Swampscott Harbor and Waterfront Plan

The Swampscott Harbor and Waterfront Advisory Committee began developing a new Harbor and Waterfront Plan back in 2013 for many different reasons. The committee wanted a way to manage harbor and waterfront resources, guide development and evolution of the harbors and waterfronts, support town’s solicitation of funding to support development, and coordinate activities and actions in accordance with other town plans and priorities. The plan is a way to be proactive and not reactive.

The goals the committee hopes to achieve are to:

• Provide and manage ocean access for water-related activity,
• Promote safe boating and encourage water-related activities,
• Improve the efficiency of Harbor Management and Administration,
• Monitor, maintain, and improve the natural environment,
• Encourage the increase of boat presence, including commercial fisherman,
• Develop and improve amenities to promote the use of the Harbor by all, and
• Encourage integration of the coastline into the cultural, educational and community activities.

They also hope to tackle some of the ongoing issues relating to the Harbor and Waterfront. These include the lack of protection of waves during storms, the lack of adequate depth for larger boats, beach erosion and loss of sand, deposits of seaweed on the beaches degrading recreational potential of the beaches, and the need for easy boat access to land-based services. The integration of the Harbor and Humphrey Street is also something they’d like to achieve. It would help improve the commercial revitalization of the area.

Full details of the plan can be found on the Town’s website. The upcoming meetings of Swampscott‘s Harbor and Waterfront Advisory Committee can be found on the Town calendar. The next meeting will be held March 23, 2015 at 7PM at Town Hall.