happy people, healthy places designing and implementing open

Happy People, Healthy Places Designing and Implementing Open Space Florida APA, Tampa September 8, 2016

Presenters

Max Wemyss, MURP Planning Assistant

Natasha Alfonso-Ahmed, M.Arch Urban Design and Planning

Director

Kayla DiCristina, BURP 2017 Planning Intern

Introduction

In this session you will learn… • Comprehensive Approach • Multi Disciplinary Team • Planner’s Role and Resources

Designing and Implementing Open Space

Presentation Overview

I.  Benefits of Public Open Spaces

II. Implementation Strategies

III. Case Studies

IV. Planner Toolkit

What is Open Space?

Open space…

Forsyth Park; Savannah, GA

•  Lacks a consistent definition. •  Is undeveloped or lightly

developed. •  Can be public or Publicly

accessible. •  Comes in different forms.

•  Creates identity.

Public Versus Publicly Accessible

Public Publicly Accessible

Open and accessible to public. Open and accessibly to public through an easement and/or

agreement. Managed and owned by a public

entity. Managed and/or owned by a private entity, but can also be

owned by a public entity.

I. Benefits of Open Space Economic, Health, Environmental, and Community

Economic Benefits

•  Increased residential and commercial property values. •  Open space finances itself. •  Increase and retention of new businesses. •  Increased revenue from tourism. •  Reduced cost of drinking water. •  Reduced air and water pollution mitigation

Health Benefits

•  Promote physical activity. •  Improve health. •  Improve psychological well-being. •  Improvement in brain development in children. •  Provide people contact with nature.

Environmental Benefits

•  Air and water pollution abatement. •  Cooling and mitigating urban heat island effect. •  Control storm water runoff.

Community Benefits

•  Reduces crime. •  Creates strong social and community ties. •  Protects pedestrians.

II. Implementation Strategies How does open space need to be implemented to

be effective?

Analysis

•  When is it a good time to create an open space?

•  What areas are best suited for an open space?

Goals and Vision

•  How do we make people want to come to the area? How do we make them stay?

•  What is the ideal public space for the community?

Comprehensive Approach

ü Design & Programming ü Governance ü Regulations ü  Funding ü  Public Involvement

•  What is your strategy?

Effective Design

Effective programming

Characteristics of Good Public Space 1.  Promote human contact and socialization. 2. Safe, welcoming, and accommodating. 3. Visually interesting. 4. Promotes community involvement 5. Reflects local culture and history. 6. Relates well to adjacent uses (adequate

frontage) 7. Well maintained. 8. Unique space. 9. Amenities with pedestrians in mind both inside space and surroundings.

+

Governance

Obtainment Management Purchasing Public-Private Partnerships

Easements Government Agencies

Eminent Domain Private Agencies

Gifts/Donations

Master Plan Requirements

Previously existing

Regulations

•  Strategies depend on the opportunities or obstacles

ü  Design standards ü  Code requirements ü  Incentives ü  Coordination with private developers

Funding Government/

Non-profit

Grants/Bonds

Taxing Districts

Budget Allocation

Trusts/Funds

Private

Increased Development Rights

Regulations

Tax Incentives

Land Leases

Public Involvement

•  How will this public space affect a community?

•  Who benefits and who does not?

III. Case Studies A. Public Development

Public Development

Case Study Location

Bryant Park New York City, NY

Greenway Boulder, CO

Bryant Park New York City, NY General Information

• 9.6 acres. Size

•  Single. Parcels

•  Public park and public square.

Type

Bryant Park New York City, NY

• Agreement with NYC. Obtainment

• Grant. • Assessments. Funding

• Private-Public Partnership Management

• The 1985 Agreement between BPC and NYC.

Regulations

Implementation

Bryant Park New York City, NY

Physical and psychological benefits.

Development of a strong sense of community.

Crime reduction.

Increase in commercial property rents and property values.

