TCI NPSDP - 5.5 Grand Turk

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5.5

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GRAND TURK

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5.5.0- GRAND TURK | ISLAND OVERVIEW

GRAND TURK OVERVIEW

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Grand Turk is the second most populous island and houses the capital of TCI, Cockburn Town. Grand Turk is the historic, governmental center of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The island is the second smallest of the inhabited islands and is the other half of the Turks Islands with Salt Cay. The employment make-up of Grand Turk, of the less than 5,000 people, stems from the tourism industry, a majority of which is from the Grand Turk Cruise Center and related businesses, and government employment.

Grand Turk has a variety of neighborhoods with a range of housing typologies – estates, single-family homes, and multi-family. The main neighborhoods of Grand Turk include Cockburn Town, Over Back, Breezy Brae, and XXX. Grand Turk is home to the Grand Turk Lighthouse, National Museum, and numerous nearby dive and snorkeling sites, as well as historic salinas.

With Grand Turk being the historic and current center of governmental services, the island should condense and focus key services from specific, accessible locations rather than scattered locations. One or two key locations for governmental services will save time and money, while also allowing for easier cross-collaboration. It is recommended to house all services within a government center.

Infrastructural upgrades should include sidewalks, street trees, and street lighting. The local population and tourists will both benefit from an established system of multi-use trails for pedestrians and bicyclists. Connected recreational areas, both formal and informal, will perpetuate an active and healthy community and link varying areas of interest for both locals and tourists.

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Cockburn Town has great potential as a mixed-use core for Grand Turk. The settlement has historic value, a central island location, a strong commercial presence along the major thoroughfare compared to other parts of the island, a cluster of governmental services, and great potential for being at the center of island catalytic projects.

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Strengthen | Historic Rehabilitation | Green Street | Pedestrian Promenade

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5.5.0- GRAND TURK | ISLAND OVERVIEW

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Front Street has great potential to grow Grand Turks establishment as a top-tier tourist destination. The street acts a pedestrian-friendly destination for tourists and locals.

The entire linear corridor should be infilled with businesses and civic amenities; businesses geared towards tourists fill the southern end, such as boutique hotels, restaurants, bars, dive shops and hotels, local shops, and public spaces and beaches, while the northern end of the corridor and businesses along Pond Street are establishments geared more towards locals, such as the library, bank, local utilities, cultural and social gathering spaces, and civic infrastructure. The corridor has a mix of businesses around the center of the corridor that attract both local residents and tourists alike, such as the National Museum.

By capitalizing on strengthening the Front Street corridor, the island can drive tourism dollars away from the cruise port and into the pockets of local residents and directly into the local economy. Front Street already contains the feeling of a one-of-a-kind place; it is recommended that Grand Turk capitalize on infill development, for hotels specifically, revitalization and rehabilitation of historic buildings and spaces, and infrastructure enhancements.

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Environmentally, Grand Turk should preserve all undeveloped land to the greatest extent. Currently, the island only retains 20% of the total land area as Crown Land. The island has sprawled to all coastlines and should focus on clustering development of similar land uses or compatible land uses together. Settlements should have a nodal center with supporting services for the residents, like community centers, public space, and local food supplies. Unfinished or incomplete developments should be prioritized for infill prior to new development proposals, especially those of residential use. Grand Turk has many established settlements that should be infilled with completed developments prior to allowing for new developments on greenfields or previously undeveloped land. This does not mean an increase in density, but rather, a full build out that will make the investment in necessary

TUR MOLORIAE RE NECATA SI DOLO EIUM FUGIA VOLENE SIN EST, QUAM DOLES ATET RENIS SAM ASSEQUAM, OMNIMUS ARUM ESTISTIA

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Grand Turk consists of many natural and built wonders: Columbus Landfall National Park, numerous reefs, South Creek, Gibbs Cay, the Grand Turk Lighthouse, the National Museum, and beautiful beaches, among others. These natural wonders, cultural heritage sites, and historic amenities should be preserved and promoted.

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infrastructure worth it for the monetary cost.

The South Creek National Park is the most critical natural habitat on Grand Turk. The area should be continually protected and celebrated for the ecosystem services it provides for the island.

North Creek presents an interesting opportunity to promote a marina development that would be protected from the rough weather the coastline experiences during unpredictable storms. The proposed marina development would attract transient boaters and high-caliber tourists visiting Grand Turk for a short trip or a cruise stop.

