Walsh says new ordinance will boost the city’s wetlands resilience
By Katie Trojano, Reporter Staff
January 2, 2020
January 2, 2020
Mayor Martin Walsh signed the Local Wetland Ordinance during a visit to Roslindale last week. Isabel Leon/Mayor’s Office photo
Asserting
that “climate change is the defining challenge of our time,” Mayor
Martin Walsh signed the Local Wetland Ordinance during a visit to
Roslindale last week. It’s an initiative, he said, that “gives us
greater power to protect our wetlands in the face of a changing climate.
“We’re using natural green space to protect our neighborhoods from storms, floods, and heat waves. … and this ordinance shows what we can accomplish when we work together,” he added, “securing a strong, resilient future for Boston. This work has been a priority for my administration, and I’m proud to sign this important ordinance with our partners.” The mayor also noted that the ordinance is stricter than statewide standards.
The City Council unanimously approved the law early last month. It protects flood-prone areas and adjoining upland areas across the city. It also directs the Boston Conservation Commission to consider future climate impacts like rising sea levels in applications for new developments, construction, or special events.
“As a coastal city, Boston is extremely vulnerable to the threat of climate change with rising sea levels,” said City Councillor Matt O’Malley, chairman of the Environment, Sustainability and Parks Committee. “Policies such as this one ensure that we are protecting our current natural resource areas and local wetlands, while reducing impacts of global climate change.”
Previously, the Conservation Commission has followed the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, which requires that any work proposed in a wetland resource area or within 100 feet of those areas be reviewed and issued a permit by the panel. The new law protects isolated vegetated wetlands, vernal pools, and vernal pool habitat. It also establishes a Waterfront Area that will serve as a buffer zone and allow for the implementation of the Resilient Boston Harbor Plan, as well as allow for the creation of Flood Resilience Zones expected to be aligned with the Boston Planning & Development Agency’s flood overlay district.
“This ordinance is a big step toward regulating development to match the scale and urgency of our climate vulnerability. Boston should be taking every possible action to fight climate change, and I’m proud to have worked with community leaders to advance progress for climate justice,” said Boston City Councillor At-Large Michelle Wu.
The Friends of Allandale Coalition called the ordinance “a positive step forward in the efforts to address Climate Change and protect natural resources in all neighborhoods of the city.” The coalition, which includes a large number of city-wide civic associations and other groups, also pointed out some areas where they say there is room for improvement.
“One, the future of our coastal marshes, primarily Belle Isle in East Boston and Neponset Estuary – which extends basically from Venezia past Port Norfolk and Cedar Grove up to Lower Mills. Two, there is a need to integrate early environmental assessment - indeed assessment of all disparate impacts - within the overall project review. Notwithstanding these points, Friends of Allandale and the entire coalition is in strong support of the ordinance as amended.”
The new law also allows the Conservation Commission to develop standards for projects in the floodplain to ensure that future residents are protected from flooding, and expressly directs the panel to consider climate change, sea level rise, and climate resiliency in reviewing applications, and develop performance standards to ensure the city is adequately protected from those effects.
“Boston is viewed nationally and internationally as a leader in addressing the effects of climate change, and the new local wetlands ordinance is an important tool in protecting and enhancing the city’s valuable wetlands resource areas, which serve as important protections against sea level rise,” said Michael Parker, chair of the Conversation Commission.
He added: “The city is already seeing the effects of climate change and the ordinance will advance the goals of Climate Ready Boston by defending against sea level rise and strengthening floodplain protections. The Conservation Commission is eager to integrate the new ordinance into this important work.”
The creation of Flood Resilience Zones adds a layer of protection that will be established through the ordinance, which will require projects within the zones to go through Conservation Commission review. They are expected to be aligned with the Boston Planning & Development Agency and the 2070 Climate Ready Boston maps.
“Wetlands are a critically important component of this because they store and filter groundwater while acting as a buffer against storms and floods. With this ordinance, we are that much closer to achieving a connected and protective waterfront,” said Chris Cook, the city’s chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space.
