Happenings This Week Starting Tonight

FY2025 CITY COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE BUDGET REVIEW HEARINGS are ongoing through May 31st. View schedule for particular areas of interest.

4/22: Reserved Channel Development Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting at 6pm. The project is an 8 acres development with eight new buildings of proposed uses including a variety of commercial, research and development, civic, and residential housing. This CAC is a joint BPDA and MEPA review group. This meeting will lay out the role of the CAC and the process. 

4/23: Reserved Channel Development Kick-off Meeting at 6pm at the Condon School, 200 D St. Oxford Properties Group and Pappas Enterprises, is hosting this in-person meeting to discuss the proposed project. This event is the first in a series of four meetings to review the entirety of the proposed project. Later meetings will have more specific topics, including transportation infrastructure, resiliency, public realm and open space, and built form.  

4/24:Morrison Mahoney Boston Strong Neighborhood Blood Drive in front of 268 Summer Street. Please sign up for an appointment from 8:30am to 2pm if you are able to give blood. 

4/27: RESILIENT MOAKLEY PARK CONNECTORS SITE WALK from 10am to 12pm at 165 WILLIAM J DAY BLVD. Join the City of Boston Environment Department, City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority onsite to hear about the project and how it connects to ongoing and future work in the area. Learn about the goals of the coastal flood protection work and tell us what you think about the location, including safety (heat, traffic, etc.), accessibility (ease of crossing) and programming (either informal or formal). Rain date 5/4.

Comment Deadlines

4/26: 232 A Street Planned Development Area #69 draft amendment and PDA Master Plan draft amendment comment deadline. 

4/30: Reminder- MassDEP Climate Resilience Draft Regulations for Waterways (Chapter 91) and Wetlands comment deadline.

• Send Waterways Resilience comments to dep.waterways@mass.gov with Waterways Resilience Comments in the subject line.
• Send Wetlands Resilience comments to dep.wetlands@mass.gov with Wetlands-401 Resilience Comments in the subject 

4/30: Waterfront Civic/Cultural Space Planning Study Draft Recommendations deadline. 

MassDEP Draft Climate Resilience Regulations & CZM Coastal Resilience Districts

updated 2/15/24: MassDEP extends joint public comment period from March 1 to April 30, 2024 and adds Office Hours. 

MassDEP Resiliency Draft Regulations

In February 2022, MassDEP invited a wide range of stakeholders to participate in a stakeholder advisory panel to inform MassDEP’s proposed resilience-focused regulatory updates with the goal of preparing draft regulations. Beginning this year, there will be information sessions and hearings for Waterways (Chapter 91) resilience regulation amendments and for Wetlands and water quality resilience regulation amendments.

View: Waterways (Chapter 91) draft regulation language and waterways
View: Wetland draft regulation language

Office Hours: Participants are encouraged to submit questions about the Wetlands/401WQC regulations, Stormwater Handbook, and/or Waterways regulations in advance of the session(s) you plan to attend.

• Questions submitted in advance (preferably at least one week) of an Office Hours session will be prioritized. “Live” questions will be considered, as time permits. 
• MassDEP may choose not to address questions at these sessions if not received sufficiently in advance or if the question requires extensive evaluation.
• Please refrain from asking site-specific questions related to projects you may be involved in.
• Submit questions here.

Wetlands and Waterways Resilience Regulations “Office Hours” Schedule

All sessions will be conducted virtually via Zoom, advance registration required, registration links and agendas will be available on our website.

• Office Hours #1: Monday February 26, 2024 1:00-3:30pm. Register.
• Office Hours #2:  Thursday March 14, 2024 1:30-4:00pm. Register.
• Office Hours #3: April 3, 2025 1:30-4:00pm. Register.

Comment Deadline 

April 30th: Extended Public Comment Period closes at 5pm for all regulations.

• Send Waterways Resilience comments to dep.waterways@mass.gov withWaterways Resilience Comments in the subject line.
• Send Wetlands Resilience comments to dep.wetlands@mass.gov with Wetlands-401 Resilience Comments in the subject line.