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Grand Turk has a network of historic salinas that should be improved and capitalized on for economic opportunities. A large-scale infrastructure project could connect the Town Pond to the Red Salinas and further to the coastline. This connection would provide for the ‘flushing’ of the salinas, which will make them more attractive. The connected salinas could provide opportunities for waterfront dining, passive recreational activities, and a potential greenway or promenade granting connected access from the southernmost point of the salinas to the Town Pond and beyond.

This large scale project could have great economic benefits for the local community and prove to be a huge asset to island beautification.

The Grand Turk Cruise Center (GTCC) is an important employment and tourism node on Grand Turk. The GTCC functions well for its internal purposes – to make money for the Carnival Cruise line but is lacking on its connection with the local community. There is currently a disconnect between the success of the GTCC and the local vendors, and therefore, indirectly, the local economy. The GTCC should integrate local vendors within the Center, compared to the current situation of allowing the vendors to set up shop on the outskirts. The terminal should expand to the northern coastline parcels to better integrate local, cultural retail and amenity services with the GTCC vendors, services, and businesses.

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The current landfill (dump) site is a present and future detriment to Grand Turk and its people. Presently, the site is an environmental disaster, leaking into the Town Pond, catching fire due to irresponsible waste disposal, and acting as a local eyesore for the adjacent properties and island as a whole. The site has exponential potential for site remediation and adaptive reuse. The government should issue a study for alternatives to waste disposal for a population of similar size to the Turks and Caicos Islands. A new landfill site should be selected while proposed study is being completed. Simultaneously, the government should hire a firm for site remediation of the current landfill site.

There are numerous projects around the world, of varying cost, size, and level of intensity, that provide an example of a contaminated site that was remediated for healthy and safe human use. Site remediation is the only option for the current landfill site due to the severity of the detrimental effects on both the built and natural environment.

The Grand Turk Lighthouse is a historic find on the island.

The site has turned into a tourism destination operated by a subsidy of the GTCC/Carnival. The area is out-of-the-way from other more popular destinations, such as Front Street.

The lighthouse serves as an excellent destination from the GTCC, as it can be seen as an ‘adventure’ to reach. There is revitalization potential if the site is to be more closely tied with the vacant military base and local community college; this area can become a bigger hub for activity and implement more recreational opportunities.

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Tourism vs Local Development Government Center Development Cluster Large-scale, BIG transformative projects Salinas Marina / North Creek Red for Grand Turk representing the red/pink fruit of the national plant, the Turks Head Cactus

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS | DRAFT NATIONAL PHYSICAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN 255

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5 . 5 .1 - G R A N D T U R K | I S L A N D F R A M E W O R K N AT U R A L S Y S T E M S

A ER I A L

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PROTEC TED A R E A & N AT U R A L S Y S T E M S

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ELE VATION

AREAS OF O U T S TA N D I N G BEAUT Y

C R I T I C A L H A B I TAT

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V E G E TAT I O N

C O A S TA L R I S K

N AT U R A L C O M P O S I T E

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*REFER TO THE APPENDIX A3.1 FOR ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS DOCUMENTATION

A R E A S O F CU LTU R A L & H ISTORIC A L SIG N I FIC A NCE

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T R A N S P O R TAT I O N NETWORK

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B U I LT S Y S T E M S

SETTLEMENT & D E V E LO PM E N T N O D ES

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OWNERSHIP

B U I LT

COMPOSITE

*REFER TO THE APPENDIX A3.1 FOR ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS DOCUMENTATION TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS | DRAFT NATIONAL PHYSICAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN 257

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5 . 5 .1 - G R A N D T U R K | I S L A N D F R A M E W O R K

LEG EN D Beach Entry

Key Nodes

Snorkeling

Existing Development

Historic Sites

Proposed Ferry Dock/Port

View Points

Proposed Marina

Airport

Proposed Resort/Hotels

Ferry Dock/Port

Points of Interest

Marina

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Settlements

Residential Development Area of Concern

National Park/Nature Reserve

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Proposed Agricultural Land Land to be Preserved Critical Areas Reefs

Historical Interest Beach/Waterfront Access Primary Circulation (Existing)

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Primary Circulation (Proposed) Secondary Circulation Potential Water Connections Potential Land Connections Greenway Trail/Promenade Salina Boundary

Photos: Agile LeVin Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)

