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09/05/1990 - Clearwater Beach Blue Ribbon Task Force . . . MINUTES CLEARWATER BEACH BLUE RIBBON TASK FORCE SEPTEMBER 5, 1990 Members Present: Chairman Deegan, Ms. Garris, and Messrs. Doran, Fowler, Little, McDougall, Rosenow, Seaton and Wellborn Members Excused: Ms. Tiernan, Messrs. Gans, Henderson, Homer, Keyes, and Martin Also Present: Asst. City Manager, Michael Wright; Director of Parks & Recreation Department, Ream Wilson; and Anna Stefan and Steven Cooke from Creative Resource Group Inc. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Deegan in the Boardroom of the Sea Stone Resort. A motion was made by Stephen Fowler, and seconded by John Doran, to approve the minutes from the August 18, 1990 meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Chairman Deegan presented the Vision Statement (attached) which he had drafted from the committee's discussion at the August 18, 1990 meeting, and asked for approval. Ms. Garris suggested the word "residential" should be added in the first sentence, to make the statement read: "Clearwater Beach, a residential and resort area on Florida's Gulf Coast...... The task force unanimously approved the Vision Statement, as corrected, subject to further editing and changes as more information is gathered. Chairman Deegan handed out copies of the issue statements with expanded descriptions and a subcommittee list containing the meeting dates as well as member names and phone numbers. The names of people invited to join the subcommittees were also listed. Dr. Deegan introduced Anna Stefan and Steven Cooke as members of the subcommittee on Theme/Beautification/Landscaping, etc., who would be presenting their report later in the meeting. He advised the task force that Steven Fowler was also helping on this subcommittee as well as on the subcommittee for joint effort at redevelopment with downtown. The Chairman asked the task force to look over the questions listed for each major issue and decide whether this was the direction each subcommittee should take. The task force agreed with the major issues as presented on the sheet. The Chairman stated he would contact each subcommittee and work with them. He further encouraged the task force members to share information with the subcommittees, and some documents were exchanged at this time for future meetings. The Chairman advised the task force a resident survey had been done and that Anne Garris had printed it in the Beach Views asking all residents to return the survey to the Beach Views' office by September 1. Dr. Deegan stated 92 surveys had been returned and that he had compiled a summary report. He further reported that the City had since mailed the survey to Clearwater Beach residents and that 62 additional surveys had been received. The Chairman asked the task force to decide whether they would find it useful to see the summary of the first 92 surveys received or whether they preferred to wait until he could incorporate the additional 62 responses into a final report. It was the consensus of the task force to wait for the final report if it could be distributed to them before the meeting on September 25, 1990. The Chairman agreed to put the survey results into a final report and mail it to the members as requested. The subcommittee for Issue One: Theme/Beautification/Landscaping presented their report, which is on file in the task force document book. John Doran paid tribute to the Clearwater Beach Hotel and the Sea Stone Resort for their attractive design, but summarized the present situation on Clearwater . . . Beach as one with no theme and a potpourri of design. The subcommittee supplemented their report with a slide presentation narrated by Stephen Fowler with Gordon McDougall manning the projector. The slides gave the task force the full impact of the visual pollution on Clearwater Beach. Mr. Fowler stated there were 120 signs on the causeway from the mainland to the beach of which 50% should be eliminated. He further stated the beach not only has a plethora of signs, but also pay phones, vending machines and dumpsters. He encouraged the private sector and the City to work together to clean this up, stressing function without ugliness. Some scenes were taken at Seaside in the Panhandle and showed examples of bus stops, signage, etc. that gave a sense of place. Mr. Fowler went on to show many of the "onions" as well as the "orchids" on the beach. The Beachcomber, Sea Stone Resort, Clearwater Beach Hotel and the Clearwater Beach Seafoods were cited as using signage that "outclassed" rather than "outflashed" other signs. Visual signs without words were also shown as an example of signage for pedestrian traffic. Mr. Fowler presented a photomural of Mandalay Avenue to the task force. He then presented two line drawings which he had done from the photomural comparing Mandalay as it exists now to how it could look with inexpensive improvements, such as roofs, shutters, palm trees, seating, etc. Mr. Fowler also distributed two sketches for a streetscape planter which he had done, together with a drawing of public restrooms done by Jim Graham of Graham Design Associates. Anna Stefan and Steven Cooke introdllced the subcommittee's idea of a theme for Clearwater Beach. Ms. Stefan gave their rationale on the development of a theme as well as a name for the type of architecture, since Florida does not have a name for its architecture. She stated Florida is a combination of traditional design brought by fisherman settling here from Nantucket and North Carolina, and modern design brought by promoters and developers who, bound by no tradition, created a framework of fantasy and illusion. Ms. Stefan stated their challenge was to develop a name totally indicative of the type of architecture in our area which included Disney World, Mediterranean architecture, southern plantations and fishing villages--one that would tie the combination of designs together. She stated they discovered in their research that building for the future often meant demolishing the past, and that our buildings are needed to hold onto memories for ourselves and visitors in the area. She referred to a quote from Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, author of "The Yearling", who once said, "I do not understand how anyone can live without some small place of enchantment to turn to." Ms. Stefan stated it was partially with these words in mind that they attempted to develop a name and theme that would encompass a quaint personality for Clearwater Beach. Steven Cooke then presented a list of words they had developed for the style of architecture as follows: Avant Tropical, Beach Creole, Creole Conch, Beach Conch, Clearwater Beach Conch Revival, Bungalow Seascape, Credence Clearwater Beach Revival, Clearwater Beach Creole Revival, Classic Creole and Classic Conch. Of these, he narrowed their selection to Avant Tropical, Beach Creole, Classic Creole, Clearwater Beach Creole Revival and Bungalow Seascape. He presented two theme ideas: 1) Clearwater Beach, One Small Place of Enchantment, and 2) Clearwater Beach, Island of Enchantment. Ms. Stefan stated they would like to tie in the theme with the name. She further explained the name was for use by the task force so they could talk with the private sector and business people, and not for the visitors. She emphasized the need for their own name for C.B. architecture, and for marketing purposes to use the theme with it. She stated they could then a logo could be designed from that name as part of the marketing strategy. In discussion the task force questioned the inclusion of Coronado and the exclusion of Hamden Drive for the streetscapes. Mr. Doran advised they wanted to start with Mandalay and S. Gulfview and then progress towards the inclusion of Coronado, Hamden Drive and E. Shore. Mr. McDougall explained although Coronado is a high traffic street, some elements of design could be incorporated such as in the lighting. Both Mr. Little and Dr. Wellborn thought Hamden Drive should be included so as to take advantage of the view of the Bay. Mr. Little stated his subcommittee on traffic would take this information into consideration when working on their traffic report. Ms. Garris informed the group that in theory the streetscape had been approved by the City Commission and that she would Clearwater Beach Blue Ribbon Task Force 2 September 5, 1990 . . . do some research on it. Mr. Doran informed the group they had not referred to the other plan because their plan was less intrusive and a much improved plan. In discussing landscaping, Mr. Seaton reported that in 1982 the Tourist Development Council had done a study which showed that the landscaping was a large part of why tourists want to come to Florida. Mr. Little suggested planting palm trees on the beach, itself, as well as on the streets as suggested. Ms. Garris stated that bike paths were a nice part of the previous plan. Mr. Seaton reported that in Aspen, Colorado, bikes are not allowed, while Vail includes bikers with pedestrians on carless streets. Mr. Little advised he had talked with the City's Traffic Engineer who advised that bikes should be in the streets with the allowance of an extra 3-5 ft. of pavement. He stated he would research the bike issue further and include it in the report from the traffic subcommittee. Ream Wilson, Director of Parks and Recreation, stated he liked the streetscape plan and thought the planter/seats were a good idea. He stated they should have ample space since they would not have to comply with the State road setback restrictions that downtown Clearwater had experienced. Mr. Wilson stated they had kept the cost down by not using pavers on the streets and that the palm trees and landscaping were not expensive items. Mr. Wilson did not recommend median plantings as they had to be planted too shallow and would not have enough dirt in which to grow, plus the plantings would be trampled on by pedestrians. The subcommittee suggested the following recommendations be made to the City Commissioners: 1. Approve a general development plan similar to the North Greenwood plan, providing incentives for property owners to make improvements consistent with the theme and providing guidelines for private and public development/redevelopment. 2. EXDect adherence to the spirit (if not the letter) of such a plan by the city, county and state. 3. Approve a streetscape plan incorporating landscaping, seating and other pedestrian amenities. 4. Expand city landscaping, e.g. sidewalks, parking lots, unimproved public lands. 5. Install street lamps in core area of beach; use the same lamps as on Cleveland Street; provide continuity between downtown and beach by putting same lamps on the causeway median. 6. Eliminate private use of public property, e.g. pay phones and vending machines on sidewalks and right of way, to extent law allows; establish design requirements/restrictions for all pay phones and vending machines. 7. If Dossible establish tax increment financing program for commercial/tourist facility areas of Clearwater Beach. 8. Increase parking fees (with substantial discounts to city residents). 9. Take over Causeway and charge toll (with substantial discounts to city residents). The task force approved recommendations 1 through 7 with the underlined changes, and referred Nos. 8 and 9 for further study. The task force discussed the ideas presented by Ms. Stefan and Mr. Cooke with regard to a theme and architectural style. The group reached a consensus of agreement on the theme, "Clearwater Beach, One Small Place of Enchantment." In discussing the type of architecture, several members of the group reacted to the word Creole as not really describing the style of the beach. Mr. Cooke Clearwater Beach Blue Ribbon Task Force 3 September 5, 1990 . . . explained that the word Creole did not have a literal definition, but the essence of the word came out of a descriptive of early Spanish explorers, settlers and pirates in this area. He stated they brought the Spanish architecture with them throughout New Orleans, The Keys, The Bahamas and up and down the Florida coasts and there is an architectural flair to the word. Ms. Stefan stated Creole conjures up a fun festive holiday, and that it has a feeling of all the designs incorporated into it. Mr. Doran emphasized they wanted to encourage continuity, so that as people made changes they would bring things closer together, instead of emphasizing the difference. Mr. Little suggested looking into the words in the song, "On The Road To Mandalay". The group discussed several of the other words, but felt it was too soon to come to any agreement. The Chairman stated the group did not have to decide tonight and asked that these words, plus any more the task force would like to add, be presented to a couple of focus groups formed from a panel of residents and a panel of business people. The task force agreed they wanted further feedback on the name for the style of architecture. The Chairman thanked the subcommittee and complimented them on their excellent presentation. He stated the next meeting would be September 25, 1990, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Sea Stone Resort with the subcommittee on transportation/traffic giving their report. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. E Clearwater Beach Blue Ribbon Task Force 4 September 5, 1990 . . . VISION STATEMENT "r/. n ).~li( r; a .) ~~ /-fY Clearwater Beach, aftesort area on Florida's Gulf Coast in which residents and business owners cooperate in meeting their diverse interests is easy to find by major highways, providing both the tropical climate of a barrier island bounded by parkands, and the proximity of the metropolitan Tampa Bay area. It is at once: . a friendly and wholesome community committed to preserve and protect the unique characteristics of this island setting and to enhance the quality of life here, . a family-oriented playground of sun and sand and water for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike, and . a montage of streets, landscaping and architectural style that befits its image of sparkling cleanliness