Manresa Island Reuse and Economic Impact Analysis Study Public Involvement Process & Summary June 2017

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Loren Bennett
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Manresa Island Reuse and Ecnmic Impact Analysis Study June 2017 The public invlvement prcess fr the Manresa Island Reuse Study used a variety f methds t engage key stakehlders and the public.

1 Manresa Island Reuse and Ecnmic Impact Analysis Study June 2017 The public invlvement prcess fr the Manresa Island Reuse Study used a variety f methds t engage key stakehlders and the public. The elements f this prcess t date include: Steering Cmmittee: The prject steering cmmittee includes representatives frm the Planning & Zning Department, Nrwalk Redevelpment Authrity, the Ecnmic Develpment Department, and the Manresa Assciatin. Regular meetings have been cnducted with the steering cmmittee and the cmmittee has assisted in develping and facilitating the public invlvement prcess. Manresa Assciatin Meeting: The FHI team presented existing cnditins findings t apprximately thirty peple at a Manresa Assciatin Meeting, held at the Rwaytn Cmmunity Center n February 28, Online Survey: An nline survey was cmpsed as a means f sliciting feedback regarding the Manresa Island prperty, what their preferences and cncerns are, and thughts they have abut ptential future uses and envirnmental remediatin fr the buildings and prperty. The survey, which was released prir t the public wrkshp, was als used as a mechanism t prmte the wrkshp. Public Wrkshp: A public wrkshp was cnducted at Nrwalk City Hall n 5/22/2017. Apprximately sixty-five peple were in attendance. The gal f the wrkshp was t gather input and ideas frm the cmmunity regarding future uses f the Manresa Island prperty. The wrkshp included a presentatin abut the existing cnditins f the prperty, as well as breakut sessins with cnversatins fcused n different questins related t future uses f the site.

Online Survey Results An nline survey was cnducted in May and June f 2017 and was prmted via the City s website, scial media, and in lcal media. A ttal f 675 respnses were received.

2 Online Survey Results An nline survey was cnducted in May and June f 2017 and was prmted via the City s website, scial media, and in lcal media. A ttal f 675 respnses were received. The key findings are summarized belw. Abut the respndents 45% f respndents live within a fiveminute drive f Manresa Island; 33% f survey respndents live in Nrwalk, but beynd a five-minute drive frm Manresa Island; 21% live utside f Nrwalk Age f respndents was generally spread ut; with 12% between the ages f 31-40; 19% between the ages f 41-50; 33% between the ages f 51-60; and 30% wh were 61 and ver When asked are yu familiar with Manresa Island, 61% f respndents replied yes, I knw the prperty well ; 36% said yes, smewhat ; and nly 3% were nt familiar with the prperty. See figure 1 Are yu familiar with Manresa Island? Yes, I knw the prperty well Yes, smewhat N, I am nt familiar with the prperty 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% Figure 1 Manresa Island Reuse and Ecnmic Impact Analysis Study 2

3 Hw respndents view the prperty 65% f respndents said that Manresa Island is very significant t Nrwalk s landscape and identity ; 20% said it was smewhat significant ; 5% said it was nt significant ; and 9% answered ther - See figure 2. When asked t specify ther respnses, many respndents answered that the pwer plant and smkestack are part f the skyline and are a wayfinding pint when entering Nrwalk Harbr. See belw fr a selectin f cmments: Nt very significant nw, but it has the ptential t be very significant It is a significant nautical landmark. Aside frm that it is an eyesre The island is significant; the pwer plant is nt I'm a Nrwalk lcal and I enjy paddle barding and kayaking the Nrwalk waters. I think it culd be a beautiful place if taken care f prperly and with a lt f new faces I'm Nrwalk and investments in ur city it might be wrth giving it a makever Very significant t Nrwalk's landscape and a majr revenue generatr Hw wuld yu rate the significance f Manresa Island? Very significant t Nrwalk's landscape and identity Smewhat significant t Nrwalk's landscape and identity Nt significant t Nrwalk's landscape and identity Other (please specify) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% Figure 2 Manresa Island Reuse and Ecnmic Impact Analysis Study 3