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M A R I N A DE V ELOPM ENT P OTENTI A L Exceptional Opportunity Good Opportunity Moderate Potential

PLAN

H ISTORIC LIG HTH OUSE

NORTHEAST POINT

COLU M BUS L A N DFA LL M A R I N E N ATIO N A L PA R K

GRAND TURK FRAMEWORK PLAN

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RESIDENTIAL ESTATE LOTS P OTENTI A L MARINA

NORTH CREEK

NORTH W ELLS N ATU R E RESERV E

PILLORY BEACH

NORTH WELLS

P OTENTI A L FER RY TER M I N A L

RESIDENTIAL SM A LLER LOTS / M U LTI - FA M I LY H ISTORIC I NTER EST TOW N SA LI N A / R ED SA LI N A “ ECO TOU RISM ”

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NORTH CREEK GATE WAY

GRAND TURK SALT SALINAS

- P OTENTI A L I M PROV EM ENT F O R WATER Q UA LIT Y

TOWN POND

NATIONAL MUSEUM

L A N DFI LL SITE REM EDIATION

THE SALT HOUSE

NORTH SOUTH

FRONT STREE T

-TOU R IS M / H OS PITA LIT Y

- FER RY DOCK

H ERITAG E GATE WAY

COCKBU RN TOW N

MASTERSONS POINT

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- DOW NTOW N - R E V ITA LIZ ATI O N F O R LOC A L US E - M I X ED US E

ENGLISH POINT CONCH WORLD

G I B BS C AY LAND AND SEA N ATIO N A L PA R K

AIRPORT

A I R P O RT GATE WAY N ATU R E RESERV E GOVERNOR ’ S MANSION

SOUTH CREEK N ATIO N A L PA RK

SOUTH WELLS WATERLOO GOLF COURSE

SOUTH W ELLS N ATU R E RESERV E

GOVERNOR’S BEACH

- PRO P OS ED H OTEL S ITE EXISTING PORT & FERRY TERMINAL

GUN HILL

P OTENTI A L MARINA CRUISE CENTER

SNORKELI NG REEFS

* Refer to enlargements on the following pages

BOABY ROCK POINT

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5 . 5 .1 - G R A N D T U R K | I S L A N D F R A M E W O R K

NORTH

NORTHEAST POINT

H ISTORIC LIG HTH OUSE

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CO LU M BUS L A N DFA LL M A R I N E N ATIO N A L PA R K

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RESIDENTIAL ESTATE LOTS P OTENTI A L MARINA

NORTH CREEK

PILLORY BEACH

NORTH WELLS

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N ORTH W ELLS N ATU R E RESERV E

N ORTH CREEK GATE WAY

GRAND TURK SALT SALINAS TOWN POND NATIONAL MUSEUM

THE SALT HOUSE

FRONT

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P OTENTI A L FER RY TER M I N A L RESIDENTIAL SM A LLER LOTS / M U LTI - FA M I LY H ISTORIC I NTER EST TOW N SA LI N A / R ED SA LI N A “ ECO TOU RISM ” - P OTENTI A L I M PROV EM ENT F O R WATER Q UA LIT Y

L A N DFI LL SITE REM EDIATION

SOUTH I M PROV EM ENT F O WATER Q UA LIT Y

POND TOWN P OND NATIONAL MUSEUM

L A N DFI LL SI REM EDI ATIO EDIATIO

THE SALT HOUSE

FRONT STREE T

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-TOU R IS M / H OS PITA LIT Y - FER RY DOCK

H ERITAG E GATE WAY

COCKBU RN TOW N

MASTERSONS POINT

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- DOW NTOW N - R E V ITA LIZ ATI O N F O R LOC A L US E - M I X ED US E ENGLISH POINT

CONCH WORLD

AIRPORT

A I R P O RT GATE WAY N ATU R E RESERV E GOVERNOR ’ S MANSION

SOUTH CREEK N ATIO N A L PA RK

SOUTH WELLS

WATERLOO GOLF COURSE

SOUTH W ELLS N ATU R E RESERV E

GOVERNOR’S BEACH

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- PRO P OS ED H OTEL S ITE

EXISTING PORT & FERRY TERMINAL

GUN HILL

P OTENTI A L MARINA CRUISE CENTER

SNORKELI NG REEFS BOABY ROCK POINT

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5.5.2- GRAND TURK | LAND USE

