You never know what you will find on Buffalo's Outer harbor. Preserving this valuable public land and shorelines, and helping to make sure that our region adopts green strategies for public enjoyment and climate resilience is a primary goal of the Our Outer Harbor Campaign.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OUR OUTER HARBOR CAMPAIGN: WWW.OUROUTERHARBOR.ORG
September 2014
It is a truly exciting time for our region and its future. Our region has witnessed the formation of a strategic framework to move the region forward through many collaborative processes and have started to create a pathway for our region to think about how we evolve over the long term. We are beginning to learn from our mistakes of the past and think about how we might invest for the future by being more strategic and with an eye toward building a better tomorrow.
Evidence of this shift has taken form in many examples including:
Six months ago, the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) began a new planning process. Prior to hiring consultant Perkins + Will, ECHDC Advisory Committee crafted guiding principles for the development of a master plan for the Outer Harbor (similar to those created for the Brooklyn Bridge planning process). The WNYEA believes these principles, developed without public input, do not adequately capture or value the triple bottom line (ecological, economic and social) benefits provided by this key site.
In an effort to help align the current process with Buffalo’s above mentioned new direction, the Western New York Environmental Alliance offers the following key principles that should govern any Outer Harbor planning. The WNYEA’s Principles, derived from the expertise of the region’s environmental groups, ensure that the current process builds on previous planning efforts and creates an Outer Harbor designed for our region’s bright future.
Principle 1: The City’s Waterfront belongs to the people and should therefore be owned by the public, guaranteeing accessibility.
Our water and the land that borders it belong to all of us. Under the public trust doctrine, our water and the land that surrounds it must be preserved for public use, and our respective governments are required to maintain it for this purpose. The air, water and habitat should be protected now and for future generations.
The lands and water of the Outer Harbor area are a rich and thriving ecological system that we are dependent upon. They are not ‘empty,’ ‘vacant’ or ‘open.’ In fact this land acts as a critical buffer zone to Lake Erie. The Outer Harbor is a key asset in adaptation to the current and future challenges of climate change. A “Regenerative Landscape” builds on the existing living, productive and working ecological system, maximizes environmental services in terms of filtering and cleaning water and air, and moreover requires the least maintenance of landscape types.
There should be no new construction on the Outer Harbor. Development of building sites and permanent structures on Buffalo’s waterfront should meet the prudent triple bottom line-making sense economically, socially and ecologically. Any private investment should be directed within the framework of smart growth and should not generate urban sprawl. As REDC Co-Chair Howard Zemsky recently stated, “We don’t need to create a second downtown on the Outer Harbor.” Given the requirement for fiscal responsibility, it is clear that residential development on the Outer Harbor is not an appropriate or sustainable use of the City’s landscape. We should not commit future public dollars to unsustainable services and maintenance.
Most citizens of this region want a waterfront that is uniquely Buffalo, not a copy of waterfront development from other different cities. The success of Erie Canal Harbor (Canalside) is a fantastic example of what is possible when we do this. We have enormously rich resources – we are on Lake Erie which is a part of the largest body of fresh water in the world – a body of water endangered. We are an Important Bird Area of worldwide significance; we are a prolific spawning area for fish. We should not trade these unique features to develop our waterfront in the form of a cookie cutter approach that will not instill pride and uniqueness in our citizenry.
It is a truly exciting time for our region and its future. Our region has witnessed the formation of a strategic framework to move the region forward through many collaborative processes and have started to create a pathway for our region to think about how we evolve over the long term. We are beginning to learn from our mistakes of the past and think about how we might invest for the future by being more strategic and with an eye toward building a better tomorrow.
Evidence of this shift has taken form in many examples including:
- A more collaborative and bottom up economic development process with the Regional Economic Development Council’s (REDC) Strategy for Prosperity;
- A broad based, collaborative effort known as One Region Forward that works to promote more sustainable forms of development in Erie and Niagara counties in land use, transportation, housing, energy and climate and access to food;
- More progressive strategic plans such as the City of Buffalo’s Comprehensive Plan, the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program and the Buffalo Green Code; and
- Over 100 environmental organizations working together in collaboration through the Western New York Environmental Alliance (WNYEA) to think about how we can get it right this time.
Six months ago, the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) began a new planning process. Prior to hiring consultant Perkins + Will, ECHDC Advisory Committee crafted guiding principles for the development of a master plan for the Outer Harbor (similar to those created for the Brooklyn Bridge planning process). The WNYEA believes these principles, developed without public input, do not adequately capture or value the triple bottom line (ecological, economic and social) benefits provided by this key site.
In an effort to help align the current process with Buffalo’s above mentioned new direction, the Western New York Environmental Alliance offers the following key principles that should govern any Outer Harbor planning. The WNYEA’s Principles, derived from the expertise of the region’s environmental groups, ensure that the current process builds on previous planning efforts and creates an Outer Harbor designed for our region’s bright future.
