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Glossary
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Glossary of Urban Wilds
Urban Wild
The Urban Wilds of Boston- woods, meadows, wetlands, shorelines, rock outcrops and hilltops- 143
in all, were initially identified by the City of Boston Redevelopment Authority in a 1976 study
as Unprotected natural areas of beauty and environmental significance. In 1990, in order to capture
all the original 143 sites, several of which had morphed, BNAN introduced the following criteria
for a site to be recognized s an Urban Wild:
The site should include any ONE feature to qualify as an Urban Wild
1. A Natural Heritage:
Habitats retaining significant amount of flora, fauna and/ or features of geographic importance”
- Vegetation (1976 count= 28)
- Wildlife/ bird habitat
- Topography/ land (1976 count=68)
- Wetland/ other environmental functions (1976 count=20)
- Shoreline conservation (1976 count=27)
2. A Historic heritage
History of location including development, land use, cultural, and natural history.
- Neighborhood- history of development
- City – history of development
3. Public Benefit/ Use
Habitats for the use and enjoyment of people and/or neighborhoods.
- Recreational Opportunities: E.g., hiking, picnicking, bird watching
- Scenic Opportunities
- Educational Opportunities
- Aesthetic Value/ a distinctive look
- Essential Open Space (network)- city/ neighborhood
- Environmental benefit- reduces air pollution, buffers winds, etc.
1. Lost Urban Wilds
Wilds that have been so obliterated or so altered that any small pieces that
are left clearly do not do what the original Wilds did for their neighborhood
or for the City.
2. Protected Urban Wilds
Wilds secured in whole or in part. Site must meet ALL of the following criteria:
- Unless accepted as a partially protected Wild, the site must have the same acreage given in the BRA survey (subject to confidence about that figure)
- Title must be held by an agency or institution whose charter includes land protection, or there must be a legal encumbrance, such as a conservation restriction, to prevent shrinkage or degradation.
- Natural Features of the Wild have to be as they were in 1976 or have ones that evolved naturally from 1976 conditions. They cannot have been altered by human action.
3. Unprotected Urban Wilds
Wilds that remain but that are susceptible to destruction, just as they were in 1976.
1. Intact
Wilds remaining in their original condition, with no development/ human impact.
2. Altered
Wilds that have been changed but not necessarily damaged.
3. Degraded
Wilds that still can be recognized from their 1976 description, but development
uses have chipped away at them.
Land Forms
- Woodland – Land dominated by a closed canopy of trees
- Shrubland – Shrub community broken up by patches of grasses and forbs
- Grassland – Predominately and visually a grass community including some forbs and shrubs
- Meadow – Land predominately covered with mixed grasses and forbs
- Wetland – Swamp and marshland
- Estuarine – Riverfront land with a tidal influence
- Maritime – Land bordering the sea
- Riparian – Riverfront land with no tidal influence
Conservation District - Any area designated by the Boston Conservation Commission as an area containing any physical features or improvements or both that are of historical, social, cultural, architectural, or aesthetic significance to the city and cause such area to constitute a distinctive section of the city. (Boston, Mass.)
Conservation Restriction - A conservation restriction is a legally binding agreement between a landowner (grantor) and a holder (grantee) - usually a public agency or a private land trust; whereby the grantor agrees to limit the use of his/her property for the purpose of protecting certain conservation values. The conservation restriction may run for a period of years or in perpetuity and is recorded at the Registry of Deeds (it runs with the title). Certain income, estate or real estate tax benefits may be available to the grantor of a conservation restriction.
A CR is concerned with preserving the land in its natural state, and protecting its wildlife habitat, scenic views, forests and meadows, water quality, greenway connections, and other similar natural features. For an example of a CR, go to www.mass.gov/envir/dcs/restrictions/default.htm, and then click on the "Conservation Restriction Handbook" which contains further information and a sample CR. There can be extraordinary tax benefits for the donation or bargain sale of a perpetual CR. Care must be taken to follow the rules for the deductions, which are subject to change, and one should seek professional advice if the intention is to obtain the tax advantages.
Overlay Zoning District - Overlay districts are those, which co-exist with “true” zoning, districts by delineating them on top of the pre-existing districts. They are usually created to add specific regulations and restrictions based upon certain features or types of uses falling within their boundaries. Some common examples are: Floodplain areas, Historic Districts, Aquifer and Water Protection areas, Wireless Communication uses, etc. Generally, overlay district regulations supercede the restrictions of any underlying districts, though this is not always the case.
Interim Planning Overlay Districts (IPODs) – Temporary zoning regulations for an area where the Zoning Commission has determined that current zoning may be inappropriate or inadequate.
Lot, Lot Area – The area of a parcel of land in single ownership and not divided by a street.
Nonconforming Use – A use or activity which was lawful prior to the adoption or amendment of the Zoning Code, but which does not, because of such adoption or amendment, conform to the present requirements of the Zoning Code.
Variance – Permission to deviate from a specific requirement of the Zoning Code.
Greenway Planning Overlay District (GPODs) - Set of regulations that establish minimum set of design and zoning principles to encourage access and active use of a Greenway. E.g.: windows overlooking Greenway, Building height restrictions, Access via private property, etc.
Conservation Overlay District - The Conservation Overlay District is intended for property owners to initiate and implement programs for the revitalization or conservation of older areas or districts possessing distinctive features, identity, or character worthy of retention and enhancement. The overlay takes effect through adoption of a plan and a set of regulations that will facilitate maintenance and upgrading of the neighborhood and development of vacant or underused lots while reducing or eliminating incompatible mixes of uses.
Trail License - A license is a revocable written agreement between an owner and trail group that permits trail access. It is not permanent or binding on future landowners. A license can be a useful tool, superior to verbal and written permission, in that it can stipulate conditions of use and management agreements.
Trail Easement - A trail easement is a perpetual legal agreement that allows others to use someone’s land in the manner provided for within the easement. An easement can be very broad, granting access to the easement holder and the public, or it can restrict what kind of access, when and under what conditions access can be used. For instance, the easement can be for public access to an entire property, or it could be restricted to a certain users on a trail of a certain width. An easement can be for hiking only, or lake access, or bicycling, or hunting – whatever uses the parties agree to, limited or expanded to the extent they decide.