Planning Initiatives - Boston Redevelopment Authority

On May 25, 2007, the Boston Redevelopment Authority (“BRA”) submitted the Waterfront Activation Network Plan and the Water-Dependent Use Management Plan for the Charlestown Navy Yard in the form of an amendment to the 1990 Harborpark Municipal Harbor Plan to the State’s Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) / Coastal Zone Management (CZM) for review.

The BRA is currently updating the Charlestown Navy yard Waterfront Activation Network Plan pursuant to changes resulting from the State’s Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) / Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Consultation Session.

The BRA and the Charlestown community have been planning new waterfront public destinations and improved access and wayfinding signage on Harborwalk along the Charlestown Navy Yard (“CNY”). As part of the City of Boston’s Municipal Harbor Planning efforts, the City has sought the Charlestown community’s input on two planning tools for the CNY.

The first relates to year round public use and enjoyment of the CNY waterfront with activities, public uses and destinations to draw people in from the inland Charlestown neighborhood as well as from other Boston neighborhoods.

The second is for the management of the water-dependent uses such as sailing facilities, marinas and water transit facilities along its shore and adjacent watersheet. Community input and feedback from the three community meetings/workshops held to date have been incorporated into the draft plan, which is presently under review.

These documents lay out a conceptual plan for improved public access and year-round enjoyment of the Harborwalk and waterfront areas of the Navy Yard. The general goals and objectives are to improve the clarity and connectedness of the extraordinary resources of the historic Navy Yard including the public access areas and historic and cultural institutions. The Plans seek to create a common identity for the entire Navy Yard and generate interest for diverse audiences at varied times of the day and year. Finally, the Plans develop a realistic implementation plan with a far-reaching implantation strategy involving many partners and funding sources.