TCI NPSDP - 5.6 Salt Cay

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5.6

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SALT CAY

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5 . 6 . 0 - S A LT C A Y | I S L A N D O V E R V I E W

SALT CAY OVERVIEW

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.

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Salt Cay is the smallest inhabited island of the Turks and Caicos Islands, yet the island has a long history of inhabitation. Salt Cay and Grand Turk comprise the Turks Islands for inhabited islands; there is less than seven (7) miles between the two islands. The island is known for its historic ties to the salt industry. Salt Cay has a population of less than 100 people. The island is made up of two districts (North and South), while the South is referred to as Balfour Town. The island is popular for diving, snorkeling, and whale watching, as well as its beautiful, pristine beaches.

There are no national parks on Salt Cay, however, there are historic areas of interest, such as the historic western shoreline and the island salinas. Salt Cay is mostly visited from day trips from Grand Turk via a short flight or ferry.

through with the exception of infrastructural upgrades. The island could handle a few extremely high end hotels that contain an environmental-branding to keep the negative environmental output to a minimum.

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Strengthen Connections | Residential Infill | Public Amenities Salt Cay needs an economic driver to support the local community, as the island has suffered from a lack of economic prosperity since the ‘departure’ of the salt industry. There have been numerous developments proposed in the past on Salt Cay, but all have fallen

Salt Cay has high potential for both environmental prosperity and built development due to abundance of Crown Land still undeveloped; the island consists of just under 50% Crown Land. The island needs to carefully balance preservation and development in an effort to strike an equilibrium among the built and natural environments. The current status of infrastructure on Salt Cay would need to be vastly upgraded if additional development or population growth is expected. Salt Cay should be maintained as an island with low-density, lower height development. It should cater to high-end tourism (cultural and historic tourism) in order to maintain local

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options for local recreational and touristic development, such as recreational boardwalks and a network of oversalina buildings as a salina museum.

The island should invest in a marina redevelopment.

There is a previously used marina and/or port near the North District, but it needs reinvestment and rehabilitation.

The marina would be an attraction for higher-end tourism development and another driver of economic development on Salt Cay.

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reinvestment into the economy of the island. Comparatively to other islands, Salt Cay should not be granted a high concentration of built development due to the factors mentioned above and previously in this document. With that said, select catalytic developments would provide a great level of economic security to the people of Salt Cay.

A ferry system exists between Grand Turk and Salt Cay; however, it is unreliable. An investment across the archipelago, and more specifically between Grand Turk and Salt Cay, in the ferry system would indirectly attract more opportunities for tourism to Salt Cay. The successful ferry should focus on comfortability, reliability, and safety.

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There are three sites determined suitable for potential future development: northwest corner, northeast corner, and along the east coastline. These three sites were selected due to their excellent beach rating and are prime for ultra-high-end, luxurious development. The selection of a developer and development must focus on positive community benefits and environmental protection.

The island will be severely damaged by improper and irresponsible development – whether for hospitality or residential use.

Air transportation is another method of transportation used to travel between Grand Turk and Salt Cay. The Salt Cay airport is newly refurbished and rehabilitated. The airport on Salt Cay can also contribute to private transportation to and from the island.

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Environmentally, the Salt Cay salinas are both areas of historic interest and important for the bird population.

These salinas should be protected from overdevelopment and potential eradication with strict requirements for potential usage and/or development. There are successful

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5 . 6 . 1 - S A LT C A Y | 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

ELE VATION

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A ER I A L

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

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

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

*REFER TO THE APPENDIX A3.1 FOR ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS DOCUMENTATION 274 TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS | DRAFT NATIONAL PHYSICAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

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 275

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5 . 6 . 1 - S A LT C A Y | 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)

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

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

P OTENTI A L F O R E XCLUSI V E / LUXU RY RESORT

NORTHEAST POINT

NORTHWEST POINT NORTH BAY

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P OTENTI A L F O R E XCLUSI V E / LUXU RY RESORT P OTENTI A L MARINA

NORTH DISTRICT

EXISTING PORT & FERRY TERMINAL

AIRPORT

LONG POINT

BALFOUR TOWN

AREA OF H ISTORIC I NTER EST

G R AY SA LI N A AREA OF H ISTORIC I NTER EST

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TOWN SALINA

TOW N SA LI N A EN V I RO N M ENTA L TOU RISM

LONG BAY

P OTENTI A L F O R E XCLUSI V E / LUXU RY RESORT

SOUTH DISTRICT

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SOUTH CREEK

SALT CAY FRAMEWORK PLAN

SOUTH BAY

SOUTH POINT

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5 . 6 . 2 - S A LT C A Y | L A N D U S E

