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study will determine the need for a parking garage or the re-
vamping of the current street level parking system. A CDDB
study showed a deficit as of February, 1978, of 1,168 parking
spaces in the Downtown Core. The board requests elirilination of
the off street parking requirement and a parking garage be
constructed. Neighboring cities such as Tampa, Lake1and and
Orlando have multi-story parking garages. Municipalities through-
out the country floated approximately $70,000,000 worth of bonds
for public parking garages in 1978, most of them in downtown areas
and self-amortizing through parking revenues.
A parking garage in Clearwater could be financed through
the sale of bonds and the bonds redeemed over a 15 to 20-year
period from revenues generated by parking fees and without
drawing on general municipal revenues.
2. Section 24.06 of the Zoning Code, Maximum Building Height,
and 3. Section 24.05, Maximum Density. The requested change is
that there shall be no maximum committed height or density
except as may be established in the course of site plan review
or as determined necessary and based upon other applicable
portions of the City's Code of Ordinances pertaining to the
public health, safety and welfare.
4. Section 24.04 - Permitted Uses. The request is for more
flexibility for land use and/or combinations of uses of a retail,
office/business, service, hotel/motel, institutional, residential
or open space nature determined to be appropriate to and compatible
with the express purpose of this district and the Downtown Plan
shall be permitted.
Aaron Bilgore suggested a mass transportation system and a
parking garage.
The Planning Director quoted from the proposed ordinance on
the parking requirements which adhere to the RTKL Study. He also
suggested that individuals pay into a parking authority to con-
solidate funds.
Commissioner Tenney suggested a need for more corporate
headquarters in the Downtown Area and also questioned whether
the Beach would support a parking garage in the DOlmtown Area
as the Beach parking revenue collections comprise two-thirds
of the City's parking revenue.
Mr. Thayer stated limited funds are available and a parking
garage is self-sufficient. He stated the Downtown Development
Board has conducted several surveys which reveal a need for more
residential area and a high-rise office building downtown.
Commissioner Nunamaker suggcsted a mass transit system bc
considcrcd. in conjunction with thc. pa,rkihg garage ~ ' ,
City Manager Shoemaker stated the Beach Area would also
like to have all restrictions lifted. The Downtown Area presently
has higher density and height restrictions than any other part of
the City. All controls cannot be taken off.
Sam Casella reported other cities do not have downtown
off-street parking requirements and the Tampa Bay Regional
Planning Council supports parking as a public responslb1ity.
A number of citizens spoke in support df the Downtown
Development Board's request.
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The Mayor and Commissioner Nunamaker spoke in support of
controlling height and density and that parking is a developer's
responsibility.
Commissioner DeB1aker stated that this is a work session
only and no action can be taken. The City has followed the
RTKL plan, built the loop, provided parking. rerouted traffic
and paid for half of the Plan which they support in concept.
She expressed concern because the Board uoes not plan to follow
the RTKL Plan as it relates to a pedestrian walking core.
She stated she could support higher density and/or height if
the City receives something i.n return, such as incentive
zoning, exchange of density for public interest concessions,
i.e. mini-park, observation deck, overhead walkway, additional
setbacks, etc. The Board could'also sell its O'~l bonds for
a parking garage and) as a backup, use their special tax struc-
ture.
Mr. Thayer thanked everyone and in summary stated that
, cooperation will make the goals possible.
The meeting adjourned at 3:10 p.m.
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