Market to Metacom Workshop #1

Market to Metacom Warren, Rhode Island Climate Resilience and Economic Development Plan May 12, 2021

Welcome/Introduction Bob Rulli, Director of Planning & Community Development Town of Warren

Market to Metacom Project - Background • Why is Warren doing this project at this time? − Climate change is bringing • rising sea levels • stronger storms • more intense precipitation events

− Warren has done forecasting and planning for Town-wide impacts • Municipal Resilience Plan • Hazard Mitigation Planning • URI and UPenn Projects Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market to Metacom Project - Background − Warren is one of the lowest lying towns in RI, and the Market Street area is one of the lowest lying areas of Warren. − At the same time, Metacom Avenue is one of the Town’s highest areas and is underutilized and has potential for redevelopment.

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market to Metacom Project - Background Grant from Southeast New England Program (SNEP) of Restore America’s Estuaries Explore concept of linking the future of adaptation in Market Street area with redevelopment in Metacom Avenue corridor.

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market to Metacom Project – Ongoing Planning • Drafting form-based code for Metacom Avenue • Tax increment financing for infrastructure • Envisioning redeveloped Ocean State Job Lot Plaza • Working with property owners

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Job Lot Plaza Site

Job Lot Plaza Site

Job Lot Plaza Site

Market to Metacom Project - Process • Data Collection • Public Outreach and Input − Workshops − Web Site

• Scenarios for Future − No Action − Adaptation

• Final Report/Presentation

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Existing Conditions Arnold Robinson Regional Director of Planning Fuss & O’Neill

Existing Conditions

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Existing Conditions

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market Street Project Area

Market Street - Project Area Area contains approximately: • 184 acres • 400 buildings • 700 housing units • 30 businesses

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market Street Area – 1870 Atlas

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Warren, RI Birdseye – 1877

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market Street Area – 1939 Aerial Photograph

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market Street – Zoning & Land Use Land Use: • • • • • • •

Single family: 19% 2-5 family: 18% Vacant Comm/Ind: 15% Commercial: 10% Industrial: 8% Utility: 8% Municipal: 7%

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market Street – Assessed Property Values Total Assessed Value: $138 million • 586 parcels • Average parcel value: $236,000

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market Street – Property Tax Generation (annual) Total Annual Taxes to Town of Warren: $2,401,000

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market Street – Sanitary Sewer and Water Infrastructure

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market Street – Impervious Area

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market Street – Drainage Structures

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

FEMA Flood Zones – Market Street

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market Street – RI DEM Regulated Facilities

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market Street – Wetlands Mean Higher High Water Projections – 2050

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Metacom Avenue Corridor Project Area

Metacom Avenue – Project Area Area contains approximately: • 81 acres • 54 buildings • 66 housing units • 50 businesses

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Metacom Avenue Area – 1939 Aerial Photograph

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Metacom Avenue – Zoning & Land Use Land Use: • • • • • •

Comm/Indust: 39% Single family: 23% Multi-family: 12% Vacant (improved): 13% State/Utility: 7% Vacant (unimpr): 6%

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Metacom Avenue – Assessed Property Value Total Assessed Value: $59 million • 116 parcels

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Metacom Avenue – Property Tax Generation (annual) Total Annual Taxes to Town of Warren: $1,025,000

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Metacom Avenue – Sanitary Sewer and Water Infrastructure

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Metacom Avenue – Impervious Area 76% of the land area is impervious: • • •

Roofs Paving Other hard surfaces that do not absorb rain and snow

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Metacom Avenue – Drainage Infrastructure Stormwater flows to Narragansett Bay: •

•

Kickemuit River via streets and storm drains Warren River via Vernon Street

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

FEMA Flood Zones – Metacom Avenue

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Metacom Avenue – RIDEM-Regulated Facilities

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Climate Change Projections & Impacts Dr. Diane Mas Chief Resilience Officer Fuss & O’Neill

