Thursday, February 17, 2022

February Neighborhood Gathering To Talk Cisco, Life Sciences & Mini Golf

updated 02/17/22 with special guest City Council President Ed Flynn

You are invited to

Fort Point Seaport February Neighborhood Gathering

Tuesday, February 22, 2022
6 pm to 8 pm
District Hall or Online

featuring

C-6 Boston Police Community Service Officers Updates

Boston City Council President Ed Flynn

Life Sciences All Over The Place
&
How You Can Play A Developing Role

plus

Cisco Seaport
n
ew expanded location at
85 Northern Avenue
requesting support for a Farmer Brewery License
& Farmer Pouring Permit to serve full alcohol

introducing 

Puttshack
50 Pier 4 Boulevard (The Alyx at EchelonSeaport)
requesting support for an All Alcoholic Beverages License

with 
News About The Neighborhood

Monday, February 14, 2022

What Is The Resilient Fort Point Channel Infrastructure Project?

updated 02/14/22 with February 22nd comment deadline and supplemental information. 

A Resilient Fort Point Channel Infrastructure Project Environmental Notification Form (ENF) has been submitted on behalf of the City of Boston and Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) for the construction of:

  • a  2,090 linear foot (lf) mixed berm and floodwall mitigation structure with 14 outfall backflow prevention flap gates along a portion of the Fort Point Channel’s southeast shoreline between approximately 15 Necco Street and Dorchester Avenue. 
  • the installation of three interim flood protection barriers across the western end of Necco Court, A Street under the Summer Street overpass, and West Service Road under the Summer Street overpass.
The purpose of the project is to reduce flood damage and provide protection to nearby populations, infrastructure, utilities, and structures in the 100 Acres Master Planning Area, which is bounded by the Fort Point Channel to the west, Summer Street to the north, the South Boston Bypass Road/Haul Road to the east, and West Second Street to the south, and portions of South Boston.  The project was also discussed at the FPNA Neighborhood Gathering Kickoff on January 25th by Joe Christo, Senior Resilience and Waterfront Planner, BPDA Climate Change and Environmental Planning. View Presentation.

View from Dorchester Ave Toward Summer St Bridge

February 1, 2022 Online Public Site Visit

The project will permanently impact 760 lf of Coastal Bank and 68,887 sf of Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage (LSCSF) and temporarily impact 60,273 sf of LSCSF.  The project will involves removal of 1.3 acres of impervious area.

The project requires the submission of an ENF pursuant to 301 CMR 11.03(3)(b)(1)(a) and 11.03(3)(b)(1)(f) because it requires a State Agency Action and involves the alteration of Coastal Bank and greater than ½  or more acres of any other wetlands. 

The project requires:

  • a Chapter 91 (c. 91) License from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
  • an Order of Conditions from the Boston Conservation Commission, or in the case of an appeal, a Superseding Order of Conditions from MassDEP.

The project is receiving a Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant for $10,000,000 from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) via the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Comments will be welcome in writing until February 22, 2022 (new date) and may be submitted via email to Erin Flaherty, Environmental Analyst, Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office

A Certificate on the ENF will be issued on February 25, 2022 (need revised date).  Deadlines may be extended.  Please check the New Environmental Monitor for up to date comment period deadlines.

originally published 01.24.22

MA Law & Climate Resiliency In The Neighborhood

In 2021, Governor Baker Signed Climate Legislation to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Protect Environmental Justice Communities | Mass.gov. In a related move, Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office made regulatory changes resulting in environmental justice protocols regarding public involvement and project analysis effective January 1, 2022 for Environmental Project Notification (ENF) filings. 

Last week, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) held a Climate Resiliency Stakeholder Outreach Meeting to consider regulatory revisions MA General Law Chapter 91 in response to climate change.

MassDEP Waterways Program is responsible for ensuring public access and the provisions of public benefits in exchange for private use and development of tidelands. Commonwealth tidelands belong to the public. The law requires 50% open space and 75% Facilities of Public Accommodation (FPA) on the ground floor. The Harborwalk is an example of providing public access. FPA or Chapter 91 interior spaces are required for non-water dependent use of waterfront property.  Most well known South Boston waterfront examples are the Institute of Contemporary Art and Grubstreet. FPA spaces can include civic and cultural spaces and restaurants or any spaces that provide goods or services that are open to the public. The current 244 - 284 A Street development along the Fort Point Channel is under Chapter 91 jurisdiction. Next City (BPDA) 244 - 284 A St. Public Meeting is February 15 at 6pm.  

MassDEP February 9, 2022 virtual public stakeholder meeting materials are now available*.

* A meeting summary is forthcoming.

The proposed changes to Chapter 91 regulations focus on the following near term topics and sections:

Engineering and Construction Standards- 9.37
Building Height Provision- 9.51
Expiration & Renewals – 9.25
Simplified Licenses- 9.10 
Expanded License Terms- 9.15
Minor Project Modifications* -9.22
Definition: (Coastal High Hazard)- 9.02 

* Note: Minor modifications are not subject to public review. 

Please send comments on the above near term proposed Waterways climate resilient regulatory changes and any longer-term approaches to DEP.Waterways@mass.gov with the subject line: Chapter 91 / Resiliency.  Comment deadline is February 25th.  

An additional resource for consideration is CLF's Climate Change and the Massachusetts Public Waterfront Act (Chapter 91).