01/09/2018 - Special Meeting COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
January 9, 2018
Present: Chair John Funk, Vice Chair Michael Boutzoukas, Board Member David E.
Allbritton, Board Member Christopher J. Anuszkiewicz, Board Member Mary A. Lau,
Board Member Mike Flanery, Board Member John Quattrocki, Alternate Board Member
Reed Haydon
Also Present: Jay Daigneault - Attorney for the Board, Camilo Soto - Assistant City
Attorney, Michael L. Delk - Planning & Development Director, Gina Clayton - Assistant
Planning & Development Director, Patricia O. Sullivan - Board Reporter
A. CALL TO ORDER, INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. at City Hall, followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
B. ROLL CALL:
C. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD RE ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA: None.
D. CONTINUED FROM DECEMBER 19, 2017 (Item 1)
1. Level Three Application
Case: Amendments of the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan
Applicant: City of Clearwater, Planning and Development Department
Request: The Community Development Board (CDB) is reviewing amendments to
the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan repealing and replacing Chapters 1 -
3 which will update goals, objectives and policies; increase density and intensity and
revise allowable height throughout the plan area; modify Character District
boundaries; expand the Old Bay Character District boundaries northward to include
an 9.671 acres, and making a recommendation to City Council.
Neighborhood Associations: Country Club Addition Neighbors; Old Clearwater
Bay; Pierce 100 Condominium Association; North Greenwood Community Coalition;
Clearwater Downtown Partnership; Clearwater Downtown Neighborhoods
Association, and Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition.
Presenter: Ellen Crandall, Senior Planner
Member Lau moved to allow City staff extended time to make remarks. The motion was
duly seconded and carried unanimously. Alternate Member Haydon did not vote.
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Senior Planner Ellen Crandall presented a PowerPoint of the Staff Report.
Concerns were expressed the Plan's emphasis on government and office uses would
hinder the potential for major retail development, which would draw people downtown, the
cross section of Ft. Harrison Avenue on page 122 would restrict traffic through downtown,
and restructuring and narrowing Drew Street to include a bike path via Complete Streets
would impede traffic on the City's major artery into downtown and diminish developer
interest. It was recommended that the Plan be bicycle friendly, include Drew Street,
provide monetary incentives to offset the impressions of some that downtown was
unmarketable and depressed, and that the >10-acre parcel behind the Bank of America
building be developed with a project that would attract people downtown.
In response to questions, Ms. Crandall said the Plan desired active retail uses along the
N. Ft. Harrison and Osceola "retail spine." The boating study, incorporated in Chapter 3,
primarily focused on North Marina. The referenced road cross section was a suggested
vision only for N. Ft. Harrison Avenue in the North Marina Master Plan, which had
substantial public input. The Plan did not include or redesign Drew Street. The Plan
considered broader policies, such as the Pinellas Trail crossing at Drew Street.
Planning & Development Director Michael Delk said the Plan, which incorporated the
North Marina Master Plan, Imagine Clearwater, and ULI study, encouraged mixed-uses.
Government and office uses were general parameters for the district where a wide range
of uses would be allowed. Along with tech office targeted industries and an active edge
abutting Coachman Park, staff believed a residential and major retail component would
reinvigorate downtown. A citywide complete streets policy, intended to make Clearwater
bike friendly, will be based on upcoming analysis funded by the Complete Streets grant
for the Drew Street program.
Assistant Planning & Development Director Gina Clayton said the district vision was for
an active downtown attractive to all ages with entertainment, activities, and shopping. The
Complete Streets program's effect on Drew Street's capacity had not been analyzed.
That separate study will address capacity and take all development, traffic volume,
crashes, etc. into account.
The Plan was complimented with support expressed for its vision to create a thriving
downtown area. Opposition was expressed to selling the Harborview Center and City Hall
properties; it was stated the Harborview Center should remain in public hands to permit
views of Clearwater Harbor from Cleveland Street and City residents should not be
barred from the City Hall property, the City's crown jewel, by selling it for the construction
of another high rise condo tower exclusively for use by the wealthy.
Mr. Delk said following public comment, the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency)
component (Chapter 4) will be added to the Downtown Redevelopment Plan. Even with
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current institutional uses, there was much opportunity for downtown development. A
referendum will determine if the Harborview Center property can be sold and the City can
maximize the value of its assets. Decisions re future use of City properties will have public
input.
Support was expressed for work sessions as the board usually did not have time to
discuss planning issues and discussions were important to address member concerns.
Member Anuszkiewicz moved to recommend the City Council adopt the proposed
amendments of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously. Alternate Board Member Haydon did not vote.