Prior Information Sessions and Hearings

Waterways (Chapter 91)
January 17    Waterways  2 Public Information Sessions (virtual 1 pm  & 6 pm)

• View presentation
• View first information session
• View second information session 

January 25   Waterways  Public Hearings (virtual 1 pm  & 6 pm)

• View 1pm Public Hearing
• View 6pm Public Hearing

Wetlands: Coastal Resilience & Stormwater

January 18    Wetlands / WQC  2 Public Information Sessions (virtual, 1pm and 6pm) 

January 23    Wetlands / WQC  3rd Public Information Session (virtual, 1pm)

• View Stormwater Draft Regulations Presentation
• View Coastal Draft Regulations Presentation 
• View information sessions (scroll down page)

January 31    Wetlands / WQC 2 public hearings (virtual, 1pm & 6pm)

February 1    Wetlands / WQC 3rd Public hearing (virtual, 1pm)

• View Wetland Public Hearings (scroll down page)

Don't forget to check out the MassDEP Youtube channel

MA ResilientCoasts Initiative

On November 28, 2023, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced ResilientCoast initiative to establish establish Coastal Resilience Districts based on their unique climate impacts. The development of a coastal resilience strategy is a priority action within the state’s ResilientMass Plan. ResilientCoasts will  be led by a new Chief Coastal Resilience Officer under Coastal Zone Management. Read press release.

originally published 01.04.24

Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park Final Master Plan Update Chapter 91 Public Meeting May 4th

The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) has submitted an application to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) for a Consolidated Written Determination pursuant to 310 CMR 9:00 related to the Final Master Plan Update ("FMPU") for the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park (RLFMP). 

Thursday, May 4, 2023
2pm - 4pm

The purpose of this license application is to secure a Consolidated Written Determination (“CWD”) that allows for the redevelopment of certain parcels proposed in the RLFMP FMPU that are ineligible for authorization under the existing Master License #10233 to be licensed individually upon request. These specific parcels, detailed in Section 4 of the application, are anticipated to be redeveloped in phases over a period of years. The CWD will enable the DEP to regulate the future build-out of the RLFMP and ensure that impacts of individual projects are addressed in individual licenses.

View Public Notice.

Public comment deadline: June 9, 2023

Contact

Richard E. McGuinness, Deputy Director for Climate Change and Environmental Planning 
Richard.McGuinness@Boston.gov
617.918.4323

Atlantic Wharf Wants Changes To Our Public Spaces: Comment Deadline April 7th

updated 04/05/23 with FPNA presentation (under resources) at the bottom.
updated 03/20/23: Added link to presentation below along with links to MassDEP and the BPDA website.

MassDEP in conjunction with the BPDA are holding a meeting tonight regarding proposed changes to our public spaces at Atlantic Wharf as mandated under the MA Public Waterfront Act (Chapter 91) and need your feedback. The meeting was held:

Monday, March 13, 2023

6pm

Atlantic Wharf Fort Point room or online

View meeting presentation

Comment Deadline: April 7th 

Submit comments to DEP.Waterways@mass.gov with the subject line “Atlantic Wharf"

Boston Properties, Atlantic Wharf's owner, is proposing changes to their special public destination facility or interior public spaces part of their Chapter 91 license #11419 requirements. The major changes are to:

• relocate the Fort Point Room from its existing 2nd floor space to existing ground-floor space fronting Congress Street, combining a space previously used as a restaurant (Boloco) with space operated by the Boston Society of Architects (BSA space)
• convert the existing Fort Point Room to commercial office uses
• discontinue the use of the existing 2nd floor exterior deck

Boston residents and abutting neighbors are encouraged to attend Monday night to discover more about the changes above and all changes under consideration:

• Will the new proposed space meet the needs of the public and abutting neighbors?
• Will the ground floor be activated in a way that adds value and enhances the existing standards/experience?
• How will the public interact with the spaces and what will be the public experience?
  