Added Kathy Abbott, President and CEO of Boston Harbor Now: “The ordinance provides a critical foundation for protecting and mimicking natural systems as we develop coastal protection around the city and absorb the precipitation from increasingly intense storms. These consistent and forward- looking regulations assure that our wetlands and wildlands are our first line of defense against climate change and continue to help keep our citizens safe.”
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/walsh-says-new-ordinance-will-boost-city-s-wetlands-resilience
“We’re using natural green space to protect our neighborhoods from storms, floods, and heat waves. … and this ordinance shows what we can accomplish when we work together,” he added, “securing a strong, resilient future for Boston. This work has been a priority for my administration, and I’m proud to sign this important ordinance with our partners.” The mayor also noted that the ordinance is stricter than statewide standards.
The City Council unanimously approved the law early last month. It protects flood-prone areas and adjoining upland areas across the city. It also directs the Boston Conservation Commission to consider future climate impacts like rising sea levels in applications for new developments, construction, or special events.
“As a coastal city, Boston is extremely vulnerable to the threat of climate change with rising sea levels,” said City Councillor Matt O’Malley, chairman of the Environment, Sustainability and Parks Committee. “Policies such as this one ensure that we are protecting our current natural resource areas and local wetlands, while reducing impacts of global climate change.”
Previously, the Conservation Commission has followed the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, which requires that any work proposed in a wetland resource area or within 100 feet of those areas be reviewed and issued a permit by the panel. The new law protects isolated vegetated wetlands, vernal pools, and vernal pool habitat. It also establishes a Waterfront Area that will serve as a buffer zone and allow for the implementation of the Resilient Boston Harbor Plan, as well as allow for the creation of Flood Resilience Zones expected to be aligned with the Boston Planning & Development Agency’s flood overlay district.
“This ordinance is a big step toward regulating development to match the scale and urgency of our climate vulnerability. Boston should be taking every possible action to fight climate change, and I’m proud to have worked with community leaders to advance progress for climate justice,” said Boston City Councillor At-Large Michelle Wu.
The Friends of Allandale Coalition called the ordinance “a positive step forward in the efforts to address Climate Change and protect natural resources in all neighborhoods of the city.” The coalition, which includes a large number of city-wide civic associations and other groups, also pointed out some areas where they say there is room for improvement.
“One, the future of our coastal marshes, primarily Belle Isle in East Boston and Neponset Estuary – which extends basically from Venezia past Port Norfolk and Cedar Grove up to Lower Mills. Two, there is a need to integrate early environmental assessment - indeed assessment of all disparate impacts - within the overall project review. Notwithstanding these points, Friends of Allandale and the entire coalition is in strong support of the ordinance as amended.”
The new law also allows the Conservation Commission to develop standards for projects in the floodplain to ensure that future residents are protected from flooding, and expressly directs the panel to consider climate change, sea level rise, and climate resiliency in reviewing applications, and develop performance standards to ensure the city is adequately protected from those effects.
“Boston is viewed nationally and internationally as a leader in addressing the effects of climate change, and the new local wetlands ordinance is an important tool in protecting and enhancing the city’s valuable wetlands resource areas, which serve as important protections against sea level rise,” said Michael Parker, chair of the Conversation Commission.
He added: “The city is already seeing the effects of climate change and the ordinance will advance the goals of Climate Ready Boston by defending against sea level rise and strengthening floodplain protections. The Conservation Commission is eager to integrate the new ordinance into this important work.”
The creation of Flood Resilience Zones adds a layer of protection that will be established through the ordinance, which will require projects within the zones to go through Conservation Commission review. They are expected to be aligned with the Boston Planning & Development Agency and the 2070 Climate Ready Boston maps.
“Wetlands are a critically important component of this because they store and filter groundwater while acting as a buffer against storms and floods. With this ordinance, we are that much closer to achieving a connected and protective waterfront,” said Chris Cook, the city’s chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space.
Added Kathy Abbott, President and CEO of Boston Harbor Now: “The ordinance provides a critical foundation for protecting and mimicking natural systems as we develop coastal protection around the city and absorb the precipitation from increasingly intense storms. These consistent and forward- looking regulations assure that our wetlands and wildlands are our first line of defense against climate change and continue to help keep our citizens safe.”
https://www.dotnews.com/2020/walsh-says-new-ordinance-will-boost-city-s-wetlands-resilience
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