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02/23/1978 "", , ,. J'~' ", .' J ' ' . '. "', ',. . ", ~.' ,I...., ,', ',: r, . \ " ~ . '., " ,""j'" .' . .. :,' , " '---. . CLEARWATER DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT BOARD WORK SESSION MINUTES FEBRUARY 23, 1978 MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Leon Hammock, Chairman Aaron Bilgore, Vice Chairman William Nunamaker Rose Phifer Dale Warren NON-MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Sam Casella, Executive Director Nonnan Bi e Darwin Frank Warren Renando Arlos Ogg Bill Kravas Chuck Albury Lewis Homer . Mr. Hammock called the Work Session to order at 3:00 p.m. Mr. Hammock announced that the Work Session Agenda included: 1) Do~ntowr. Zoning and 2) Goals for 1978. Mr. Hammock suggested that the Board begin discussing goals until the arrival of Mr. Renando. Mr. Hammock said that, at the last meeting on January 31, 1978, the Board determined that its #1 major priority would be to promote development of a multi-purpose community center and asked the members if this item should be reconsidered. There was general consensus that the multi-purpose center should be reconsidered and classified as a long range goal. Mr. Bilgore said that in his opinion, the #1 priority should be formation of a Redevelopment Corporation (Goal #21). Mr. Hammock suggested that the goals be categorized as current, ongoing, long range or deferred, and that the current goals should then be given a number of priority. Mr. Frank suggested that the Board should make it a short term priority to assist the Friends of the Library who feel they will have enough signatures by April to influence the City Commission. Mr. Frank also suggested review- ing plans to build a Civic Center on a super-block in Downtown Clearwater. The Board considered the goal of developing a long range parking plan with the City of Clearwater to include a plan for financing parking. Mrs. Phifer suggested that the goal should include l~eference to a parking authority. Mr. Bilgore suggested that the goal should include reference to a redevelopment corporation and that this goal be tied in with Goal #21 - formation of a Redevelopnent Corporation. Mr. Casella suggested that the words, "By a Parking Authority or Development Corporation" be added to the goal. Mr. Hammock stated that this goal should be considered a current goal. . , "'f .'".'. ,", I I (~, . .." ". I,'", ., " '., : ", . " ',' I '" I" ' ;,",' . ',1 ,', . ~ ~ I . '.::\"0l' "," ';'.1': ' "0," , ' , :'" , .,' , .', , , , , ,... '1" " " , ': :: ~~ ' " ,',: ;' ~. ',,'; " .... : ' " ,'!: 1 ~. " I. " ',i' !', ''','' , . -2- . Mr. Hammock stated that the following three goals should be considered ongoing goals: 1) Promote ind4stria1 development in Downtown Clearwater 2) Make use of available Government funding programs whenever possible in pursuance of these goals 3) Promote additional Government offices in Downtown Clearwater. Mr. Hammock said that the goal of incorporating in the City budget the public works projects scheduled in the Plan for Downtown Clearwater should be an ongoing goal. Mrs. Phifer suggested that a letter should be written to the City Manager expressing interest in providing funds for implementation of the Plan during the mid-year budget review process. Mr. Hammock said that the goal of. promoting use of vacant structures, par- ticularly vacant stores. by establishing direct contact with the owners to gather infonmation and then determine the best course of action in each case should be an ongoing goal. Mr. Casella said that he agreed but wished to make it clear that, in his opinion, the Board would do best at providing planning assistance'and could not really compete with realtors who update their information weekly. Mr. Bilgore suggested that property owners be asked. in the monthly newsletter, to give us details concerning vacancies and that information be made available to prospects. The next goal considered was to revise the Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the Downtown Plan. Mr. Hammock said that this should be considered a current goal. Mr. Hammock suggested that this would be a good point to digress and discuss the Downtown zoning proposals. Mr. Casella referre~ the Board Members to his Memorandum for the Meeting of February 28 on the subject of Downtown Zoning. Mr. Casella said it was his recanmendation that additional consideration be given to the proposed Down- town Redevelopment District Ordinance before it is given to the City Commission. Mr. Casella referred to his Memorandum which listed ten areas needing further consideration in the zoning ordinance. Mr. Bilgore suggested that Mr. Renando indicate which of the ten points he agrees with and which he disagrees with. Mr. Renando said that he agreed with the first point that additional consider- ation should bs given to shared parking. Mr. Renando said that he agreed that additional consideration should be given to the role of pUblic parking lots in the total parking supply. Mr. Renando 'said he agreed that additional consideration should be given to the number of spaces required. Mr. Renando said that he agreed that additional consideration should be given to encouragement of mass transit and pedestrian access by taking into account pedestrian. transit and landscaped spac~s when arriving at the required pa rid tl9. . d~'~~j,,'t~\[- f..')\.h~~J}~)~t.~~;,:,;,,'~'l;J~:~E;:~:'~l!'~:i:;J",(~,:,: ' ::.~X, ;::" .,!!t:'~lt ~~!.f-tlog~ ~:"!;frl:~>;~'fo~rillt..:~~)!)i""':I:.,,(',)";,!::-/...tjt~1,.4'- ~ "... ...'. ):,::::'l:~j~;5:~:"',:,' ;>>~::.:c:/ q,,:'~'t:',>" >':: '-", , .... "-;:1 ,i: '.""1',. ....' ' ',; ..'~ :f, . : I .." , . ~ . ':: : '.,. ": "! ' . " " ...... } ".::.:.,... .' ,'. ".\.,.. .. ~.,. 'f; ::" ; :,,, ' , ~'-: ,"'........:....- ---":: ,,-,.,,,., l,~' "I ".