1. Cornwall Beach Park Master Plan Alternatives
Presented to:
Master Plan Steering Committee
Presented by:
Jonathan Schilk and Peter Hummel
November 14, 2013

2. Overview Agenda Review Master Plan Schedule Project Updates
Habitat Approach
Master Plan Alternatives
Alternatives Comparison Matrix
Questions and Comments

3. Name the Park!!!! Updates since last meeting: 10 min. Jonathan
Summary of Public Meeting #1: 5 min. Jonathan
Approach to Habitat Enhancement: 15 min. Peter
Presentation of Alternative Designs: 20 min. Peter/Jonathan
Comments on Alternative Designs: 40 min. All
Close and Upcoming Public Meeting #2: 1 min. Jonathan
Name the Park!!!!
Tickler:
The 2.4 acre development pad
Buffer, Habitat, Enhancement, Connectivity
Open season: now to January 31, 2013

4. UPDATES Scheduled Item Start Finish
TASK 4 - ALTERNATIVE CONCEPTS DESIGN
10/17/13
11/5/13
City Staff Meeting
11/7/13
City Review
11/13/13
Other City Staff Meetings
P&RAB UPDATE
Steering Committee Meeting #2
11/14/13
Waterfront Meeting/Presentation of Alternatives
11/20/13
Public Meeting #2
TASK 5 - PRELIMINARY MASTER PLAN
11/21/13
12/4/13
Staff Meeting
12/12/13
12/13/13
Other City Staff Meeting
12/16/13
Steering Committee #3
12/18/13
Agency Meeting
12/20/13
Public Meeting #3
1/7/14
TASK 6 - FINAL MASTER PLAN
1/8/14
1/24/14
1/30/14
Parks and Rec Advisory Board
2/12/14
City Council Approval
2/25/14
TASK 7 - GRADING PLAN
2/26/14
3/4/14
UPDATES

5. UPDATES
RG Haley interim clean up wrapping up and draft Remediation Investigation is being prepared.
Cornwall Ave. Landfill RI/FS status: DOE expects their responses to public comment to be complete by end of Nov 2013.
Habitat as touchstone, especially inside the shoreline jurisdiction (more about this coming up).

6. UPDATES Public Meeting #1 Some Comments Among Many
Good park to attract people to our community, creates opportunity
Stable & sandy beach, and beach access, is desirable.
Convenient access to park amenities for certain demographics.
Interest in habitat, wetland construction, be it seals, fish, deer, critters, etc.
Interest in amenities that are typical of community parks
Hill is desirable.
Places for kids.
No commercial development in parks.
Off shore marine park with floating logs, islands, scuba access.

7. Habitat Approach, Overview
Landscape Ecology Principles
Nearshore Habitat Studies
Upland/Terrestrial Habitat Guidance

8. Landscape Ecology Emphasis and Principles
Based on Work by Forman and Godron, the Main Working Concepts are:
Patches, Matrices, and Corridors
Edges and Ecotones
Disturbance and Fragmentation

9. Existing Nearshore Habitat Studies Relevant to this Project
Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot Project
Waterfront Futures
Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP)
WRIA 1 Nearshore

10. Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot Project, Habitat Restoration Portion
Purpose and Scope: Comprehensive study of the Bay looking at nearshore habitat and cleanup issues
Timeframe: FIES completed in 2000
Recommendations affecting Cornwall Beach Park: Cornwall Landfill identified as a key site for cleanup and opportunities for habitat restoration

11. Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot Project, Habitat Restoration Portion

12. Waterfront Futures Project: Habitat Restoration and Water Access Report
Purpose and Scope: Workshop and report covering all of City waterfront
Timeframe: Interagency workshop and report completed in 2004
Recommendations affecting Cornwall Beach Park: Identifies trail connections, stormwater outfalls, beaches, and intertidal habitat benches

13. Waterfront Futures Project: Habitat Restoration and Water Access Report

14. Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP)
Purpose and Scope: State and federal soundwide restoration focused effort where habitat forming processes can be restored
Timeframe: Ongoing, key reports completed in
Recommendations affecting Cornwall Beach Park: Indirect; PSNERP is not focused on urban waterfronts

15. Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP)

16. WRIA 1 Nearshore and Estuarine Assessment and Restoration Prioritization
Purpose and Scope: Most recent nearshore assessment of nearshore area including Bellingham Bay
Timeframe: Completed 2013
Recommendations affecting Cornwall Beach Park: Identifies two enhancement sites within master planning area

17. WRIA 1 Nearshore and Estuarine Assessment and Restoration Prioritization

18. Olympic Sculpture Park: Lessons from Monitoring an Urban Waterfront Habitat Restoration Project

19. Existing City of Bellingham Upland Habitat Guidance relevant to the Project
2013 Bellingham SMP - Restoration Plan
Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan; 2008
Bellingham Wildlife and Habitat Assessment; 1995 and 2003

20. Upland Habitat and Habitat Connectivity
Improve connectivity of the shoreline environments to one another and to adjacent habitat corridors and/or habitat blocks that support priority species and species of local significance
Incorporate unique ecological features and resources into the park system to protect threatened species, preserve habitat, and retain migration corridors that are unique and important to local wildlife
Identify and conserve wildlife habitat including nesting sites, foraging areas, and migration corridors within or adjacent to natural areas, open spaces, and the developed urban area
Aquatic to upland habitat interface is one of the most important habitat connections and riparian vegetation is essential to link upland terrestrial with aquatic and marine habitat

21. Upland Habitat Guidance

22. Alternative 1: Recreation Focus

23. Alternative 2: Habitat Focus

24. Alternative 3: Blended Approach

25. 2.4 ACRE
DEVELOPMENT PAD

26. Alternatives Comparison Table

27. Questions and Comments