Laserfiche WebLink
Shoreline CAC <br />February 17, 2010 <br />Meeting Highlights <br />Page 13 <br />Bay or on the shoreline...." In 1965 public access around the Bay was limited to about <br />only 4 miles. Today, over 200 miles of shoreline is open to the public. <br />BCDC's Public Access Design Guidelines were adopted in 1984. The guidelines provide <br />suggestions for site planning and recommendations for designing and developing <br />attractive and usable public access areas. The guidelines are not legally enforceable <br />standards, but are an advisory set of design principles that are intended to complement <br />the design standards of local municipalities within the region. <br />In site planning, considerations for public access should be as follows: <br />1. Make Public Access Public. This objective can be accomplished by developing <br />public access so that the bay trail is the primary design element -creating <br />delineation between public areas and private development; and using site <br />furnishings, such as benches, trash containers and lighting, to provide visual <br />cues that the space is available for the public. <br />2. Make Public Access Usable. This objective can be accomplished by maximizing <br />user comfort by designing for the weather and day and night use (i.e., shaded <br />seating areas); taking advantage of the existing site opportunities, such as <br />fishing, picnicking, swimming or boating; providing children's play opportunities; <br />and incorporating improvements that can be used by persons with disabilities, <br />and providing public parking. <br />3. Enhance Visual Access to the Bay. This objective can be accomplished by <br />locating buildings, structures and landscaping so that they enhance or dramatize <br />views of the bay, and organizing shoreline development to allow bay views and <br />access between buildings. <br />4. Enhance the Visual Quality of the Shoreline. This objective can be accomplished <br />by using forms, materials, colors and textures that are compatible with the bay <br />and adjacent development; providing visual interest and architectural variety to <br />public access areas and buildings along the shoreline; and using building layout <br />to create a diversity of public spaces along the bay. <br />5. Provide Connections and Continuity along the Bay. This objective can be <br />accomplished by providing clear and continuous transitions to adjacent <br />developments and shoreline trails, providing connections perpendicular to the <br />shoreline at regular intervals to maximize access and views to the bay; and <br />connecting shoreline access with the local park and open space systems. <br />6. Take Advantage of the Bay Setting. This objective can be accomplished by <br />orienting development to bay views, utilizing the shoreline for bay -related uses <br />that activate and enliven the adjacent public access areas. <br />7. Ensure that Public Access is Compatible with Wildlife. This objective can be <br />accomplished by preparing a site analysis to generate information on wildlife <br />species, employing appropriate siting, design and management strategies (such <br />as buffers or use restrictions) to reduce or prevent adverse impacts on wildlife. <br />The plans prepared by the groups and the developer were reviewed by Mr. McCrea <br />whose main comment was that the proposed development cantilevering over the inner <br />harbor area was determined to be fill into the Bay. It would be considered excessive <br />