Rhode Island’s Changing Climate

NOAA Tidal Gage 351 – Newport, RI

RICRMC (2018), Shoreline Change SAMP Volume I

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Rhode Island’s Changing Climate

https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/

http://climatechange.ri.gov/documents/noaa-climate-rhode-island-state-summary.pdf

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Climate Hazards • Sea Level Rise • Warming Air Temperatures • Warming Water Temperatures • Storm Frequency and Intensity • Biodiversity Changes • Precipitation and Inland Flooding

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Climate Hazards

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Climate Change Projections

RICRMC (2018), Shoreline Change SAMP Volume I

Late-Century

R C P4 . 5

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

5.09

5.27

3.98

INCREASE IN TEMP (F)

9.11

Mid-Century

R C P8 . 5

USGCRP (2017), Climate Science Special Report: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume I

Flood Depths and Damage • Depth (how deep) • Duration (how long) • Velocity (how fast) $10,000-$20,000 damage

• Buildings • Roads • Other Infrastructure • Life & Safety $50,000 damage Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Source: floodfactor.com

Market Street – High Tide Projections 2035-2100

2035

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

2050

2070

2100

Coastal Storms, Storm Surge, and Sea Level Rise • “100-yr” Coastal Storm • A 100-year event has a 1% chance (or 1-in-a-100 chance) of occurring in any given year.

• Multiple 100-year events in a year.

• Probability or chance becomes greater with climate change • 100-yr  20-yr

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market Street – SLR Projection + 100-Year Coastal Storm in 2020

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market Street – SLR Projection + 100-Year Coastal Storm in 2035

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market Street – SLR Projection + 100-Year Coastal Storm in 2050

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market Street – SLR Projection + 100-Year Coastal Storm in 2070

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Market Street – SLR Projection + 100-Year Coastal Storm in 2100

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Sea Level Rise Projection + 100-Year Coastal Storm in 2100

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Impacts to Transportation Assets

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

How are other communities adapting to climate change impacts?

Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts • Shoreline adaptation • Wetlands restoration • Harden infrastructure • Changes in Federal Flood Insurance Program • Retreat and buyout programs • Redeveloping commercial corridors

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Shoreline Adaptation

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Wetlands Restoration

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Harden Infrastructure

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Federal Flood Insurance Program • FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) revised July 2014 • Market Street project area is in the AE Zone with base flood elevation of 13 feet above mean high water level.

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Federal Flood Insurance Program

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Federal Flood Insurance Program • Federal Flood insurance is underwritten and subsidized by Federal government • Program and policy debates about this subsidy after huge costs following increasingly intense storm events/damage: − Katrina − Sandy − Harvey Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Elevation of Structures

Retreat and Buyout Programs

Redevelopment of Commercial Corridors

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Redevelopment of Commercial Corridors

Market to Metacom – Warren, Rhode Island

Job Lot Plaza Site

Job Lot Plaza Site

Facilitated Discussion

Questions for Discussion • What existing conditions were new to you? − Housing in Market Street − Value of property in project areas − Annual tax income to Town from project areas

• Were projections for sea level rise new to you?

• Were projections for storm impacts new to you?

Questions for Discussion • How do you think the Town should work with property owners, residents and business owners in the Market Street area?

• Do you think the Town should work with property owners to improve Metacom Avenue?

• What should happen to the major transportation routes that cross through the project areas?

What are the Next Steps in the Market to Metacom Project?

Next Steps – Market to Metacom • Share information from tonight’s Workshop − Post on YouTube and project website − Add information to project website

• “Open door” for comments and suggestions at project email: M2M@fando.com • Formulate and quantify potential scenarios for future: − No action − Adaptation in Market Street area and Redevelopment in Metacom Avenue corridor

• Share and discuss potential Future Scenarios: July 2021 Workshop • Final Report presentation and recommendations: September 2021

Thank you