Benefits

Greenway Boulder, CO

• 17 miles Size

• Multiple Parcels

•  Trail System Type

General Information

Greenway Boulder, CO

• Open Space Program. Obtainment

• Bond • CIP through

budget allocation

Funding

•  Public works Management

• The Greenways Master Plan, 2011

Regulations

Implementation

Greenway Boulder, CO

Benefits

Increased multi-modal

transportation.

Increased adjacent property values and taxes.

III. Case Studies B. Publicly Accessible Development

Publicly Accessible Development

Case Study Location

Malibu Public Beaches Malibu, CA

One North PDX Portland, OR

Malibu Public Beaches Malibu, CA

• 20 miles Size

• Multiple Parcels

• Public beach with Publicly accessible access points

Type

General Information

Malibu Public Beaches Malibu, CA

• Easements Obtainment

• Publicly funded. Funding

• Private-public partnership Management

• California Coastal Act • California Constitution Regulations

Implementation

Malibu Public Beaches Malibu, CA

Increased revenue.

Increased accessibility.

Benefits

One North PDX Portland, OR

• 14,000 sq. ft. Size

• Single Parcels

• Public courtyard and pocket park

Type

General Information

One North PDX Portland, OR

• Purchased Obtainment

• Loan • Grant Funding

• Private Developer Management

• Albina Community Plan • Metro Government Grant

Program • Portland Bureau of

Transportation

Regulations

Implementation

One North PDX Portland, OR

Increased property values.

Created a public space with no cost to the public.

Increased opportunity for multi-modal transportation.

Benefits

IV. Planner Toolkit

Regulating Strategies

Case Study Location

Downtown Pompano TOC Pompano Beach, FL

Downtown N. Miami Beach N. Miami Beach, FL

Mixed-Use Waterfront District N. Miami Beach, FL

Downtown Pompano TOC Pompano Beach, FL

Bus Transit Center FEC Rail Station

Civic Campus

Old Pompano MLK Neighborhood

•  Approximately 289 acres

•  Managed by CRA

Downtown Pompano TOC Pompano Beach, FL

Land Analysis:

•  Nearly 80% of Land in TOC is Vacant

•  Approximately50% of which is government owned

Downtown Pompano TOC Pompano Beach, FL

Vision Plan: •  Parcel design

and capacity analysis

•  Desired development around the open spaces

Downtown Pompano TOD Pompano Beach, FL

Neighborhood Structure: •  Based on ¼

mile radius (5 minute walk threshold)

•  Neighborhood centers (open spaces)

•  Neighborhood edges

Public Open Space & Greenways Regulating Plan •  Identified

location and minimum size of required new public open spaces and greenways

Downtown Pompano TOD Pompano Beach, FL

Open Spaces: Required Greenways: Required

• Greens • Plazas • Squares • Greenway System

Open Space Types

• Height Bonuses • Density Bonuses

Development Incentives

Downtown Pompano TOC Pompano Beach, FL

Public Open Space & Greenways Standards:

•  Bonus Provisions for properties developing Public Open Spaces and greenways: •  two extra stories of height and additional 20

units/acre •  CRA has land for leverage

Downtown Pompano TOC Pompano Beach, FL

Public Open Space & Greenways Standards:

•  Developed and maintained in perpetuity

•  Off-street parking not required

•  Shall be provided at grade level

•  Shall be shaded, and ground surface shall be a combination of paving materials, lawn, or ground cover

Green: Forsyth Park Savannah, GA

Square: Savannah, GA

Plaza: Union Square San Francisco, CA

Downtown Pompano TOC

Control and predictable outcomes

Comprehensive planning

Large land assemblage and government ownership

Overview

Ali Building Passageway

3

12

Old Pompano Plaza 731 Building Passageway

1

2 3

Downtown N. Miami Beach N. Miami Beach, FL

•  Approximately 150 acres

•  Nearly 95% of land in Core area is built out

•  100% privately owned

•  Managed by CRA

FEC Rail Station

Municipal Complex

Employment Center District

Downtown Core

Bisc

ayne

Blvd

163rd Street

1

N

Key: 1.  Transit Stop/Kiss and

Ride Plaza 2.  Park and Ride/Bus

Transit/Mixed Use 3.  Plaza

164th Street

19th

Ave

nue

21st A

venu

e

W. D

ixie H

wy.