  

• How will privatizing the Fort Point room and deck provide public benefits & support programming?
• How will the loss of 2,630 square feet of interior public space be reinstated or recaptured? This does not include the loss of 3,270 sf from the 2nd floor terrace. 
  
  
• What will happen to the 2nd floor non-profit office space? 
• Why is the civic cultural concierge being replaced by a digital information screen?

click on image for better viewing

There is a lot to consider in determining whether the proposed changes benefit the public more or less than before, especially when regarding this special destination facility of public accommodation.

In addition to the 2nd floor Fort Point room and the 2nd floor non-profit office, the original ground floor approved in 2006 included:

• A "Town Square," of approximately 6,300 square feet of skylit civic gathering space within the atrium area of the Graphic Arts and Tufts Buildings, with programming and promotion to be provided by the Proponent (to remain in the current size & condition)
• A Multi-Media Performance Area, approximately 3,800 square feet, providing a destination location for visitors and city residents to learn about Boston's history, culture, diversity and future (BSA space being replaced by a multi-media room?)
• A waterfront restaurant and cafe/performance venue, part of the Fort Point Channel "RestaurantRow," providing flexible space for alternative uses and populations at different times of the day (being replaced by a multimedia meeting room)
• A "Channel Concierge," providing information, maps, ticketing, and details on current events (being replaced by a digital information panel)
• A Community Art Gallery (to remain in the current size & condition)

The comment deadline is April 7,2023. Comments should be submitted to: DEP.Waterways@mass.gov with the subject line “Atlantic Wharf”.

Atlantic Wharf (formerly known as Russia Wharf) underwent redevelopment in 2005 for the properties at 530 Atlantic Ave. and 270-286 Congress St.  The site planning started with the BPDA (then BRA) and the Fort Point Downtown Municipal Plan and as stated above is subject to the MA Public Waterfront Act, commonly referred to as Chapter 91, administered by MassDEP. MassDEP required a SPDF or special public destination facility to offset the impacts of the redevelopment and to provide exceptional public spaces, programming and public benefits. 

Resources

Request for Minor Modification of Chapter 91 License 11419

Russia Wharf (Atlantic Wharf) Chapter 91 License 11419

Russia Wharf Redevelopment Plan Development Area #66

Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Plan  

Fort Point Downtown Municipal Harbor Plan

FPNA April 2023 Neighborhood Presentation

originally published 03/10/23

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*.

• View Stakeholder Meeting
• View Meeting Presentation

* 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).

Chapter 91 Proposed Regulation Changes Meetings Tuesday 6/8

updated 06/08/21:  New June 8th zoom registration link. MassDEP is adding a mid-July date for two hearings times (date & times tbd).  The comment deadline will be extended towards the end of July dependent upon the actual July hearing date.  The hearing recordings, presentations and comment letters will be posted on the MassDEP website.

MassDEP Public Hearings
June 8. 2020
Chapter 91 Municipal Harbor Plans
Proposed Regulatory Update

On Tuesday, June 8, MassDEP will hold TWO VIRTUAL public hearings on proposed amendments to its regulations to allow the Downtown Waterfront Municipal Harbor Plan (MHP) to move forward and redevelop the Harbor Garage site to a 600 foot tower and Hook Wharf to a 300 foot hotel along the Fort Point Channel. These proposed changes to Chapter 91 regulations can also impact all existing and future MHPs. 

Written comments may be submitted until 5:00 PM on June 22, 2021 via email to dep.waterways@mass.gov  *NOTE: comment deadline will be extended  to end of July. The exact date to be determined in public notice of mid-July date hearings. 

REGISTER TO ATTEND A PUBLIC HEARING ON JUNE 8

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 1:00 PM  -- REGISTER 

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 6:00 PM -- REGISTER 

For more information, view:

Public Hearing Notice 

Summary of Draft Regulations

Redline Version Changes Only