Four Utile waterfront and resilience projects approved, paving way for sustainable, accessible communities

Over the past week, four of Utile’s waterfront planning initiatives have been adopted or approved by their respective municipalities! These plans pave the way for creating resilient communities by promoting responsible development along the waterfront and in areas at risk of sea level rise and storm surge.  

In Lynn, the City Council voted to approve Utile’s Revised Waterfront Master Plan and the Municipal Harbor Plan Amendment. Along with the Waterfront Open Space Master Plan, these will re-imagine Lynn’s waterfront along Lynn Harbor with open space, public access to harbor resources, and development strategies for a successful and vibrant urban environment. 

Just two days later, the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) approved the zoning for the Downtown Waterfront District Municipal Harbor Plan, which codifies the long-term guidance provided by the MHP for the development, activation, and public use of the historic waterfront along the central part of Boston Harbor. 

At the same meeting, the BPDA also voted to adopt the Coastal Flood Resilience Design Guidelines. As part of the City’s Climate Ready Boston initiative, the Design Guidelines were created based on an analysis of existing built form and regulations, national best practices adapted to Boston’s urban fabric, and community input integrated with expertise in cutting-edge building technology. They provide a tangible resource for building adaptation and new construction in the floodplain. Recommendations for a concurrent Zoning Overlay will help to implement the adaptation of Boston’s buildings vulnerable to sea level rise.

We’re excited to see these planning efforts come to life and do our part in contributing to an enhanced shoreline and resilient development in the Commonwealth.