Town of Wareham, MA Leadership Exchange
Throughout the fall of 2020, the Town of Wareham, Massachusetts worked closely with national leaders from around the country and interact with subject matter experts. Invited guests helped guide future redevelopment plans for Wareham Village by focusing on incorporating elements of climate resilience, stormwater management, and green infrastructure into design plans that are closely connected to economic development opportunities. Through the exchange, Wareham will be able to explore innovative and sustainable environmental finance opportunities associated with their redevelopment plans.
Each webinar has an accompanying Podcast available to hear additional details about invited communities who have a compelling story to share. The webinars summarize details and recommendations that are the result of earlier held private discussions between Wareham and invited guests. These webinars are a chance for you to hear about national case studies directly from the leaders who helped make it happen in their community.
The accompanying podcast is available by using this link and available under the webinar details.
*The webinars are approved for 1 CM credit by the American Planning Association – Rhode Island Chapter.
Webinar 1: “Incorporating green infrastructure for stormwater and other co-benefits”
Participating Communities:
Lancaster City, PA
Provincetown, MA
Description:
As the Town of Wareham pursues redevelopment opportunities, it is crucial that the community considers options for environmentally sensitive development. Green infrastructure has the primary benefit of managing stormwater by employing or mimicking natural processes. However, green infrastructure also brings along with it an array of co-benefits related to public health, recreation, cost-effectiveness, and economic growth. This webinar highlights communities that have employed green infrastructure best management practices (BMPs) and considers how these primary and co-benefits could be taken advantage of in Wareha.
Webinar 2: “Integrated action planning for climate, social, and economic resilience”
Participating Communities:
Annapolis, MD
Hoboken, NJ
New Bedford, MA
Description:
Municipalities today face several interrelated complex challenges, with climate, social, and economic challenges being especially pressing. As communities seek to increase resilience to these issues, integrating planning for multiple threats is critical for efficiency and effectiveness. Wareham’s goals for redevelopment envision a more environmentally, socially, and economically resilient downtown Wareham Village, which will require a comprehensive financing strategy. This webinar highlights communities that have successfully incentivized multiple forms of investment and have embraced resilience in specific projects, as well as in broader forward-looking planning activities.
Webinar 3: “Revitalizing waterfront communities through comprehensive redevelopment”
Participating Communities:
Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA
Chattanooga, TN
Annapolis, MD (City Dock/ULI Experts)
Tilghman Island, MD
The work between Wareham and the SNEP Network is centered on the Town’s goals for revitalization of the downtown waterfront area in Wareham Village. As Wareham is at the early stages of planning for economic redevelopment, there is an opportunity to look holistically and to consider how to incorporate components of resilience, environmentally sensitive design, and mixed-use growth. This webinar brings together three waterfront cities that have had similar redevelopment challenges as Wareham and showcases how they have successfully reinvented themselves, all while taking advantage of environmental, social, and economic opportunities.
Webinar 4: “Smart growth and strategic zoning for livable communities”
Participating Communities:
Ranson, WV
Portland, ME
Warwick, RI
Rhode Island Public Transit Authority
As Wareham approaches redevelopment, it is important that the Town does so in a way that considers an array of community needs. Smart, mixed-use development offers the opportunity for compact economic redevelopment that maximizes efficiency and carries out a strategic plan for growth. With the vision of a Wareham Village where residents can “work, play, and live” all in one place, smart growth could position the riverfront Village as a hub of activity within the Town. This webinar brings together communities that have employed principles of smart growth, form-based coding, and strategic zoning to create public spaces that further a broader vision of efficiency and vibrancy.