E. DIRECTOR'S ITEMS
ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Chair Funk read into the record his letter to the City Council reviewing his support for
City Council approval of an ordinance allowing the CDB (Community Development
Board) to conduct work sessions and his concerns that the CDB was asked to approve
the Comprehensive Plan without opportunity for input in its development. (Exhibit 1)
It was stated an occasional work session would allow the board to ask questions and
learn about the reasons behind staff planning decisions.
In response to a question, Attorney for the Board Jay Daigneault said as the designated
local planning agency, the CDB was authorized to make final recommendations to the
City Council regarding the Comprehensive Plan and amendments.
It was stated the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan incorporates the ULI study
and other plans which were based on numerous public workshops all open to the public.
It was commented that the plan's development process had been transparent; board
members had opportunities to participate in public forums, be involved with plan
components, and stay abreast of Plan progress. It was indicated approval of the Plan
was not just the board's decision.
Mr. Delk took issue with Chair Funk's letter, stating that comments attributed to him did
not reflect their hour plus discussion. Staffing and resource issues were of concern. The
board had the ability to continue any agenda item if members determined they were not
provided sufficient information to make an informed decision.
Chair Funk said the idea for a work session was not to create more work for staff but to
enhance communication between board members and staff and for the board to have
more time to go over things.
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There was no objection to Chair Funk forwarding his letter to the City Council.
F. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
Board Report
Co munity Development Board
Community Development 1/9/2018 4
January 9, 2018
/- 9-/?
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers, City of Clearwater
From: John Funk, Chair of The Clearwater Community Development Board
Subject: Work Sessions
Dear Honorable Mayor and Coucilmembers:
On December 19, 2017 the Community Development Board presented a memo
to the Mayor and the City Council stating the reasons why the Council should direct
the City staff to prepare an ordinance permitting the Clearwater Community
Development Board to conduct work sessions for reasons described in that memo.
Today, January 9, 2018, the Community Development Board is being asked to
consider recommending to Council amendments to the Clearwater Downtown
Redevelopment Plan which consists of 189 pages and is accompanied by a 25 page
staff report, to the City Council. This plan was presented to the Downtown
Development Board at their meeting last week. During that meeting it was cited that
staff has been working on the plan updates, for the past 2 years. This will be the first
time that this matter of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan will be presented to the
Community Development Board.
At my recent meeting with the City Planning Director, Mr. Delk informed me that
he did not support the Community Development Board's request to have work
sessions. In addition, the planning director stated that should the Council consult him,
he would inform the council that work sessions were not necessary for the CDB.
The case before us today is an excellent example of why the Community
Development Board should have work sessions.
Before the Community Development Board today, for the first time, is the following:
The 189 page Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan updating the first 3 of the
following 4 Chapters:
Chapter 1: Purpose and History and Planning for Downtown,
Chapter 2: Existing conditions
Chapter 3: Land Use / Redevelopment Plan
Chapter 4: Plan Implementation
Worthy of Note: There are 5 uniquely different Character Districts with Expansion Area
in the plan to be presented today.
At the Downtown Development Board meeting last week, it was mentioned that
the Clearwater Redevelopment Plan has been 2 years in the making by staff, without
the inclusion and /or input of the Community Development Board nor, apparently, of the
Downtown Development Board.
There is concern that the very important section of Chapter 4, The Plan
Implementation Chapter, is not included in the work done by staff, but, is planned to be
done later in 2018. At last week's Downtown Development Board meeting, one of the
council persons present expressed concern regarding the omission of Chapter 4. This
council person saw the need to have Chapter 4 included at the same time as the other
3 Chapters. Chapter 4 is at least as important as any other part of the plan. Without
an implementation plan, major parts of the Downtown Core (referred to as "The Heart
of the City "in the plan) can expect the same results over the next 14 years as have
been experienced over the last 14 years.
In the last 2 months, I reached nearly 2000 Clearwater voters' doors. The most
frequent concern, voiced by Clearwater voters, was the condition and status of the
downtown core. Time must be taken to do this right.
On the beginning pages of this 189 page Plan are the names of the Mayor, each
Council person, myself and the other 7 distinguished members of this Community
Development Board. Because our names are on this plan, it is incumbent on each of
us named in this Plan to have sufficient time to review what is being proposed and to
have sufficient review time to agree in toto, add to, or, detract from this plan those
things that this board believes should be added or subtracted, or, agreed with in its
entirety, whichever becomes the will of the majority members of this board.
Sincerely,
John Funk
Chair, Clearwater Community Development Board