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01/16/2001COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER January 16, 2001 Present: Brian J. Aungst Chair J. B. Johnson Trustee Robert Clark Trustee Ed Hart Trustee F. David Hemerick Trustee Also Present: William B. Horne II Interim City Manager Garry Brumback Assistant City Manager Pamela K. Akin City Attorney Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk Brenda Moses Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:19 a.m. at City Hall. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM #2 - Approval of Minutes Trustee Clark moved to approve the minutes of the November 13, 2000, meeting, as recorded and submitted in written summation by the City Clerk to each Trustee. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #3 - (Cont. from 11/13/00) Consider & make recommendation to City Commission re PSTA request to amend the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan from Low Density and Medium/High Residential Districts to Public/Government Category re 100 N. Greenwood Ave. to allow construction of a bus terminal Trustee Clark declared a conflict of interest and recused himself from the discussion. Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) has requested an amendment to the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan to allow the construction of a bus terminal. The proposed location is on a City block of approximately 3.4 acres bounded by Greenwood Avenue on the east, Booth Avenue on the west, Grove Avenue on the north and Laura street on the south. PSTA proposes this bus terminal to replace the existing terminal located at the northwest corner of Pierce Street and Garden Avenue. A bus terminal is defined as a public transportation facility that requires a Public/Governmental use category in the Redevelopment Plan. The Greenwood Avenue site is currently designated as Low and Medium/High residential categories, and therefore does not permit the development of a bus terminal. The Redevelopment Plan was adopted in 1995 and established five districts of the redevelopment area, designated land use categories for all property within the redevelopment area, proposed catalyst projects to leverage private investment and prescribed five general goals for downtown redevelopment. The proposed bus terminal location is inconsistent with all of the major elements of the Redevelopment Plan for these reasons: 1) The proposed location is central to an existing and planned residential neighborhood and a bus terminal will intrude into this neighborhood with traffic, noise, pollution, and expected secondary impacts such as crime; 2) the characteristics of the terminal would discourage new residential development and eliminate a major residential block from redevelopment. A townhouse project under construction within a block from the proposed site and the proposed Balk townhouse development around town pond is two blocks to the south. Introducing a commercial use with negative operational characteristics is inconsistent with this residential area; 3) the proposed location is not conveniently located for major employers and their customers would likely result in a longer walk for passengers or additional transfers. The distant peripheral location does not promote the expanded use of transit for new customers or encourage the linkages between downtown, the beach, and other parts of the City. The ability to link downtown activities and downtown parking for transfer to the beach is eliminated through this distant location; and 4) the Redevelopment Plan anticipates public investment to leverage private investment. While PSTA proposes a new terminal and a co-location with Greyhound Bus Lines, the choice of location creates more disincentives than the positive circumstances of the new facility. The Community Development Board (CDB) heard this request at their public hearing of October 17, 2000. Substantial public testimony from residents and property owners in opposition to the proposed amendment was heard. There were no speakers in favor of the proposal. Reasons for the opposition to the terminal included the potential decline in property values, a decline in the quality of life for residents, the noise and pollution and their effect on children at a nearby school, the potential crime associated with the terminal’s close proximity to residents, and inconsistency of the proposed use with the Redevelopment Plan. The CDB unanimously recommended denial of the proposed amendment. In a related action at the same meeting, the CDB reviewed the flexible site plan for the terminal and denied it. The CDB’s decision on the site plan is final unless the PSTA requests an appeal which would be heard by a hearing officer hired through the Department of Administrative Hearings. Planning Director Ralph Stone said at the November 13, 2000, meeting, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) deferred action on the PSTA’s request to amend the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan for construction of a new bus terminal. The CRA’s deferred action was to provide staff the opportunity to identify potential alternative sites for a terminal. Planning Department staff identified four potential sites: 1) the existing PSTA site which includes County parking lot; 2) site at Cleveland Street between North Evergreen Avenue and Hillcrest Avenue; 3) site between Cleveland Street, Park Street, San Remo Avenue, and Hillcrest Avenue; and 4) site on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, Highland Avenue, and DeLeon Street. Staff has met with the Executive Director of PSTA, who has indicated that sites 2, 3, and 4 do not meet their criteria for a new terminal. Mr. Sweeney also had indicated that the current PSTA site has too many limitations due to issues regarding the portion of the property the County owns and needed parking. Assistant Planning Director Cyndi Tarapani reviewed maps of each of the sites suggested by staff and reiterated staff’s concerns regarding the proposed site. Staff feels residential redevelopment is needed in the subject area to encourage private investment in the area and redevelop downtown. In response to a question, Mr. Stone said staff is not negotiating with PSTA regarding any other sites except the subject site. Staff recommends denial of the application as it would change the character and marketability of the surrounding area and would not spin off redevelopment. It would adversely affect the overall redevelopment plan. Staff feels the current location of the PSTA terminal is the best. In response to a question, Ms. Tarapani said the prime times differ for traffic generated by the church on Ft. Harrison Avenue. Staff feels the traffic would not change dramatically at their new facility. Staff is concerned about the numbers of buses entering and leaving the bus terminal during the morning and evening rush hour. Roger Sweeney, Executive Director of PSTA, said locations 2, 3, and 4 suggested by staff are outside of the downtown and do not meet PSTA’s criteria for a minimum of two acres, minimal demolition and clearing, and a rectangular shaped property. The current site for a terminal is too small. PSTA feels the Laura Street site is the most appropriate. Alan Zimmett, PSTA representative, said the downtown plan recognized a need for an improved terminal in downtown. The proposed site works well from an operational standpoint. The Laura street site is near PSTA’s bus routes that converge into downtown. PSTA worked on the Park Street site for over two years and found it unacceptable for two reasons: 1) the County owns the property and has advised PSTA under their bond covenants that they cannot convey it to PSTA; and 2) the County has repeatedly informed PSTA they would not give up the rights to their property. Joel Tew, representative for property owners in the area, presented recommendations against the proposed site. He suggested denial of the plan amendment to allow negotiations on the current or alternative sites to go forward. His clients feel the subject site is not compatible with the residential development in the area. He said this proposal would require a complete re-write of the 1995 downtown redevelopment plan. Robert Pergolizzi, PSTA representative, said the existing PSTA site is too small for a new bus terminal. The subject site is the best location as most of PSTA’s routes pass directly by or near the site. He said the area is a mixed use area with some residential on the north side of Drew Street. PSTA is fostering the multimodal goal by providing access to major corridors. Seven persons spoke in opposition of the application. Trustee Hart moved to deny the request by the PSTA to amend the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan from Low Density and Medium/High Density Residential Districts to Public/Government Category at 100 North Greenwood Avenue to allow the construction of a bus terminal. The motion was duly seconded. Upon the vote being taken, Trustees Hart and Hemerick and Chair Aungst voted “aye”; Trustee Johnson voted “nay”. Trustee Clark abstained. Motion carried. ITEM #4 - Verbal Reports - None. ITEM #5 - Other Business - None. ITEM #6 - Adjourn The meeting adjourned at 10:13 a.m.