Ordinance No. 8014-09 -Amendments to the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan - November 18, 2008
ORDINANCE NO. 8014-09
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, MAKING
AMENDMENTS TO THE CLEARWATER DOWNTOWN
REDEVELOPMENT PLAN ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 7153-
03 AND SUBSEQUENTLY AMENDED; BY AMENDING CHAPTER 3
LAND USE PLAN/REDEVELOPMENT PLAN BY ADDING A NEW
POLICY SUPPORTING COMMUNITY POLICING INNOVATIONS IN THE
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA; BY AMENDING CHAPTER 4
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION, DOWNTOWN STRATEGIES SECTION, BY
REVISING STRATEGY 20 TO INCLUDE PERFORMING ARTS
THEATERS; BY AMENDIING CHAPTER 4 PLAN IMPLEMENTATION,
DOWNTOWN STRATEGIES SECTION, BY ADDING A NEW
STRATEGY SUPPORTING COMMUNITY POLICING INNOVATIONS;
BY AMENDING CHAPTER 4 PLAN IMPLEMENTATION, TABLE 7
SUMMARY OF PUBLIC STRATEGIES BY REVISING STRATEGY 20
AND ADDING A NEW STRATEGY 21 SUPPORTING COMMUNITY
POLICING INNOVATIONS; BY AMENDING CHAPTER 4 PLAN
IMPLEMENTATION, TAX INCREMENT REVENUE PROJECTIONS
SECTION, BY ADDING COMMUNITY POLICING INNOVATIONS AS AN
ACTIVITY ELIGIBLE TO BE FUNDED BY TAX INCREMENT FINANCING
AND ADDliNG A DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AREA COMMUNITY POLICING INNOVATIONS
PROGRAM; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Clearwater has the authority pursuant to the Rules Governing the
Administration of the Countywide Future Land Use Plan, as amended, Section 2.3.3.9.5, to adopt
and enforce a specific plan for redevelopment in an urban center in accordance with the Centra!
Business District plan category, and said Section requires that a special area plan therefore be
approved by the local government; and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved the updated 2003 Clearwater Downtown
Redevelopment Plan on September 18, 2003 by adopting Ordinance No. 7153-03 and has
subsequently amended it; and
WHEREAS, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners approved the CRA Plan
adopted by Ordinance No. 7231-03 on December 16, 2003 and has subsequently amended it; and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved the creation of a Redevelopment Trust Fund for the
expanded CRA by adopting Ordinance No. 7214-03; and
WHEREAS, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners approved the creation of a
Redevelopment Trust Fund for the expanded CRA adopted by Ordinance No. 7214-03 on February
3,2004; and
WHEREAS, the Countywide Planning Authority approved the updated 2003 Clearwater
Downtown Redevelopment Plan as the Special Area Plan for Downtown Clearwater on February 3,
2004 and subsequently approved amendments thereto; and
Ordinance No. 8014-09.
WHEREAS, the requirements of Florida Statutes Section 163.360 regarding the adoption of
community redevelopment plans have been met regarding that portion of the amendments
proposed hereby which affect the Downtown Community Redevelopment Area, and the
requirements of Florida Statutes Section 163.346 regarding notice to taxing authorities and other
required notice, as well as all other requirements of Florida Statutes Chapter 163, have been met;
and
WHEREAS, it is advisable to revise certain provisions of the Plan regarding the types of
theaters eligible for development assistance; and
WHEREAS, the City and the CRA has ascertained that the Downtown is in critical need of a
focused community policing presence in the CRA in order to reduce drug dealing, prostitution and
street crimes; and
WHEREAS, Section 163.361 (1) of the Florida Statutes allows for the use of Tax Increment
Financing (TIF) funds for community policing innovations in Community Redevelopment Areas; and
WHEREAS, it is advisable to revise certain provisions of the Plan adding policies and
strategies regarding community policing innovations; and
WHEREAS, it is advisable to allow tax increment financing (TIF) funds to support community
policing innovations within the CRA; and
WHEREAS, the proposed amendments were reviewed by the Community Development
Board, which is the land planning agency for the City of Clearwater for purposes of the Local
Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act, and the Community
Development Board found the proposed amendments to be consistent with the Comprehensive
PIRn of thp. City of CIp.RrwRtp.r: and
_ . --.. _ - -- - - - - -.I -. -. - -. - - - -- - - - 1 -- - - -
WHEREAS, the Community Redevelopment Agency has reviewed the proposed
amendments and recommends them to the City Council, and the amended Plan shall serve as the
Community Redevelopment Plan for the downtown Community Redevelopment Area of the City of
Clearwater; and
WHEREAS, the proposed amendments conform to the general plan of the City of
Clearwater; and
WHEREAS, the proposed amendments will afford maximum opportunity, consistent with the
sound needs of the City, for the rehabilitation or redevelopment of the Plan area by private
enterprise; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA:
Section 1. Amendments 1 - 5 to the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan
attached hereto as Exhibit "An are hereby adopted.