Principle 1: The City’s Waterfront belongs to the people and should therefore be owned by the public, guaranteeing accessibility.
Our water and the land that borders it belong to all of us. Under the public trust doctrine, our water and the land that surrounds it must be preserved for public use, and our respective governments are required to maintain it for this purpose. The air, water and habitat should be protected now and for future generations.
- Therefore: The land itself should remain in the public’s hands in perpetuity and should never be sold. Any use that is deemed appropriate can be managed within the legal frame of a lease.
- Therefore: The land to the south of the mouth of the Buffalo River, north of the City of Buffalo border and west of Fuhrmann Boulevard should remain publicly accessible in perpetuity with appropriate protections for buffer zones, habitat areas and ecological corridors.
- Therefore: The Outer Harbor lands must be planned in the context of the entire City and region. The WNYEA supports a more comprehensive planning structure that looks at the larger waterfront including, but not limited to: Erie Basin Marina, the Inner Harbor, the Buffalo River, the DL&W Terminal and all of the lands adjacent to the newly improved Ohio Street.
The lands and water of the Outer Harbor area are a rich and thriving ecological system that we are dependent upon. They are not ‘empty,’ ‘vacant’ or ‘open.’ In fact this land acts as a critical buffer zone to Lake Erie. The Outer Harbor is a key asset in adaptation to the current and future challenges of climate change. A “Regenerative Landscape” builds on the existing living, productive and working ecological system, maximizes environmental services in terms of filtering and cleaning water and air, and moreover requires the least maintenance of landscape types.
- Therefore: Protect and encourage the ongoing regeneration of the landscape and its diverse habitats, both in water and on land. This protection includes: no destruction through new buildings or permanent structures, accessible but directed circulation in the environments, interpretation and appreciation of the landscapes and planting of successional native vegetation. More habitat is needed for aquatic, bird and pollinator wildlife designated by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as Species in Greatest Conservation Need.
There should be no new construction on the Outer Harbor. Development of building sites and permanent structures on Buffalo’s waterfront should meet the prudent triple bottom line-making sense economically, socially and ecologically. Any private investment should be directed within the framework of smart growth and should not generate urban sprawl. As REDC Co-Chair Howard Zemsky recently stated, “We don’t need to create a second downtown on the Outer Harbor.” Given the requirement for fiscal responsibility, it is clear that residential development on the Outer Harbor is not an appropriate or sustainable use of the City’s landscape. We should not commit future public dollars to unsustainable services and maintenance.
- Therefore: Finish key infrastructure and development downtown and do not replicate this kind of development on the Outer Harbor. There are ample sites for this type of development elsewhere, such as: Erie Canal Harbor (Canalside), Erie Basin Marina, DL&W Terminal, the lands adjacent to the reconstructed Ohio Street and other sites. This development will create more dense and walkable neighborhoods with shared services and community life.
- Therefore: Consider the Outer Harbor as a three season venue and focus four season opportunities on the Inner Harbor. This strategy is consistent with the character of the two landscapes and emphasizes the different kinds of urban life available in the City and region. The downtown sites are serviced, sheltered and protected; the Outer Harbor is exposed during the winter and inhospitable for most people except hardy ice fishermen/women, birders and others who want to test themselves against the elements. Having this kind of diversity adds to the quality of life in the City.
- Therefore: Consider seasonal structures for water dependent recreational uses with a ‘lighter, quicker, cheaper’ strategy, located such where they would not impair critical habitat or promote use during non-migratory seasons.
Most citizens of this region want a waterfront that is uniquely Buffalo, not a copy of waterfront development from other different cities. The success of Erie Canal Harbor (Canalside) is a fantastic example of what is possible when we do this. We have enormously rich resources – we are on Lake Erie which is a part of the largest body of fresh water in the world – a body of water endangered. We are an Important Bird Area of worldwide significance; we are a prolific spawning area for fish. We should not trade these unique features to develop our waterfront in the form of a cookie cutter approach that will not instill pride and uniqueness in our citizenry.
- Therefore: Base all program and design decisions on the unique land that is the Outer Harbor, its location at the east end of Lake Erie and its distance from the core of the City.
- Therefore: Maintain and advance the public’s access and ownership of the land.
- Therefore: Preserve, protect and advance the existing and emerging habitat on Outer Harbor, its air, land and water. In particular this means protecting the Times Beach and Niagara River “Globally Significant Important Bird Areas,” Tifft Nature Preserve, Times Beach Nature Preserve and the Bell Slip restoration.
- Therefore: Limit any building to renovation of existing structures.
- Therefore: Consider the Outer Harbor a predominately three season venue.
- Therefore: Promote water based transportation options during accessible months.