Conservation Law Foundation developed this calculator in partnership with HR&A Advisors with support from the Barr Foundation.
During the municipal harbor planning process, in specific situations when a waterfront development project is permitted to deviate from the rules that help ensure public access and benefit, the project owner must compensate the public financially. This calculator demonstrates a reasonable way of estimating that compensation.
You can use this tool to estimate the value of a proposed waterfront project and compare it with the value of a project that abides by Public Waterfront Act rules. When a proposed project limits public access onsite and increases its value, the project benefits from a value premium. And this value premium can be a source of compensation back to the public in return for limiting their rights.

The Tideland Development Calculator
Results
Back to calculatorFill in all relevant inputs in the calculator and click "View Results"
What's next?
Where can I learn more?
- View an FAQ and Glossary on the About page.
- Learn more about the Public Waterfront Act and Municipal Harbor Plans from the Conservation Law Foundation’s People’s Guide to the Public Waterfront Act.
Disclaimers
- When simulating the legally achievable scale of development for the “comparison project,” the tool is only taking into account Public Waterfront Act requirements. The simulation does not account for any other building code, coastal development, or other local policies that may affect the dimensions or uses of real estate. The simulation also does not account for the impact of water-dependent use zones (WDUZ) and associated requirements.
- This tool generates ballpark valuation estimates using credible regional market assumptions and discounted cash flow calculations based on real estate industry best practices. The tools outputs are not exact.
- The tool will generate a result based on the inputs entered by the user. If the user selects a development program or other inputs that are unrealistic or unfeasible, the tool will generate a result that could be inaccurate or unrealistic.
- The tool is designed to model the development of single buildings on individual lots of land. Large development projects that span multiple parcels of land should be modelled on a parcel-by-parcel basis.
- Preloaded infrastructure cost estimates are ballpark figures that are incomplete in scope and cannot address the unique technical requirements of a given site or project. A user seeking exact infrastructure development costs should consult a professional engineering firm.
- This tool should not be used for projects in Designated Port Areas (DPAs), which have separate rules and requirements that are not accounted for in this tool.
- The tool is not meant to evaluate other forms of public benefit, including but not limited to affordable housing, the mitigation of flooding and storm surges, or public park programming.