Section 2. The City Manager or designee shall forward said amendments to any agency
required by law or rule to review or approve same.
Ordinance No. 8014-09 2
Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon adoption, subject to the
approval by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners and the Countywide Planning
Authority.
PASSED ON FIRST READING
PASSED ON SECOND AND FINAL
READING AND ADOPTED
Frank B. Hibbard
Mayor-Commissioner
Approved as to form:
Attest:
Leslie K. Dougall-Sides
Assistant City Attorney
Cynthia E. Goudeau
City Clerk
Ordinance No. 8014-09 3
EXHIBIT A
Ordinance No. 8014-09
AMENDMENT 1 - CHAPTER 3 LAND USE/REDEVELOPMENT PLAN
GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES SECTION
Insert new Policy 30 on Page 54 of the Plan.
Policy 30: Community policing innovations in the CRA shall continue to focus on a
variety of policing strategies that increase police visibility and reduce
opportunities for criminal activities. Such innovations include, but are not
limited to, intensified motorized patroL bicycle patroL field interrogations, the
establishment of a business and/or neighborhood block watch and the
continued presence of a police substation in the CRA.
AMENDMENT 2 - CHAPTER 4 PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
DOWNTOWN STRATEGIES SECTION
Revise Strategy 20 on page 218 as follows:
****
Strategy 20: Market the Downtown as a location for a movie theater and assist the
de'.'eloper, as needed, in the acquisition and assembly of land for either the
theater... and/or parking facilities, and/or development of parking facilities to
support the use.
Support the location of a movie theater and performing arts theater in
Downtown and provide assistance, as needed, with land acquisition, land
assembly, building rehabilitation and parking facilities development to
support the use.
* * * *
Insert new Strategy 21 on page 218 as follows and renumber the remaining strategies:
(this strategy is to be located as a new item within the overall Downtown Strategies and
before the beginning of Downtown Core Character District Strategies)
****
Strategy 21: Continue to support community policing innovations in the CRA.
* * * *
1
Exhibit A - Ordinance No. 8014-09
AMENDMENT 3 - CHAPTER 4 PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
DOWNTOWN STRATEGIES SECTION
Revise Strategy 20 and add new Strategy 21 after Strategy 20 in Table 7 Summary of
Public Strategies on pages 222-233 and renumber the remaining strategies as follows:
Table 7 Summary of Public Strategies
****
# Strate
20 Movie Theater/Performing Arts Theater
Su ort .
21 Community Policing Innovations
Lead De artment
Economic
Develo ment
Police Department
Timin
Ongoing
Strate
Ongoing
Strate
****
AMENDMENT 4 - CHAPTER 4 PLAN IMPLEMENT A TION
TAX INCREMENT REVENUE PROJECTIONS SECTION
Amend the third paragraph of the Tax Increment Revenue Projections Section, as well
as the Summary Table on page 255 as follows:
Tax Increment Revenue Projections
* * * *
The CRA envisions continuing to use both the City's and the County's share of Tax
Increment Financing dollars for capital projects in the original and expanded CRA. TIF
is identified as one of the funding sources for several capital and infrastructure
improvement projects outlined in the Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) section of this
plan. These projects include the Cleveland Street, Fort Harrison, and Gulf to Bay
Streetscapes and the Gulf to Bay Boulevard and Highland A venue Gateway Intersection.
In addition, TIF will be used for paying impact fees, "buying in" of public parking in
private projects, assembling redevelopment sites, purchasing land and/or buildings,
affordable and transitional housing projects, and fayade improvement grants and
providing additional community policing presence above and beyond current activity
levels. Below is a summary of the programs and initiatives that will use TIF as well as
the estimated costs associated with each. The County's share of TIF shall only be used
for the capital projects included in the table below. The City's share ofTIF may be used
for any initiative listed in the table.