4 When asked t select all that cncerns abut the prperty, 76% f respndents answered ptential envirnmental hazards ; 63% answered ptential future uses that are incmpatible with adjacent neighbrhds ; 48% said lack f active uses ; 47% said lack f public access ; 40% said reactivatin f the pwer plant ; and 37% answered vulnerability t flding and strm surge ; 20% answered lss f tax revenues frm prperty shuld the cnditin r wnership change. Only 2% answered that they d nt have any cncerns abut the prperty. See figure 3. A sampling f cmments received is presented belw: I wuld mstly be cncerned abut nt using the area t its fullest ptential as it is right nw. Wasted space. It shuld be turned int smething that can be used by many in the area. cleaning up the site will lk much better as well I wuld nt like t see the plant reactivated. Hpefully it will be demlished, the land remediated and put t a use f value t the entire area I'm cncerned the pwer plant will be replaced with high rise cnds. I'm als very much cncerned a public beach will nt be created n the prperty. Nrwalk needs anther public beach and des nt need additinal high rise cnd. What cncerns, if any, d yu have abut the prperty? (select all that apply) Lack f active uses Ptential envirnmental hazards Reactivating f pwer plant Lack f public access Ptential future uses that are incmpatible with adjacent neighbrhds Vulnerability t flding and strm surge events Lss f tax revenues frm prperty shuld the cnditin r wnership f the prperty change I dn't have any cncerns abut this prperty Other (please specify) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Figure 3 Manresa Island Reuse and Ecnmic Impact Analysis Study 4

5 What respndents think shuld be dne t Manresa Island When asked hw they think Manresa Island shuld be reused, 79% answered as public passive pen space (such as trails); 68% answered as cnservatin area; 33% said as a marina; and 33% answered as alternative energy generatin (slar r wind). Only 3% f respndents said they think the prperty shuld be left as is. See figure 4. A selectin f additinal cmments received is prvided belw: I dn't knw if public space if feasible due t the remediatin needs/csts, but if it were feasible, it wuld be great fr an utdr cncert space similar t Westprt's pavilin Maritime / Oceangraphic facility Shuld remain as natural as pssible withut significant develpment, especially cnsidering peridic flding Fairfield Cunty needs pen spaces and Nrwalk especially is very cncentrated I think it shuld be a mixture f uses that ultimately is tax neutral t the City Mixed Use, many f the abve items, plus sme study shuld be cnducted t review the feasibility f a pssible passenger ferry system t New Yrk City, Lng Island and t Cape Cd Hw d yu think that Manresa Island shuld be reused? (select all that apply) Cnservatin area Public passive pen space (such as trails) Public active pen space (such as ball fields) Marina Residential develpment Office r cmmercial develpment Alternative energy generatin (slar r wind) I think the prperty shuld be left as is Other (please specify) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% Figure 4 Manresa Island Reuse and Ecnmic Impact Analysis Study 5

6 When asked hw engaged the City shuld be in advcating fr r facilitating the reuse f the prperty, 78% r respndents said that the City shuld be very engaged in facilitating a desirable reuse f the prperty, even thugh the site is privately wned (NRG Energy); 12% answered that the City shuld supprt this prcess, but nt lead this effrt ; nly 2% believe that the City shuld nt be engaged in this effrt. See figure 5. A sampling f additinal cmments is prvided belw: The city shuld be very engaged in the prcess, but nt as a deterrent r an bstacle. Smene needs t have a visin and this prperty with its prminence n the water needs t be a cmbinatin f public and private use The City shuld nt be letting any brwnfield site sit un-remediated under a single wnership anywhere in the City City shuld engage in facilitating desirable reuse f the prperty The city shuld NOT be taking n any csts invlved, but shuld be invlved s its use is fair t the Nrwalk citizens NRG Energy shuld be invlved with the cleanup and fund a big prtin f the prject. The City shuld mnitr the prgress s it des nt vilate any lcal laws Given that the site is privately wned (NRG Energy), hw engaged shuld the City f Nrwalk be in advcating fr, and facilitating, a reuse f this prperty? The City shuld be very engaged in facilitating a desirable reuse f the prperty The City shuld supprt this prcess, but nt lead this effrt The City shuld nt be engaged in this effrt Other (please specify) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% Figure 5 Manresa Island Reuse and Ecnmic Impact Analysis Study 6

Public Wrkshp A public wrkshp fr the Manresa Island Reuse Study was cnducted at the Nrwalk City Hall n the evening f Mnday, May 22, 2017.