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

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

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BALFOUR SOUTH DISTRICT AAP

SALT CAY PROPOSED LAND USE PLAN

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5 . 6 . 3 - S A LT C A Y | A R E A A C T I O N P L A N

BALFOUR (SOUTH DISTRICT) STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS | RESIDENTIAL INFILL | PUBLIC AMENITIES

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Balfour Town, paired with the Historic and North District, is the heart of Salt Cay life. The island should be preserved to its fullest capacity, while introducing a thoughtful economic driver to bring more prosperity to the island. Balfour Town should stay as the hub of activity on the island: low density, low-rise, boutique resorts and villas combined with civic infrastructure and housing options for local residents. A network of open space should be established.

OPPORTUNITIES • Housing: additional housing units for locals • Development: one potential resort (Amanyara, Sailrock, Six Senses) with environmental tourism focus; housing; recreation infrastructure; revitalize marina / ferry development • Preservation: capitalize on historic waterfront (public gathering/community space + tourism opportunities); preserve open space outside of settlements (growth boundary) • Infrastructure: complete system of infrastructure – water, roads; airport in great shape

Circular Photo: Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)

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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 C E P T: S T R E N G T H E N CO N N E C T I O N S | R E SCommercial I D E N T I ALocal L INFILL | PUBLIC AMENITIES Infrastructure Utilities Park Open Space • B u i l d u p o n t h e h e a r t o f t h e i s l a n d t h ro u g h t h e i n f i l l of re s i d e n ce s , co m m e rce, + v i l l a s Mixed • O pPark p o rReserve t u n i t y to a d d e co n o m i c d r i ve r v i a a l ow d Use e n s i t y, e n v i ro n m e n t a l d eve l oResidential p m e n t Medium ( h o s pDensity italit y +/oPark r v Local i l l a s) Infrastructure / Civic Residential Low Density A • P re s e r ve + e n h a n ce h i s to r i c w a te r f ro n t + p uIndustrial b l i c s p a ce s Residential Low Density B Agriculture Farming & Food Production • A d d p u b l i c re a l m p a r k s / p l aza s /e tc . to f u r t h e r p ro m o te co m m u n i t y g a t h e r i n g s Airport Residential Low Density C • P roCommercial m o te coTourism n n e c/ tHospitality i v i t y t h ro u g h b i ke p a t h s + p e d e s t r i a n co n n e c t i o n s Mixed Use Infrastructure / Civic Industrial Airport Infrastructure Utilities Residential Medium Density Residential Low Density A Residential Low Density B Residential Low Density C

Infrastructure Utilities

H I S TO R I C CO R E - M A I N TA I N E X I S T I N G , A DA P T I V E R EU S E , I N F I L L Residential Medium Density O P E N V I E W CO R R I D O R TO O C E A N Residential Low Density A T H E F O L LY S A L I N A- TO U R I S M ( N AT U R E R E S E R V E ), AG R I O R B I T Y, CO N N E C T TO M I X E D U S E TOW N A R B O R C U LTResidential U R E O PLow P ODensity RT U N CO R E Residential Low Density C SALINA O P E N S PAC E PA R K / I CO N

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Commercial Local

EXISTING/ INFILL RESIDENTIAL

AACP LEGEND PA R K O P P O RT U N I T Y E N V I R O N M E N TA L R E S O RT O P P O RT U N I T Y

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AACP LEGEND

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AACP LEGEND

EXISTING/ INFILL RESIDENTIAL E X I S T I N G S P O RT S A R E A , E X PA N S I O N OPPORTUNIT Y M U N I C I PA L CO R E CO M M E R C I A L / M I X E D U S E CO R E W I T H P U B L I C R E A L M CO N N E C T I O N S TO S A L I N A MEDIUM DENSIT Y RESIDENTIAL, INCREASE EXISTING DENSIT Y AS N E E D E D TO S U P P O RT CO R E

ST SALT CAY | BALFOUR TOWN/ SOUTH DISTRICT

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TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS | DRAFT NATIONAL PHYSICAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN