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03/24/2003COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY SPECIAL MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER March 24, 2003 Present: Brian J. Aungst Chair/CRA Trustee – arrived 9:06 a.m. Whitney Gray CRA Trustee Hoyt P. Hamilton CRA Trustee William C. Jonson CRA Trustee Frank Hibbard CRA Trustee Also present: William B. Horne II City Manager Garry Brumback Assistant City Manager Ralph Stone CRA Executive Director/Asst. City Manager Pamela K. Akin City Attorney Mary K. Diana Assistant City Clerk Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Trustee Gray called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. at City Hall. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM #2 – Waterfront/Coachman Park and Station Square Design Options CRA Executive Director Ralph Stone said there are a lot of uncertainties that may impact the design of the waterfront area. They include the City Hall and Calvary Baptist Church properties, Harborview, the new bridge, and the AmSouth property. He said the final design of the park will partially be in response to some of those issues. He reviewed the following key design elements for the downtown public waterfront redevelopment plan: 1) circulation – option of a roadway along the waterfront or closer to the foot of the bluff; 2) concurrence on the need for a public parking structure tucked into a “dead zone” adjacent to the bridge in the southern portion of the site; 3) inclusion of a Community Function building adjacent to the waterfront. If Harborview Center remains, this building may not be necessary. If Harborview Center is redeveloped, the building could include replacement meeting space; 4) inclusion of a restaurant on the waterfront or on the proposed marina as a tool to attract/retain visitors; 5) closing of Cleveland Street at Osceola Avenue in favor of a major pedestrian pathway from the bluff to the waterfront; 6) interactive fountain – identified elsewhere as key to attracting families; and 7) approval of the “great lawn” concept. This feature also can be a component of park drainage. He said parking needs will have to be met once asphalt is removed from the waterfront. Frank Bellomo, of Bellomo-Herbert & Associates, mentioned as part of their original streetscape contract, they have been retained to look at redesigning the Station Square Park area as well. He said two bluff concept plans had been presented at a recent public meeting and the comments received did not indicate a clear consensus on any one item but did indicate that areas adjacent to the waterfront not be cluttered with a lot of structures and feature minimum parking. The proposals presented today were modified based on that public comment. In Concept A, the Harborview Center remains in its current state, vehicular access along Cleveland Street which would remain open and terminate at a parkway coming off Drew Street, with minimum width travel lanes designed to minimize the road’s visual impact as it flows off of Drew Street. At the intersection, a collecting area would feature an interactive fountain, play area, and outdoor pavilion. A promenade would skirt the waterfront. Drew Street would remain open to the waterfront to provide access to the marina, and parking for the fishing pier. The marina would be split on both sides of the bridge. A 28-foot parking garage would meet needs for the marina and restaurant at the end of the pier, in the location of the current bridge. The displaced tennis courts would be relocated on top of the parking garage. Gardens and terraces would be constructed adjacent to the library. This concept puts the roadway at the base of the bluff and leaves the waterfront completely open. In Concept B, the Harborview Center is shown as a new development site. Drew Street remains open. A drive along the waterfront could be shut down during special events on the great lawn. Cleveland Street would be pedestrian access only. Access to the marina would be possible during special events. A community meeting pavilion, with warming kitchen, is proposed to recapture some meeting space lost if the Harborview Center is razed. The parking garage would be the same. Pedestrian access from Osceola Avenue would be via a pedestrian entrance with a series of terraces, interactive fountain, play areas, and picnic areas. This plan would allow people to drive along the water. Economic Development and Housing Director Reggie Owens noted the 900 feet walk from Osceola Avenue to the waterfront is quite a distance and some type of refreshment by the waterfront would be needed. He envisioned the park will be urban in nature, featuring special events and an active marina. The plan must provide access to the marina and convenient parking. b) CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Discussion In response to a question, Mr. Bellomo said 650 spaces will be removed from the bluff. The proposed parking garage will have 262 parking spaces. It was felt 24 parking spaces are inadequate to meet library needs. Mr. Stone said opportunities exist to locate parking across Osceola Avenue. In response to a question, Parks & Recreation Director Kevin Dunbar expressed concern deliveries to Harborview Center businesses need to be through the parking lot. He also said a conflict may occur during 4th of July activities when the park and marina will be at their busiest. It was suggested marina spaces north of the bridge be reserved for transient and short term use while marina spaces south of the bridge be used for resident boats and large boats. In response to a question, Mr. Dunbar recommended tennis courts remain downtown, as they have heavy residential use. It was felt the top of a parking structure is not the best location. It was suggested a public/private partnership with redevelopment interests to address parking needs. It was felt the parking garage below City Hall has the ability to be larger than what is proposed. The Harborview Center site was viewed as buildable land if the structure was removed. In response to a question regarding the need to connect Drew and Pierce Streets, the City Manager said the plan would provide the physically challenged an opportunity to get close to the water. In response to a question, Mr. Stone said the proposed waterfront restaurant would link Osceola Avenue with the water and attract the public to the waterfront. Discussion ensued regarding restaurant locations. The majority felt the waterfront is a more attractive location for a restaurant than the top of the bluff. It was suggested a turnaround could offer valet service. Concern was expressed efficient access to the marina is important. It was recommended the parking garage feature between 400 and 450 spaces. In response to a question, Mr. Stone said a station for future train or monorail service could be located opposite the City Hall and Calvary Baptist Church sites. A preference was indicated for Concept A for not having a roadway separate pedestrians from the waterfront. Concern was expressed the park not attract additional homeless. It was felt an active area will hinder them. Discussion ensued in regard to a marina and it was felt transient slips would draw boaters. The City will generate revenue from transient slips. It was felt a restaurant would compliment transient slips at a marina. It was recommended attractions be created by the water. Mr. Stone said the City also would like to link the beach with downtown. Concern was expressed the roadway in Concept A would cut through existing trees. Support was expressed for Concept B as being more inviting to pedestrians, and offering better and stronger access points. In response to a question, Mr. Dunbar said vendor areas are planned for hard space, but remain conceptual. In response to a question, Mr. Bellomo said both plans assume public parking will be across Osceola Avenue. In response to a concern regarding funding, Mr. Stone said tax increment financing could be used for the right project. The parking garage will require a subsidy. Concern was expressed Concept B closes off Drew Street. It was felt locating tennis courts on top of the parking garage was acceptable. Mr. Stone said the City can install quality streetscaping along Cleveland Street once it takes over its control. The intersection of Osceola Avenue and Cleveland Street is critical and an important view corridor. He said if vehicular traffic is not permitted, the park will become dead space. It was felt the park should feature at lease two points of egress and ingress. Discussion ensued regarding the Harborview Center. It was felt replacing the Center’s meeting space with a community meeting pavilion is unnecessary as space in the new main library should be adequate. It was felt if civic meeting space is needed, it can be located elsewhere. Support was expressed for both locating the roadway away from the waterfront and along the waterfront. Support was expressed for the dock configuration featured in Concept B and the roadway and park, parking between the Harborview Center and library, and additional ingress and egress in Concept A. Consensus was to locate a parking structure in the footprint of the bridge, to support a roadway through the park, not to locate a community meeting pavilion on the waterfront and to support a great lawn. The majority supported a restaurant at the waterfront or on the pier. Staff will work on circulation issues to address the pedestrian nature of the park and to balance pedestrian and vehicular needs. In response to recommendations that the City determine the kinds of events and size of concerts the park will feature, Mr. Dunbar said those issues will be addressed during the final design phase. Mr. Bellomo said logical locations for walkways through the park need to be determined. In response to a question, Mr. Stone said staff is working on the design for way finding signs. ITEM #3 - Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:17 a.m.