Next Steps for

WEYMOUTH LANDING
Draft Recommendations And
Discussion
November 18, 2009

Town of Town of
Weymouth Braintree

Mayor Susan Kay Metropolitan Area Planning Council Mayor Joseph

Sullivan
Weymouth Planning &
Community Development
Funded by the
Braintree Planning &
Department District Local Technical Assistance Program Community Development
Department
Next steps

Weymou
for
Welcome
th
Landing

Mayor Joseph
Sullivan

Town of
Braintree
Next steps

Weymou
for
About the Project
th
Landing
MAPC: regional planning agency for
101 cities and towns in Metro Boston
District Local Technical Assistance Program
to support local planning and shared services
Goal of the Weymouth Landing project:
• Overall plan for The Landing
• Zoning recommendations
• Parking strategies
• Design and Economic development suggestions
Next steps

Weymou
for
Community Participation
th
Landing
July 7 Visioning Workshop (over 100 participants)
One-on-one meetings with community leaders and
business owners
Walk-through and charrette with local architects
November 6 joint meeting of Weymouth / Braintree
Business Councils
Meetings with town planners and mayors
Next steps
for
The Landing’s “Superior
Weymou
th
Privileges”
Landing
• Transportation options and access
• Many successful businesses
• Purchasing power: residents,
commuters, drivers
• Waterfront, marinas, parks
• Community resources and
leadership
Next steps

Weymou
for
Outstanding Potential
th
Landing
• “Go-to” business district for neighborhoods
• New business opportunities for merchants
• Development opportunities for property
owners
• Housing opportunities for empty nesters and
young professionals
• Revitalization that benefits both towns
• Regional attraction for harbor access
Next steps

Weymou
for
Challenges
th
Landing
1. Current mix of businesses not
“magnetic”
Next steps

Weymou
for
Challenges
th
Landing
1. Current mix of businesses not “magnetic”

2. Perceived lack of parking

110 spaces in municipal parking lot

148 on-street parking

spaces
Next steps

Weymou
for
Challenges
th
Landing
1. Current mix of businesses not “magnetic”
2. Perceived lack of parking

3. Barriers to walking and biking

Missing crosswalks 100
Missing
foot Sidewalks
crosswalk
Next steps

Weymou
for
Challenges
th
Landing
1. Current mix of businesses not “magnetic”
2. Perceived lack of parking
3. Barriers to walking and biking

4. Zoning as an obstacle to new

development
But,
Many development for 1,000 square Current zoning requires
opportunities feet
of retail/office 2,000 square feet of
space parking
Next steps

Weymou
for
Challenges
th
Landing
1. Current mix of businesses not “magnetic”
2. Perceived lack of parking
3. Barriers to walking and biking
4. Zoning as an obstacle to new development

5. Waterfront blocked by industrial uses

Braintree Light Department National Grid
Next steps

Weymou
for
Challenges
th
Landing
1. Current mix of businesses not “magnetic”
2. Perceived lack of parking
3. Barriers to walking and biking
4. Obstacles to significant new construction
5. Waterfront blocked by industrial uses

6. Aesthetically dominated by auto traffic

Next steps

Weymou
for
Strategies
th
Landing
1. Strengthen and diversify the business mix
2. Make efficient use of existing parking
3. Improve the walking/biking experience
4. Support new development with zoning and
incentives
5. Leverage waterfront connections
6. Enhance sense of place and aesthetics
Next steps

Weymou
for
Keys to unlocking the potential
th
Landing
Use a variety of tools
Build public-private partnerships
Find “early action” items and catalytic
opportunities
Take the long view

Smelt Run, circa 1935

(courtesy Weymouth Historical Society)
Next steps
Strengthen and diversify the business
for
Weymou mix
th
Landing
Short Term Actions
Establish Joint Economic Development Committee
Conduct comprehensive market analysis
Create an overall marketing and branding strategy
Joint marketing: business directory, brochure, website, posters
Establish façade improvement program
Longer Term Actions
Define business development priorities
Organize workshops and technical
assistance programs for businesses
Next steps
for Make the most of existing parking
Weymou capacity
th
Landing
Short Term Actions
Complete striping, signage, landscaping of municipal
parking lot area
Define and improve pedestrian corridors from
municipal lot to street
Conduct a comprehensive parking study
Longer Term Actions
Encourage use of remote parking areas for employees
As parking demand grows, evaluate strategies for optimizing use
of on-street spaces and parking lot
Negotiate use of MBTA lot for visitor parking during weekends
and special events
Next steps

Weymou
Improve
for
the walking/biking experience
th
Landing
Short Term Actions
Focus PWED improvements in core district
Shorten key crosswalks with tighter curb radii and curb
extensions
Obtain free bike racks and install in strategic locations
Evaluate signal timing improvements and adjust as necessary
Longer Term Actions
Evaluate alternative traffic management
strategies and roadway configurations
Next steps
for Support new development with
Weymou zoning and incentives
th
Landing
Short Term Actions
Modify zoning to encourage 3 – 4 story,
mixed-use development
Adopt permitting best practices to expedite
project review
Reduce parking requirements for new
development and allow shared and
off-site parking.
Longer Term Actions
Encourage more residential development in the district and
surrounding neighborhoods
Establish tax incentive programs to stimulate private
investment
Next steps

Weymou
for
Strengthen waterfront connections
th
Landing
Short Term Actions
Seek funding for completion of canoe launch
Continue to seek funding for Smelt Run daylighting
Evaluate removal of chain-link fence on Quincy Avenue
bridge
Longer Term Actions
Establish new residential district on waterfront parcels;
require publicly-accessible waterfront walkway
Integrate waterfront themes and images
in district branding and signage
Next steps

Weymou
for
Enhance sense of place
th
Landing
Short Term Actions
Waive additional parking requirements for creation of
outdoor patio seating for existing restaurants
Define the district’s boundaries with historical lighting,
signage, and other improvements
Adopt design guidelines and design review process
Longer Term Actions
Create pedestrian walkway from parking lot
to Commercial St. over Smelt Run
Eliminate some “slip lanes” and replace
with landscaped plazas
Organize events that highlight waterfront
connections: Smelt Run, canoe race, etc.
Next steps

Weymou
for
Proposed Zoning
th
Landing
Monatiquot
River:
Mostly residential,
some
retail/service
Landing Center:
3- or 4-story mixed-
Transition
use retail and
Areas:
residential
Residential, office,
studio
Next steps

Weymou
for
Discussion
th
Landing
Key Topics:
• Proposed zoning: Height, uses,
parking
• Key pedestrian improvements
• Economic development opportunities
Next steps

Weymou
for
Next Steps
th
Continue
Landing reviewing recommendations with town
staff, property owners, residents

MAPC to deliver final report to towns at the end

of the year

Towns to implement PWED grant

Continue to seek other grants and funding

Next steps
for
Weymou
th
Landing

THANK YOU!