2
Exhibit A - Ordinance No. 8014-09
Summar Table of CRA Pro rams and Initiatives, Timin
CRA Programs and Initiatives Timing
CRA Area Brownfields Environmental Cleanup * Ongoing
CRA Building Fa9ade Improvement Program* Ongoing
Downtown Land Acquisition * Ongoing
CRA Redevelopment Incentive Funding Ongoing
Retail Lease/Location Incentives Ongoing
CRA Affordable and Transitional Housing Projects* Ongoing
CRA Revolving Loan Fund Ongoing
CRA Communit Policin Innovations Ongoing
, and Estimated Costs
Estimated Cost
$5,000,000
$1,000,000
$21,000,000
$10,000,000
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
$1,000,000
$1 ,000,000
_ Total $489,000,000
*Capital projects and initiatives - County TIF shall only be used for these programs
* * * *
AMENDMENT 5 - CHAPTER 4 PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
TAX INCREMENT REVENUE PROJECTIONS SECTION
Amend Tax Increment Revenue Projections Section on page 258 to add a description
of the CRA Community Policing Initiatives after the CRA Revolving Load Fund
description and prior to the Tax Increment Revenue Projections for the Original CRA
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J..J~.:J&I..L.. .:Jc.LU.V'" UJ Jv....vry..,.
* * * *
CRA Community Policing Innovations
The City of Clearwater Police Department has employed a community policing
philosophy for over 20 years. Its first focused efforts in the Downtown area came in
1998 when a police substation was co-located in the Clearwater Homeless Intervention
Program (CHIP) shelter in the East Gateway Character District in response to resident
concerns about the crime potential associated with the shelter. Another community
policing team, the Downtown Bicycle Team, was established for the Downtown Core of
the CRA in 2005 in anticipation of additional demands on the Police Department as a
result of redevelopment. Additionally AmeriCorps Clearwater members have
supplemented the activities of the Downtown Bicycle Team by acting as ambassadors of
the City by assisting visitors and businesses.
The intent of the community policing innovations in Downtown is for police officers to
be a visible deterrent of crime as well as an approachable source of assistance and
information. The officers act as liaisons to downtown visitors, businesses, employees
and residents and work to build partnerships through daily visibility and community
3
Exhibit A - Ordinance No. 8014-09
involvement and organization. They also help solve neighborhood problems and work to
foster a sense of safety and security in public as well as private spaces.
Community policing innovations focus on a variety of issues including those that are
unique to the CRA such as homelessness, prostitution, drugs and street crimes, and a
large immigrant population. A key component of the City's redevelopment strategy is to
reduce crime in the CRA and improve the quality of life of residents, businesses and
visitors. In order to achieve this goal, additional community policing presence is needed.
Through the use ofTIF funds an enhanced level of community policing can be achieved.
Total Cost: $1 million
Time Frame: Ongoing
* * * *
4
Exhibit A - Ordinance No. 8014-09
CDB Meeting Date:
Case Number:
Ord. No.:
Agenda Item:
November 18, 2008
Downtown Plan Amendments
8014-09
D 1
CITY OF CLEARWATER
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
CLEARWATER DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT PLAN AMENDMENTS
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST:
Amendments to the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan
INITIATED BY:
City of Clearwater Planning Department
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On May 13, 2008 the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) approved the East
Gateway District Five-Year Action Program. The Action Program responded to public
input on the issues of drug dealing, prostitution and street crime by including an action
item for an increased police presence in the East Gateway. As Florida Statutes allow for
the use of tax increment financing (TIF) funds for community policing innovations, the
CRA entered into an Interlocal Agreement with the Police Department on August 27,
2008 to provide for additional police presence beyond current activity levels. The Tax
Increment Financing Section of the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan needs to
be revised to recognize that TIF isa source of funding for additional community policing
innovations. The Planning Department is also recommending that minor amendments be
made to the Plan to support the location of a perfonning arts theater in Downtown.
The Community Development Board is reviewing the proposed amendments in its
capacity as the Local Planning Agency and is requested to make a recommendation
regarding the amendments to the City Council. The CRA is requested to make a
recommendation to the City Council regarding the amendments to the Plan. Once the
City Council approves these amendments, they will be submitted to the Board of County
Commissioners for approval as amendments to the Redevelopment Plan. They will also
be submitted to the Pinellas Planning Council and the Countywide Planning Authority for
approval as amendments to the Special Area Plan goveming Downtown.
Community Development Board - November 18, 2008
4th Downtown Plan Amendments - Page 1 of 4
ANALYSIS:
Five amendments are proposed to the Plan and are contained in Exhibit A attached to
Ordinance No. 8014-09. One amendment revises the land use/redevelopment plan while
four amendments relate to downtown strategies and tax increment financing. Below is a
summary of each amendment.
1. Amendment 1 - Insert new policy in Chapter 3 Land Use/Redevelopment Plan,
Goals, Objectives and Policies Section on page 54 of the Plan (page one of Exhibit A
of proposed ordinance).