FEC

2

3 3

Arterials Local Roads Greenways Open Space Blueways

Vision Plan: •  Parcel design and

capacity analysis

•  Desired development around the open spaces

Downtown N. Miami Beach N. Miami Beach, FL

Downtown N. Miami Beach N. Miami Beach, FL

Publicly Accessible Open Space & Greenways Regulating Plan •  Identified location

and minimum size of potential new publicly accessible open spaces and required greenways

Open Spaces: Optional Greenways: Required

• Greens • Plazas • Squares • Greenway and Blueway System

Open Space Types

• Increased Density and Height (As of right)

• CRA Tax Increment Rebate

Development Incentives

Public Open Space & Greenways Standards:

Downtown N. Miami Beach N. Miami Beach, FL

•  Tax increment rebate may be granted for the development and maintenance of the open spaces and greenways and/or contribution to the Public Open Space Fund (for City parks in district, Snake Creek Canal beautification etc.)

•  CRA does NOT have land for leverage

Publicly Accessible Open Space & Greenways Standards:

•  Developed and maintained in perpetuity

•  Off-street parking not required

•  Shall be provided at grade level and accessible to public (easements)

•  Shall be shaded, and ground surface shall be a combination of paving materials, lawn, or ground cover.

Snake Creek Canal Blueway

Downtown N. Miami Beach N. Miami Beach, FL

Downtown North Miami Beach

Redevelopment

Increased Development Rights/Incentives

NO land assemblage and government ownership

Overview

Mixed-Use Waterfront District N. Miami Beach, FL

•  Approximately 30 acres

•  Suburban neighborhood commercial center

•  100% privately owned (single owner)

•  NOT in CRA

55

Loading and service areas

Lake

Mixed-Use Waterfront District N. Miami Beach, FL

Arterials Local Roads Open Space Blueway

Mixed-Use Waterfront District N. Miami Beach, FL

Vision Plan: •  Parcel design and capacity analysis

•  Desired development around the open spaces

Publicly Accessible Open Space & Greenways Regulating Plan •  Identified location and minimum

size of required new publicly accessible open spaces and greenways

Open Spaces: Required Blueways: Required

Mixed-Use Waterfront District N. Miami Beach, FL

Existing Tot Lot Area: 5800 sf Required Neighborhood Public Park Area: 65,000 sf Required Waterfront Public Open Space Area: 137,965 sf Other Required Public Open Space Area (Plazas etc.): 73,965 sf Total Required Public Open Space Area: 276,930 sf (6.3 acres)

• Greens • Plazas • Squares • Greenway and Blueway System

Open Space Types

• Increased Density and Height (As of right)

• Development Approval Conditions

Development Incentives

Public Open Space & Greenways Standards:

•  To encourage redevelopment and improvement of the commercial center, City initiated a land use and zoning amendment to increase height and density

•  To balance developer expectations and needs of the community City established Development Approval Conditions for public benefits

Mixed-Use Waterfront District N. Miami Beach, FL

Developmental Approval Conditions

Shall relocate, rebuild, improve, or otherwise enhance existing fire rescue stations on site.

Shall provide police substation on site.

Shall develop and maintain a minimum of six acres of Publicly accessible open space, of which, 65,000 sf shall be a neighborhood park.

Shall develop and maintain a Publicly accessible waterfront promenade with multiple access points.

Shall provide streetscape improvements within the district.

Mixed-Use Waterfront District N. Miami Beach, FL

Summary

• Open Spaces provide many benefits.

• To implement requires a comprehensive approach and a multi disciplinary team.

• Approach must be tailored based on unique characteristics of the community.

• Planner’s key role: PLAN first, coordinate, facilitate, incentivize and regulate.

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Happy People, Healthy Places Designing and Implementing Open Space Max Wemyss; max@rma.us.com Kayla DiCristina; kayladicristina@gmail.com Natasha Alfonso-Ahmed; natasha@rma.us.com

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