PUBLIC MEETINGS ON WATERFRONT WEST DEVELOPMENT

  Newburyport – On August 16, 2018 (and again on September 6, 2018) members of the
Newburyport City Council and Planning Board will hold a joint meeting to review
conceptual plans for the redevelopment of “Waterfront West,” an area of downtown
Newburyport. (See attached graphic.) The so-called “Waterfront West” area is owned
largely by New England Development (NED). For years now, NED and City officials have
discussed the potential benefits of mixed-use development, and a hotel, in Waterfront
West, to replace the existing boat yards.

NED proposed a similar project last year, but public meetings and City review of the
project was put on hold over the past few months while NED made revisions to the project
to address specific concerns raised by City officials. If NED receives favorable review of
their most recent revisions, formal public hearings will be conducted on zoning changes
necessary to facilitate the proposed redevelopment.

A 2003 Waterfront Strategic Plan, developed by City officials with support from planning
consultants, recommended that the City take action, in coordination with private
developers, like NED, to:

• “Extend the scale and character of downtown Newburyport to the waterfront by
establishing a vibrant Harborside neighborhood.”
• “Establish a system of public ways extending the historic street pattern of
Newburyport to the water.”
• “Enhance and expand public parks and civic spaces along the harbor for relaxation
and recreation.”
• “[Provide] a variety of experiences for pedestrians traversing the waterfront as
water views are held back and revealed in a dramatic way.”
• “Improve the pedestrian character of Merrimac Street with trees, walks, and infill
development from the North End [and through Waterfront West] to the Downtown.”
• “Require all new development to conform to and reflect the historic character and
quality of downtown Newburyport.”
• “Ensure a healthy mix of uses that serve the downtown community and support a
vibrant mix of activities year round.”
• “Create a framework of streets, walks and squares.”
• “Create a third street to the waterfront in between the Market and Green Street
extensions.”
• “Create an extension of Market Street to the water. Reorient this extension to lead
directly to and frame views of the embayment and the Merrimack River.”
• “Create a public plaza for public events, activities, and vendors. This plaza should
be lined with public uses such as a public market, shops, a hotel, and the like.”
• “Establish general design guidelines enforced by municipal site plan review.”
• “Adapt zoning and subdivision regulations to support this strategic waterfront
vision.”

NED’s conceptual plans for Waterfront West would appear to fulfill many of these
municipal objectives, but City officials must address various details, and zoning revisions,
before redevelopment can begin. These initial meetings will pick up where last years’
review left off, with the goal of reaching consensus on NED’s redevelopment plans.
For more information, please contact Andrew Port, Director of Planning & Development,
at (978)465-4400 Ext #1.