A new policy supporting the continuation of community policing innovations in the
Downtown is proposed. The proposed policy notes that the program should continue
to focus on a variety of strategies that increase police visibility and reduce
opportunities for crime. Strategies outlined in the policy are consistent with those
outlined in Florida Statutes Chapter 163 and are currently employed by the
Downtown Bike and C.H.I.P Teams.
2. Amendment 2 - Amend Strategy 20 in Chapter 4 Plan Implementation and add new
Strategy 21 on page 218 of the Plan (page one of Exhibit A of proposed ordinance).
Strategy 20, located in the Plan Implementation section of Chapter 4, supports city
efforts to attract a movie theater to Downtown. The proposed amendment would
expand this strategy to also market Downtown as a prime location for a performing
arts theater. Due to the benefits such a facility would have on Downtown
revitalization efforts, the proposed strategy also supports the City providing
development assistance for a performing arts theater.
Proposed amendment two also provides for a new Strategy 21 which supports
community policing innovations in the CRA.
3. Amendment 3 - Amend Table 7 Summary of Public Strategies in Chapter 4 Plan
Implementation on pages 222-233 of the Plan (page two of Exhibit A of proposed
ordinance).
This proposed amendment revises Table 7 which summarizes the public strategies to
be employed within the Downtown. Existing Strategy 20 is proposed to be expanded
to include a performing arts theater as discussed above and a new Strategy 21 is
proposed regarding community policing innovations as discussed above. The
remaining strategies will be renumbered.
4. Amendment 4 - Amend the third paragraph of the Tax Increment Revenue
Projections Section and the corresponding summary table in Chapter 4 Plan
Implementation on page 255 of the Plan (pages two - three of Exhibit A of proposed
ordinance).
Community Development Board - November 18, 2008
4th Downtown Plan Amendments - Page 2 of 4
Amendment four adds community policing as a program within the CRA that will be
funded through tax increment financing. The summary table of the CRA programs
and initiatives is also proposed to be amended to include community policing
innovations. A total of $1 million dollars is estimated to be the cost of this program
over the next five - seven years. This amendment also clarifies that community
policing innovations can only be funded through City TIF revenues.
5. Amendment 5 - Amend the Tax Increment Revenue Projections Section in Chapter 4
Plan Implementation on page 259 of the Plan (pages three - four of Exhibit A of
proposed ordinance).
The City has provided a community policing presence in Downtown since 1998.
Proposed Ordinance No. 8014-09 outlines the history of those efforts and a summary
of the unique issues the City faces in the CRA. The amendment sets forth the intent
community policing innovations and notes the importance of reducing crime in the
CRA to improve the quality of life in the CRA. The amendment is written broadly to
apply to the entire CRA in the event City Council and CRA want to provide a higher
level of community policing service beyond the East Gateway Character District.
The program is proposed to be on-going with a cost over the next five - seven years
at a maximum of $1 million dollars.
CONSISTENCY WITH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Please find below a selected list of objectives and policies from the Clearwater
Comprehensive Plan that is furthered by the proposed amendments to the Clearwater
Downtown Redevelopment Plan.
. Objective 2.1 - The redevelopment of blighted, substandard, inefficient and/or
obsolete areas shall be a high priority and promoted through the implementation of
redevelopment and special area plans, the construction of catalytic private projects,
city investment, and continued emphasis on property maintenance standards.
. Policy 2.1.8 - The City shall continue to support and implement approved community
redevelopment area plans, such as the Downtown Redevelopment Plan adopted in
2004.
· Policy 2.1.10 - Clearwater will continue to support the tax increment financing
program and redevelopment efforts of the downtown area through activities of the
economic development office and actions of the City Commission as the Community
Redevelopment Agency.
The proposed amendments to the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan primarily
focus on community policing innovations as a public strategy in the CRA. A higher level
of community policing innovations is an investment in the future health of the CRA and
will assist in reducing blighting influencing within the area. The use of TIF to fund a
higher level of community policing presence in the CRA is an appropriate use of such
Community Development Board - November 18, 2008
4th Downtown Plan Amendments - Page 3 of 4
funds. The proposed amendments therefore support existing objectives and policies of
the Clearwater Comprehensive Plan.
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION:
The proposed amendments to the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan are
consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Proposed Ordinance No. 8014-09 makes minor
amendments regarding the City's desire to attract theaters to Downtown and provides for
policies and strategies supporting community policing innovations in the CRA, as well as
using tax increment financing as a funding source for increased levels of community
policing activities.
