Press Release: City Planning Announces Waterfront Workshop Series, Refreshes Comprehensive Waterfront Plan Webpage - DCP

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For Immediate Release
February 21, 2020

Contacts:
Melissa Grace, Joe Marvilli – press@planning.nyc.gov (212) 720-3471

City Planning Announces Waterfront Workshop Series, Refreshes Comprehensive Waterfront Plan Webpage

Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Marisa Lago today announced a Brooklyn public workshop for input on the next edition of the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, a report which will provide a vision for the city’s waterfront for the next decade and beyond.

The workshop is the first of a series of Spring events to get the public involved in the planning process, which includes “Walking the Edge,” a monthlong event in May where DCP will partner with nonprofit arts organizations Culture Push and Works on Water to walk all 520 miles of NYC’s waterfront.

“Come and be a part of these once-in-a-decade opportunities to rethink and reshape New York City’s 520-mile long waterfront. From the relaxing vibes of Rockaway Beach, to the working West Shore of Staten Island, to the countless recreational amenities in Brooklyn Bridge Park, our shoreline has something for everyone. I encourage you to attend one of our events, share your ideas and explore DCP’s new webpage. Together, we can make our waterfront even more resilient, accessible and welcoming to all,” said DCP Director Marisa Lago.

DCP has also launched an updated webpage for the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, making our content more readable and informative.

The Comprehensive Waterfront Plan is due to be published at the end of 2020.

The Brooklyn workshop will take place on Wednesday, March 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Brooklyn Borough Hall (209 Joralemon Street). It will begin with a short presentation from DCP on what the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan is, its history, and the current state of the city’s shoreline. From there, breakout sessions by Community District will allow attendees to discuss waterfront issues, such as public access, water quality, resiliency and more, on a local level.

Workshops will also be held in the other four boroughs, with details coming soon. This borough-based series is hosted in collaboration with the Waterfront Alliance, a coalition of more than 1,000 organizations working on issues of waterfront resiliency, accessibility, business activity and education.

These public discussions follow last summer’s initial outreach on the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, engagements that included waterfront tours, appearances at seasonal or nature-focused festivals and our Waterfront Planning Camp.

To make sure New Yorkers are as informed as possible before or after attending these community events, DCP has restructured its Comprehensive Waterfront Plan webpage with an improved, easy-to-use layout. The updated webpage is organized into three sections: “Overview,” “Process” and “Resources.”

The “Overview” page provides materials on different components of the waterfront, such as resiliency, restoration, recreation and industry, to get New Yorkers thinking about all the ways the waterfront impacts our everyday lives and what they would like to see as part of the plan.

Under “Process,” visitors can learn about and register for upcoming events, as well as view summaries of previous public engagement for the plan. These past events include listening sessions, walking tours, visioning discussions and more.

The “Resources” page contains documents that provide context and history on the waterfront plan that will inform DCP’s work, including the previous Comprehensive Waterfront Plans of 1992 and 2011, reference maps and multiple studies.

In addition to the Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, DCP is moving forward with Zoning for Coastal Flood Resiliency, measures that will enable structures to be more flood resilient and help homeowners and businesses recover more quickly from future storms. Zoning for Coastal Flood Resiliency is expected to enter the formal public review process in the coming months.

Department of City Planning
The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City’s 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.