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04/19/1989 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WORK SESSION April 17, 1989 The City Commission of the City of Clearwater met at City Hall with the following members present: Rita Garvey Mayor/Commissioner Don Winner Vice-Mayor/Commissioner Lee Regulski Commissioner William Nunamaker Commissioner Richard Fitzgerald Commissioner Also present were: Ron H. Rabun City Manager M. A. Galbraith, Jr. City Attorney Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk The mayor called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. and the following was discussed: Paula Harvey, Acting Planning and Development Director, indicated this was a work session to review the proposed comprehensive plan which is to be submitted to the State by the first of June, 1989. The ordinance for the comprehensive plan will be adopted after the Department of Community Affairs has provided comments regarding the proposed plan. It was indicated that work began on this project two years ago and there are some items that need to be updated and adjusted. In response to a question, it was indicated we would be limited to amending the plan twice a year. Chris Papandreas, Senior Planner, addressed the needs in the land use category. She stated our vacant land resource is depleted. We will be required to establish a conservation category and the State is now requiring separation of park or recreation land from conservation areas. In response to a question, it was indicated that wetlands have limited intrusion available to them. She further reported the regional activity centers are a new requirement and there are two areas in Clearwater, downtown and in the vicinity of Park Place on State Road 60, which are being considered for these regional activity centers. Concerns were raised regarding the need for these regional activity centers if they would encourage development in areas where development is already taking place. Concern was expressed that we need to encourage residential aspects close to these vicinities. In response to a question, Paula Harvey indicated a regional activity center is an area appropriate for growth and an area to which development would be directed. Concerns were expressed regarding establishing an activity center in an area other than downtown conflicting with efforts for redevelopment of downtown. Ms. Harvey indicated the land development code will have to be revised within a year to coincide with the comprehensive plan. In response to a question, Ms. Harvey indicated residential designations and densities will have the biggest impact on the City's plan and a question was raised regarding whether or not densities should be concentrated in one area. Ms. Papandreas indicated the City will have to address concurrency and staff will be coming back with specifics in that regard. Concerns were expressed regarding the ability to reduce densities in areas and it was indicated this may be able to be done with redevelopment. It was stated there will be concurrency problems regarding traffic throughout the City of Clearwater. It was indicated that having regional activity centers in place will allow the City to deal with these impacts in the future. If it is not needed, they will not be used. It was requested that regional activity centers be more clearly defined. In response to a question, it was indicated a criminal justice element can be done at a later date and is therefore not included in the current plan. Questions were raised regarding rezoning the area in Myrtle and Greenwood and the consensus of the Commission was to retain it as residential. The traffic circulation element was addressed with it being stated that new growth has a smaller impact than does the extent of current backlogs. It was indicated there are three systems, State Roads, County Roads and City Roads. State Roads are operating at a level of service of F. It was indicated that special transportation areas are being requested for two sets of state arterials. In response to a question, it was indicated that the planned date to begin improvements to Myrtle Avenue is 1992 but there are no funds in the State Plan for this at that time. A question was raised regarding improvements to Missouri Avenue and it was indicated this is still in the County 2010 plan. Commissioner Winner left the meeting at 2:30 p.m. Discussion ensued regarding implementation of the Concurrency Management Plan stating that permitting will become complicated for development. In response to a question, it was indicated concurrency management begins in June of 1990. A question was raised regarding it being in the plan that the City shall support the recreational trail and some concerns were expressed that the Commission had not made a final decision on this. There were also concerns regarding the trail supposedly being temporary until there was a need for the right-of-way for the guide way. It was expressed that it would be difficult to terminate the trail once it has been established. Concerns were expressed regarding the mass transit system for the guide way being used and there were concerns regarding maintenance of the trail. It was indicated the City is required by the State to include bicycle provisions. It was indicated staff would return to the Commission with additional information regarding the Pinellas Trail. Regarding mass transit, it was indicated the City would continue to support PSTA, however, there is little financial impact to the City. In response to a question, it was indicated that ridership had improved a month or two but that a rate increase is being considered. It was emphasized that watercraft facilities are also being considered in the form of a beach ferry service. A question was raised regarding policy 8.3.2, and whether using transportation impact fees for transit stops was legitimate. This is to be investigated. Commissioner Winner returned to the meeting at 3:00 p.m. Regarding aviation, it was indicated this part of the plan sets a framework consistent with the Greiner report. The City will be seeking State and Federal funds. It is proposed the Airpark continue as a privately owned general aircraft facility. A question was raised regarding the City meeting federal aviation authority land use guidelines regarding noise and it was indicated staff was unsure whether or not this met our expectations. It was stated in order to obtain Federal funding consideration of lifting the night time ban on flying might be needed. It was indicated the decision to maintain it as a leased facility had not been made. It was indicated we will know by 1990 whether or not State and Federal funds will be available and we will have a handle on operation costs. Regarding housing, Jeff Pruitt of Planning and Development stated we can expect a population of 119,000 people by the year 2000 and we will need an additional 10,000 households. In response to a question, it was indicated our build-out population is estimated to be 150,000 or 170,000 if enclaves are annexed. Mr. Pruitt indicated increased density had been looked at previously for some areas and he indicated there are not alot of run down areas in the City but there are vacant lots in subdivisions. Concerns were expressed that the high priced houses of the sixties would be the affordable housing of the nineties and an idea of price range was needed. It was indicated the median cost of houses was 30 percent of income for owner occupied and 40 percent of income for renters. The plan includes a policy for incentives for location of affordable housing as well as rehabilitation of existing houses. It was also indicated there are policies that have to do with updating the housing code. The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.