Based on the above analysis, the Planning Department recommends the following action
on the request:
Recommend APPROVAL of Ordinance No. 8014-09 which amends the Clearwater
Downtown Redevelopment Plan.
Prepared by Planning Department Staff:
J}lrrc 0. (ydl~~iY"-
Gina L. Clayton, Assistant Planning Director
ATTACHMENTS:
Ordinance No. 8014-09
Exhibit A of Ordinance No 8014-09
\\ms5alpdslPlanning DepartmentIDowntown Plan Update\4th Amendment to Downtown Plan - Community
PolicinglCDB Staff Reportl4th Amendment to Downtown Plan - Staff Report. doc
Community Development Board - November 18, 2008
4th Downtown Plan Amendments - Page 4 of 4
Gina L. Clayton
100 South Myrtle Avenue
Clearwater, Florida 33756
727-562-4587
2;ina.claytonaV,m vclearwater .co m
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
. Assistant Planning Director
City of Clearwater
April 2005 to present
Responsible for assisting the Planning Director in directing the day-to-day planning and zoning
operations including the supervision of the Long Range Planning Manager and Development
Review Manager. Serve as staff the Community Development Board and City Council.
. Long Range Planning Manager
City of Clearwater
2001 to 2005
Responsible for numerous aspects of the Growth Management Act of Florida such as
comprehensive planning, Future Land Use Plan amendments, rezoning, and annexations.
Supervise long range planning staff. Serve as staff to the Community Development Board and
present long range cases/issues to the City Council. Responsible for the preparation of special
area plans and the site plan review process within the Downtown Plan area. Serve as the city's
representative on countywide and regional planning agency committees.
. Senior Planner
City of Clearwater
1999 to 2001
Responsible for various long rang planning projects/studies including the preparation of major
amendments to the Community Development Code, updates of special area plans, and the
development of neighborhood plans and test amendments to the Comprehensive Plan. Served as
staff to the Community Develop Board, presented projects to the City Council and served as the
city's representative on the Pinellas Planning Council's Planners Advisory Committee.
. Community Development Director
City of Indian Rocks Beach
1997 to 1999
Responsible for the administration of the city's planning, building and code enforcement
functions. Served as staff to the City Commission, Planning and Zoning Board and Board of
Adjustments and Appeals. Administered the land development regulations, processed future
land use plan amendments and rezonings. Prepared numerous amendments to the land
development code and conducted special planning studies. Responsible for the administration of
the Community Rating System and the flood regulations. Served as the city's representative on
countywide and regional planning agency committees.
. Planner
City of Solon, OR
1993 to 1996
Responsible for drafting significant portions of a new zoning code. Drafted a new sign ordinance
and new driveway regulations. Prepared proposal for CDBG funding for downtown streetscape
project and prepared requests for proposals for master land use plan and master recreation plan.
. City Planner
City of Avon Lake, OH
1991 to 1993
Responsible for the administration of the planning functions of the City. Served as staff to the
City Council and Secretary to the Planning Commission. Administered subdivision regulations
and zoning code. Updated planning documents including the Future Land Use Plan and the
Comprehensive Park and Recreation Plan. Revised sections of the Avon Lake Subdivision
Regulations and zoning code.
. Zoning Administrator
City of Cleveland Heights, OH
1988 to 1991
Responsible for administering the zoning code which included the preparation of all research,
agendas, legal notices, action sheets and resolutions related to variance and special exception
requests. Presented zoning cases to the Board of Zoning Appeals, Planning Commission, Board
of Control and City Council. Supervised zoning secretary and intern.
. General Development Planner
City of Cleveland Heights, OH
1987 to 1988
Responsible for preparing the City's first Strategic Development Plan. Compiled and analyzed
demographic, housing, economic and land use data. Developed techniques for citizen
participation and effective input from the Planning Commission in the strategic planning process.
Conducted research on various issues including poverty, historic preservation and residential and
commercial code enforcement methods.
EDUCATION
Master's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University, 1986
Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Community Planning, Appalachian State University,
1984
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & ACTIVITIES
American Planning Association, 1987 - Present
Florida Planning Association, 1997 - Present
Ohio Planning Conference (OPC), a Chapter of the American Planning Association, 1987-1996
Co-Director, Cleveland Section of OPC, 1994-1996
Chair of Annual Zoning Workshop, Cleveland Section ofOPC, 1994 and 1995.
Coordinator and Moderator, "The Basics of Zoning and the Tools for Managing Change,"
1995
Speaker, "Job of the Zoning Administrator," 1994