\,: . : " , ' , " .,.. .', .: ...... ',', "'", ' ~: :'t: , ,., . [1..- '''At l ~ ~11ill'\l.(lJ... ~ ' . -3- . Mr. Renando said that he does not agree that additional consideration should be given to establishment of a Downtown Parking Authority. Mr. Renando said he does not believe it is pOlitically feasible and should be done later. Mr. Casella said that, even though a separate ordinance may be required, it should be done simultaneously with the zoning ordi- nance, since development depends on it. Mr. Renando said that he agrees that additional consideration should be given to a pay-as-you-go shared parking system but he was unsure about the reception it would receive and was unsure about its relevance to the zoning ordinance. Mr. Renando said he feels close to agreement but it is questionable. Mr. Casella noted that the purpose of an authority or corporation would be to help make development more feasible. Mr. Renando said that he does not agree that additional consideration should be given to making shared responsibility for parking incumbent upon all properties within walking distance of parking. Mr. Casella said that he believes responsibility should be shared and should fall upon all properties within walking distance of the parking facility and not just upon those who happen to request a Building Permit. Mr. Casella said that, under current conditions, both the responsibility and needs of existing buildings are being ignored. Mr. Renando said that he will have to study this further, as there are legal implications which would require an attorney's assistance. Mr. Casella said that precedent for shared parking responSibility exists and cited cities which have assessed proper- ty owners who are directly affected for such improvements as malls. Mr. Renando said that he agrees that additional consideration should be given to how the zoning ordinance can be used to help accomplish the parking plan outlined in the Plan for Downtown Clearwater. Mr. Renando said that he disagrees that additional consideration should be given to the s:~e plan review requirement. Mr. Casella pointed out that the Plan for, Downtown Clearwater recommends site plan review for all develop- ment, regardless of size. Mr. Casella said the Plan also recommends that the review process should include both Planning Commission and the Downtown Development Board staff to assist the developer prior to final plan submittal. Mr. Casella said the Plan further recommends that new development be sub- mitted for urban design review. Mr. Renando said that he does not agree that the Oowntown Development Board should be involved with site plan review and acknowledged that he is protecting his own turf. Mrs. Phifer said that she does not agree with the necessity for site plan review. Mr. Renando said that he does not agree that additional consideration should be given to more proscriptive land uses. Mr. Casella said that, although the Plan for Downtown Clearwater advances a mixed-use concept, it also indicates that certain areas need to hang together. Mr. Casella cited the retail frontage on Cleveland Street as a space shich should be maintained for re- tailor other pedestrian-oriented land uses and should avoid "dead spots." Mr. Casella said that, at the same time, upper stories on Cleveland Street could be mixed useB'such as office or residential. Mr, Casella said that . ~~~~~?;r{';*};1~jr~jr;)~J;~~4~~0~~;t;,.. '. .:, ,:-.' " , '... . .' . ~. ~.. _ . " I ". :'; :.'. . .'.\ " . '. . " . ,'. '!. ~:. ,-' ,/'''' .-.. .....' 1" . '- ", .,\,- " '/ ,'!l, , ,,;; "" ..' , '. '" \',",'" : ~... " ' ; . " '\' ~ ";'~J ... ,f." , ,t' , t!4, ~ ,j., '. , . ; . . , " : ''', I. ..,.1 . \" ~ I "j ....~ ~'. ,..:< .,.," ',.r" \ I ", i,' /. "}" '.,,;,,: ',' , . ..' "t~ '. !' . -4- where the Plan is flexible, the ordinance should be permissive and where the Plan is rigid, the ordinance should be proscriptive. Mr. Renando said that further work would be done on the zoning ordinance and would take about three months. . Mr. Hammock directed the Board's attention back to the list of goals and began by stating that revision of the zoning ordinance ,would be considered a current goal. Mr. Homer said that he is interested in serving on a parking committee. Mr. Hammock said that he intends to reactivate the Parking and Traffic Committee and that he is appointing Mr. Homer as Chairman of that committee. Mr. Homer accepted and said that he would place emphasis on parking. Mr. Hammock stated that completion of a design study of the Downtown Traffic Signing Program would be considered a current goal. Mr. Hammock asked the Board to consider the goal of producing a brochure based on the Plan for Downtown Clearwater. Mr. Casella displayed a layout of a Summary of Excerpts from the Plan for Downtown Clearwater. Mr. Casella said that it would cost $742.85 to print 3,000 copies. Mrs. Phifer suggested that 1,000 or 2,000 copies might be sufficient and asked for estimates of cost for 1,000 or 2,000 copies. Mr. Warren stated that he would like to see the brochure be more of an advertising brochure and that he would like to see 'some addition to the brochure explaining the Downtown Development Board to the public. Mr. Casella said that he would get estimates for 1,000 and 2,000 copies of the Plan Summary and an estimate of the cost of retaining an advertising agency to prepare an advertising brochure. Mr. Nunamaker said that he believes there is a need for more explanation concerning the formation of the Board and he said he does not think the public realizes that a City Commissioner is appointed to sit on the Board. Mr. Hammock adjourned the meeting at 5:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~ Sam c~a, Executive Director . SC/db '. .~' ~ ~ ~ ;' ~i;:.' ~ o~~::;~~, ,," . ,~' Po ~ .'... 'o'~'" . -: ,,,', '~, . . ~, ' , " -~,_,_.u_'_'_~ -~.. --*,-, ___.'_,..., .. "..'.;M,.