City of Newburyport
Newburyport, Massachusetts
A cohesive set of recommendations on public realm improvements, zoning changes, and design guidelines, this plan will guide development over twenty-plus years.
Project Highlights:
The plan grew out of a four-month planning effort that focused on areas where consensus could be reached. Recommendations—which emerged from an open process involving a broad spectrum of stakeholders—included:
- protection of traditional marine-dependent uses, such as boatyards and marinas, from residential encroachment;
- establishment of a new framework of streets and paths to protect water views and extend access to the water's edge;
- creation of a vibrant mixed-use district on the water;
- design guidelines and zoning amendments to ensure that new development reflects the town's historic character;
- extension of a two-mile Harborwalk to link neighborhoods to waterfront parks and the downtown; and
- expansion and enhancement of an existing park to engage the water's edge.
Implementation has been jump-started through direct contact with developers, land owners, and regulators.