Preparing Hudson River Waterfronts for an Era of Rapid Sea Level Rise CITY OF KINGSTON TIDAL WATERFRONT FLOODING TASK FORCE Gregg Swanzey Director, Office of Economic Development & Strategic Partnerships, City of Kingston Nava Tabak Conservation Scientist, Scenic Hudson SEA LEVEL RISE: Past, Present, Future 1
SEA LEVEL RISE: Past, Present, Future Waterfront Revitalization Sea Level Rise Mapper 2
CITY OF KINGSTON Flood vulnerability Planning capacity THE CITY OF KINGSTON TIDAL WATERFRONT FLOODING TASK FORCE: A COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROCESS Goals: Identify assets at risk to waterfront flooding Select and evaluate adaptation strategies Make recommendations for near, mid, and long term actions to address risk 3
Visualized Sea Level Rise THE CITY OF KINGSTON TIDAL WATERFRONT FLOODING TASK FORCE: INFORMING DIALOG Chose Sea Level Rise Projections and Timeframes for Planning THE CITY OF KINGSTON TIDAL WATERFRONT FLOODING TASK FORCE: INFORMING DIALOG 4
THE CITY OF KINGSTON TIDAL WATERFRONT FLOODING TASK FORCE: INFORMING DIALOG Streets designed to flood Kingston waterfront: low tide Participatory mapping Simulation: elevated sea level (4 ) and shoreline adaptation Green infrastructure Brooklyn Bridge Park Adaptations Visual simulations NYS DOS Risk Assessment Tool Risk Zone 1 Extreme MHHW+1.5ft Risk Zone 2 High MHHW+3ft AND NFIP A Zone THE CITY OF KINGSTON TIDAL WATERFRONT FLOODING TASK FORCE: WATERFRONT RISK ASSESSMENT Risk Zone 3 Medium MHHW+3ft AND NFIP A Zone+3ft Extreme Risk High Risk Medium Risk Low Risk 5
THE CITY OF KINGSTON TIDAL WATERFRONT FLOODING TASK FORCE: WATERFRONT RISK ASSESSMENT Coastal Adaptation to Sea Level Rise Tool (COAST) Worse case scenario Year 2100, With High Sea Level Rise and a 100 year Storm 1% Probability of Occurrence in Any Given Year Total Damage for this Event: Damage to Wastewater Treatment Plant: $39.9 Million $27.6 Million Lost Value Due to Sea Level Rise Lost Value Due to Sea Level Rise + Storm Surge Cumulative Expected Damages by 2100 With High Sea Level Rise = $126 Million THE CITY OF KINGSTON TIDAL WATERFRONT FLOODING TASK FORCE: WATERFRONT RISK ASSESSMENT Coastal Adaptation to Sea Level Rise Tool (COAST) 6
Climate Smart Resiliency Planning THE CITY OF KINGSTON TIDAL WATERFRONT FLOODING TASK FORCE: WATERFRONT RISK ASSESSMENT NYS Department of Environmental Conservation THE CITY OF KINGSTON TIDAL WATERFRONT FLOODING TASK FORCE: RECOMMENDATIONS 24 recommendations in 6 categories: Planning (land use, capital, economic development Zoning Public outreach Safety & emergency preparedness Technical training Further study 7
THE CITY OF KINGSTON TIDAL WATERFRONT FLOODING TASK FORCE: ZONING RECOMMENDATIONS Ensure that zoning designations in the Kingston 2025 Comprehensive Plan consider increasing risk and vulnerability from flooding and sea level rise. Require that proposals for new development of any kind in the Flood Hazard Overlay District take flood risk into account. Reduce stormwater, upland flooding and combined sewer overflows through green infrastructure and best stormwater management practices. Research, evaluate and implement changes to City building and zoning codes that will increase resiliency and are costeffective and socially equitable. Study the feasibility of using policy, zoning and building codes to achieve creative, water dependent and water enhanced uses that are resilient, including elevated, amphibious, or floating structures, wharves, berms and elevated rights of way. THE CITY OF KINGSTON TIDAL WATERFRONT FLOODING TASK FORCE: PLANNING RECOMMENDATIONS Adopt the sea level rise and flood projections recommended by New York State and the Kingston Waterfront Flooding Task Force for planning purposes. Develop a Kingston Waterfront Long term Resiliency Plan. Research and evaluate land use tools and financing mechanisms or incentives to facilitate flood adaptation in the waterfront. Collaborate with other waterfront communities and county and state government to plan for coastal hazards like sealevel rise and storm surge. 8
