SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Provide direction on Clearwater 2045 Quality Places and Mobility Chapters. (WSO)
Body
SUMMARY:
A comprehensive plan is a long-range policy document that guides decisions on the future growth and sustainability of the city. The City of Clearwater had adopted comprehensive plans to guide growth and preservation of natural resources long before the State’s growth management statutes, but beginning in 1986, the State of Florida enacted laws requiring municipal governments to have a comprehensive plan for the purpose of growth management. Over time, laws and the vision and direction of the city have changed signifying a need for amendments and updates to be made to the comprehensive plan.
The Planning and Development Department is currently rewriting the city’s current comprehensive plan, which was adopted in 2008, to update the vision, goals, objectives, and policies covering a wide range of topics including land use, transportation, housing, utilities, recreation, and open space as well as many others. As part of this rewrite process, staff is proposing to change the overall format of the document to make it easier to use for City Council, staff, and the community.
The process of rewriting the comprehensive plan, named Clearwater 2045, began in late 2020 with a detailed review of the current plan leading into public engagement activities. With assistance from consultant HDR, the Planning and Development Department worked with the community to identify current community assets and concerns, share thoughts on opportunities for improvement, and discuss priorities for the future. Public engagement involved over 300 participants in the following activities:
• Online Questionnaire - 5 Key Questions
• Zoom Sessions
• In-Person Community Conversations
• In-Person Youth Conversations
Staff utilized this feedback to develop a vision and common themes for Clearwater 2045. Building on the vision and common themes, HDR and staff developed a Preliminary Framework Plan which was presented to the City Council on October 17, 2022. The Preliminary Framework Plan was used as a guide to draft the chapters and the goals, objectives, and policies contained within them.
Recently, staff hosted four public meetings to update the community on the rewrite process and allow for input on the draft chapters. The first two meetings were held on April 10 and April 13 and covered the Quality Places and Mobility Chapters. The last two meetings were held on May 1 and May 3 and covered the Parks & Public Spaces, Conservation & Coastal Management, and Support Services Chapters. The draft chapters were made available online at the Clearwater2045.com website prior to these meetings. Feedback was solicited online as well as through email blasts and social media postings. Comments were received via email and discussion and questions were addressed during the public meetings.
Staff presented the draft Quality Places and Mobility Chapters of Clearwater 2045 to the Community Development Board, in their capacity as the City’s Local Planning Agency, for their input at a special meeting on May 10, 2023. Then at their regular meeting on May 16, 2023, the Parks & Public Spaces, Conservation & Coastal Management, and Support Services Chapters of Clearwater 2045 were presented to the Board for feedback. Additionally, staff presented the Conservation & Coastal Management Chapter as well as any other goals, objectives, or policies in the chapters that cover an environmental or resiliency topic to the Environmental Advisory Board for their input at a special meeting on May 17, 2023.
The Planning and Development Department is seeking input from City Council prior to bringing the full Clearwater 2045 plan before them for public hearing on September 21, 2023. Staff will present the draft Quality Places and Mobility Chapters to City Council at their June 5, 2023 work session, and will present the Parks & Public Spaces, Conservation & Coastal Management, and Support Services Chapters at the June 12, 2023 city council work session.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: N/A
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS: N/A