetings

One-on-One and small group meetings by request Meeting with individual property owners Social and traditional media

Additional Outreach


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Plan is released First Public Hearing Alexandria Planning

CommissionApril 5, 2011May 3, 2011

City Council to followwww.alexandriava.gov/Waterfront

Public Review Period


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QUESTIONS

Nancy J. Williams, Project Manager

[email protected]

Veronica O. Davis, PE

[email protected]

public involvement in alexandria waterfront

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