IMPLEMENTATION: Kingston Comprehensive Master Plan Objective 10.1: Safeguard the Historic Rondout from rising sea levels, while balancing the economic needs of existing businesses and respecting the historic character and architecture of the area. Strategy 10.1.1: Develop a Kingston Waterfront Long term Resiliency Plan. Strategy 10.1.2: Evaluate the use of natural buffers and green shoreline infrastructure to reduce flood risk and erosion and conserve natural resource functions. Strategy 10.1.3: Require that any proposed new private structures or major renovations with proposed ground floor elevations lower than 13 feet above 2014 mean sea level be constructed to FEMA standards for construction in flood zones. Strategy 10.1.4: Require that any proposed new public structures or infrastructure or major renovations be constructed to withstand flood elevations of 14 feet above 2014 mean sea level, Current (2014) 100 year flood elevation is 8.2 feet. IMPLEMENTATION: Brownfield Opportunity Area Step 3: Implementation Plan and GEIS The Kingston BOA site area is susceptible to flooding from two different watersheds Hudson River and Rondout Creek Watersheds. It is also vulnerable to storm surge from the lower Hudson, as during Hurricane Sandy. The majority of the BOA site lies within the 100-year floodplain. The 100 year floodplain will be shifting upland over the next century, expanding the areas now vulnerable to flood and inundation. 9
IMPLEMENTATION: Brownfield Opportunity Area Step 3: Implementation Plan and GEIS IMPLEMENTATION: Brownfield Opportunity Area Step 3: Implementation Plan and GEIS 10
IMPLEMENTATION: Brownfield Opportunity Area Step 3: Implementation Plan and GEIS Brownfield Opportunity Area Step 3: Implementation Plan and GEIS 11
Brownfield Opportunity Area Step 3: Implementation Plan and GEIS Brownfield Opportunity Area Step 3: Implementation Plan and GEIS 12
Brownfield Opportunity Area Step 3: Implementation Plan and GEIS Brownfield Opportunity Area Step 3: Implementation Plan and GEIS 13
Brownfield Opportunity Area Step 3: Implementation Plan and GEIS Brownfield Opportunity Area Step 3: Implementation Plan and GEIS 14
IMPLEMENTATION: Funding Mechanisms Consolidated Funding Application Process Department of Environmental Conservation Department of State Office of Parks Recreation & Historic Preservation US DOC Economic Development Administration US DHS FEMA & Hazard Mitigation Funding USDA HUD Community Development Block Grants & Low interest loans Greenway Conservancy Local Development Corporations & Private Financing IMPLEMENTATION: Other Important Activities Establish Conservation Advisory Council Work Closely with Planning Board Climate Smart Community Climate Action Plan Natural Resources Inventory Open Space Plan 15
IMPLEMENTATION: Other Important Activities TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION: Collaborate with other waterfront communities and local governments Participated in a roundtable with the 3 other Hudson River waterfront communities that underwent a similar planning process Received Hudson River Estuary Program grant (~ $50,000) to convene a Sea Level Rise Implementation Learning Group with the other communities Preparing Hudson River Waterfronts for an Era of Rapid Sea Level Rise Gregg Swanzey Director, Office of Economic Development & Strategic Partnerships, City of Kingston www.kingston ny.gov/ecodev (845) 334 3962 gswanzey@kingston ny.gov Nava Tabak Conservation Scientist, Scenic Hudson www.scenichudson.org (845) 473 4440 ntabak@scenichudson.org 16