LEG EN D Park Open Space Park Local Park Reserve

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Park National

Agriculture Farming & Food Production Commercial Tourism / Hospitality Commercial Local Mixed Use

Infrastructure / Civic

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Industrial Airport

Infrastructure Utilities Future Community Development (Residential / Open Space) Residential High Density Residential Medium Density Residential Low Density A Residential Low Density B Residential Low Density C

Photos: Agile LeVin Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)

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GRAND TURK PROPOSED LANDUSE PLAN

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PLAN

NORTH SOUTH

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FRONT STREET AAP

SOUTHWEST GTCC AAP

* Refer to enlargements on the following pages TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS | DRAFT NATIONAL PHYSICAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN 263

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5.5.2- GRAND TURK | LAND USE

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NORTH

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SOUTH

ENLARGEMENT TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS | DRAFT NATIONAL PHYSICAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN 265

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5.5.3- GRAND TURK | AREA ACTION PLAN

FRONT STREET STRENGTHEN | HISTORIC REHABILITATION | GREEN STREET | PEDESTRIAN PROMENADE

OPPORTUNITIES • Housing: apartments, short term housing on the northern end • Development: promenade along entire corridor  South: hospitality infill; pedestrian green street  Central: historic site redevelopment and rehabilitation; public space redevelopment  North: hospitality infill, historic site redevelopment and rehabilitation, public space redevelopment • Preservation: preserve beach from erosion; preserve historic character • Infrastructure: maintain utilities as needed; add ferry stop within central Front Street

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Front Street is the hub of tourism – historic, cultural, marine – of Grand Turk. The street is long in length and can become more of a pedestrian-focused corridor with a mix uses featuring hospitality, local commercial, historic and cultural tourism, and open space. The feel is a seaside village with narrow streets and whitewashed boundary walls that bring historical character that otherwise does not exist anywhere else in TCI.

development should line salinas; eastern salinas should be connected to create natural amenity of attraction for greenway/multi-use trail to follow.

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Downtown Grand Turk should be allocated resources to maintain and develop the area into a mixed-use hub surrounded by residential neighborhood(s). Development should fall in line with historic, island character; empty lots should be developed under strict architectural and economic guidelines that places controls on the developer or owner in so far as it allows development. Commercial

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Park Open Space

Commercial Local

Park Reserve

Mixed Use

Park Local

Infrastructure / Civic

Agriculture Farming & Food Production

Industrial

Commercial Tourism / Hospitality

Airport

CO N CPark E P T: S T R E N G T H E N | H I S TO R I C R E H A B I LCommercial I TAT I O NLocal | G R E E N S T R E E T | P E D EInfrastructure S T R I A N Utilities PROMENADE Open Space • B u i l d u p o n h i s t o r i c , c u l t u r a l , m a r i n e , a n d t o u r i s m c o re o f t h e i s l a n d • O p pPark o r t uReserve n i t y t o b e c o m e m o re o f a p e d e s t r i a n - fo cMixed u s e dUse c o r r i d o r w i t h a m i x u s e s fe a t uResidential r i n g h o sMedium p i t a l i tDensity y, l o c a l c o mPark m e rc i a l , h i s t o r i c a n d c u l t u r a l t o u r i s m , a n d o p e n s p a c e Infrastructure / Civic Residential Low Density A Local • S o u t h: h o s p i t a l i t y i n f i l l; p e d e s t r i a n g re e n s t re e t Industrial Food • C e nAgriculture t r a l: h i s tFarming o r i c s &i te re Production d e v e l o p m e n t a n d re h a b i l i t a t i o n; p u b l i c s p a c e re d e v e l o p m e n tResidential Low Density B • N o r tCommercial h: h o s p i Tourism t a l i t y i/ nHospitality f i l l , h i s t o r i c s i te re d e v e l o p m Airport e n t a n d re h a b i l i t a t i o n , p u b l i c s p a c e Residential re d e v e lLow opm ent C Density Infrastructure Utilities

Commercial Local

R E S I DMixed E N TUse IAL

Residential Medium Density Residential Low Density A

Industrial

Residential Low Density B

Airport

Residential Low Density C

Infrastructure Utilities

M I X E D U S E CO M M E R C I A L Density + H OSResidential P I TA L I TMedium Y Residential Low Density A

B E AC H ACC E S S A LO N G Residential Low Density B GREEN WAY CO R R I D O R S Residential Low Density C

H I S TO R I C P R E S E R VAT I O N A LO N G F R O N T S T R E E T B E AC H ACC E S S A LO N G G R E E N WAY CO R R I D O R S

PUBLIC

AACP PA LEGEND RK

AACP LEGEND

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C I V I C C E N T E R , H I S TO R I C P R E S E R VAT I O N

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Infrastructure / Civic

AC T I VAT E P U B L I C G R E E N WAY

AACP LEGEND

PUBLIC REALM INTERVENTIONS A LO N G G R E E N WAY, T Y P.