7 Public Wrkshp A public wrkshp fr the Manresa Island Reuse Study was cnducted at the Nrwalk City Hall n the evening f Mnday, May 22, Apprximately sixty-five peple attended the wrkshp t prvide their input and ideas regarding the future f Manresa Island. In prmtin f the wrkshp there were ntices and articles in lcal media such as the Nrwalk Hur, Nancy n Nrwalk and the Hamlet Hub. Additinally, a link abut the study and wrkshp was psted n the City s website and the nline survey prvided infrmatin abut the wrkshp. The wrkshp began with an intrductin frm bth Charlie Taney, President f the Manresa Assciatin and Elizabeth Stcker, the City f Nrwalk s Ecnmic Develpment Directr. Fllwing the intrductin, a presentatin was given that included a brief verview f the study prcess and a histry f the island and the pwer plant. Remediatin ptins and related csts fr the prperty were describe, as well as the envirnmental features f the site, including its essential fish habitat and bird species. The presentatin included a case study f a pwer plant reuse at the Salem Harbr Pwer Statin in Massachusetts. A review f the nline survey results was prvided at the end f the presentatin. Fllwing this verview, breakut sessins were cnducted. Each table f attendees was given three questins t guide discussins. These questins included: 1. What wuld yu like t see happen with Manresa Island? 2. What d yu NOT want t happen with Manresa Island? 3. What d yu think is likely t happen with Manresa Island? Participants wrked tgether t answer each questin. Fllwing the sessin, a representative frm each grup prvided an verview f the key pints their grup fcused n. Mst participants felt that the Manresa Island Pwer Plant structure shuld be remved and that site cleanup and remediatin shuld ccur. Additinally, mst believed that the building shuld nt cntinue t remain as is. Participants were generally in favr f the site becming a public park r pen space and did nt want the existing frest t be remved. Other ppular ideas included the site becming part f the Stewart B. McKinney Federal Wildlife Refuge, the island getting repurpsed as a wrking waterfrnt with cmmercial fishing and marina uses, r a mixed-use develpment. Manresa Island Reuse and Ecnmic Impact Analysis Study 7

As a whle, participants favred, and advcated fr, reuse f the site. Detailed results f the breakut sessins are prvided belw. What wuld yu like t see happen with Manresa Island?

8 As a whle, participants favred, and advcated fr, reuse f the site. Detailed results f the breakut sessins are prvided belw. What wuld yu like t see happen with Manresa Island? Mst peple wuld like t see the pwer plant structure remved and wuld like site clean-up and remediatin t ccur. Cnverting the prperty int pen space r an envirnmental refuge was als very favrable, as well as the creatin f a mixed use wrking waterfrnt. The mst ppular ideas that participants identified are presented belw: Remval f the existing structure Significantly imprve the land, remve cntaminatin where feasible A pier with cmmercial fishing, shipbuilding, and marina use, that wuld be an incme generatr fr the City Becme part f the Stewart B. McKinney Federal Wildlife Refuge Passive recreatin and pen space Mixed use slar array field with green space What d yu NOT want t happen with Manresa Island? When wrkshp participants were asked what they did nt want t happen t Manresa Island, all fcus grups agreed that they did nt want the island t remain as is. High rise cndminiums r ther residential use were als nt favrable as many grups cmmented that they feel Nrwalk has enugh cnds and residential prperties. The mst cmmn respnses frm participants are presented belw: D nt want the prperty t remain as is D nt want an increase in traffic thrugh the area D nt want high rise cndminiums r a large residential develpment D nt want the site t becme ver-develped Manresa Island Reuse and Ecnmic Impact Analysis Study 8

9 What d yu think is likely t happen with Manresa Island? When wrkshp participants were asked what they believe is likely t happen with Manresa Island, all the grups initially said that they believe the prperty will cntinue t remain vacant. Despite this first reactin, sme grups believe a high-end develper may bring in mixed-use r residential develpment t the site. The mst cmmn respnses frm participants are presented belw: It will cntinue t sit vacant with nthing being dne It will be turned int a public park with beach access, a waterfrnt recreatin area It will be added t the Steward B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge It culd becme a Visitr s Center, water taxi, r private marina Buildings culd get cnverted t sme ther use Site fr alternative energy generatin Develped int high end residential r cmmercial businesses The prperty is divided with mixed use prpsals submitted frm wealthy investrs Manresa Island Reuse and Ecnmic Impact Analysis Study 9

Meeting 2 Workshop Summary

Meeting 2 Workshop Summary Hilltp Cmmunities, San Bernardin Cunty Meeting 2 Wrkshp Summary Values and Aspiratins Review During the secnd wrkshp in Hilltp, cmmunity members were shwn values and aspiratins segments that they helped