F LU S H E X I S T I N G S A L I N A S TO E N H A N C E WAT E R Q UA L I T Y. C R E AT E WAT E R F R O N T D E V E LO P M E N T

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CO M M E R C I A L F R O N TAG E A LO N G P O N D S T R E E T, M I X E D U S E CO M M E R C I A L / TO U R I S M / H OT E L A LO N G F R O N T S T R E E T

CO M M E R C I A L F R O N TAG E A LO N G H I G H WAY T H R O U G H O U T I S L A N D

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TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS | DRAFT NATIONAL PHYSICAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

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5.5.3- GRAND TURK | AREA ACTION PLAN

SOUTHWEST / GTCC could be used for attractive viewsheds. This area has high potential for offering cruise passengers opportunities for recreation.

The Grand Turk Cruise Center (GTCC) is a hub of activity for tourists. While the center is a node, there is could be a better landmark or welcoming entry for those leaving the GTCC to explore the island. Comparatively to other international cruise terminals, the GTCC does not have as much interaction and incorporation with the local vendors.

The cruise terminal amentities should integrate more with opportunities for local vendors that will bring more to the local residents.

Governor’s Beach is a great local beach; the beach should continue as with its secluded, natural state, while promoting pop-up activities, such as food trucks, summer Fish Frys, and other cultural event opportunities. The adjacent Governor’s House could be capitalized upon for historic and cultural tourism.

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REVITALIZE | RESIDENTIAL INFILL | PUBLIC AMENITIES

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Due to the proximity to the airport, industrial uses should cluster along the adjacent parcels. It will be important to buffer these parcels, as the GTCC passengers will be passing by to explore the northern part of the island.

OPPORTUNITIES • Development: consider densifying and providing commercial and mixed-use opportunties to the parcels north of the GTCC; infill along the beach with local vendors, shops, and restaurants for tourists.

• Preservation: preserve green, open space; create a network of multi-use trails to connect to broader Grand Turk; preservation of salinas for natural viepoints • Infrastructure: update utilities necessary

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The picturesque Hawkes Nest area and salina should tie opportunities for passive and active recreation to the South Wells Nature Reserve. The Hawkes Nest area and its hills

268 TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS | DRAFT NATIONAL PHYSICAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Park Open Space

Commercial Local

Park Reserve

Mixed Use

Park Local

Infrastructure / Civic

Agriculture Farming & Food Production

Industrial

Commercial Tourism / Hospitality

Airport

Park Open Space

Commercial Local

Infrastructure Utilities

Park Reserve

Mixed Use

Residential Medium Density

Park Local

Infrastructure / Civic

Residential Low Density A

Agriculture Farming & Food Production

Industrial

Residential Low Density B

Commercial Tourism / Hospitality

Airport

Residential Low Density C

Commercial Local

Infrastructure Utilities

Industrial

CO N T I N U O U S WAT EAirport RFRONT G R E EInfrastructure N WAY Utilities Residential Medium Density Residential Low Density A Residential Low Density B Residential Low Density C

Residential Low Density A Residential Low Density B Residential Low Density C

SOUTH WELLS N AT U R E RESERVE

AACP LEGEND

AACP LEGEND

R A

GREEN BUFFER TO I N D U S T R I A L USE AREAS

Residential Medium Density

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G OV E R N O R ’ S Mixed Use B E AC H + (O L D) R E S I DInfrastructure E N C E / Civic

P OT E N T I A L F O R MAACP A R I N ALEGEND D E V E LO P M E N T

H AW K E S NEST SALINA

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LANDMARK OPPORTUNNIT Y OPPORTUNIT Y TO C R E AT E CO N N E C T I O N TO THE SEA CRUISE PORT

RESORT OFFERINGS CENTERED ON DIVE SPORTS LOW - P R O F I L E H OS P I TA L I T Y OFFERING (SNORKLING)

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