SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Accept Imagine Clearwater A Community Vision for the Downtown Clearwater Waterfront.
Body
SUMMARY:
The creation of a master plan for the Downtown waterfront/bluff area was identified as a priority project by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Advisory Services Panel during their study of Downtown Clearwater. In April 2016, City Council awarded a contract to HR&A Advisors, Inc. to prepare such plan.
Imagine Clearwater was a six month planning process focused on developing strategies to:
• better connect the waterfront with Downtown;
• draw residents and visitors to the waterfront; and
• catalyze greater activity and investment Downtown.
Due to the importance of the Downtown waterfront to the residents of Clearwater, an extensive public engagement process was employed that involved stakeholder interviews, stakeholder coalition meetings, seven community workshops, a project website, and Facebook page. Residents from numerous Clearwater neighborhoods participated in this process and together developed a vision and guiding principles for the project. They also provided feedback and guidance as the plan evolved.
The Plan is centered on the implementation of four key strategies.
• The waterfront must be anchored by a dynamic new open space.
• Coachman Park needs an active edge.
• An improved Osceola Ave. should complement Cleveland Street.
• Access to the site should incorporate all modes of transportation.
Imagine Clearwater envisions an enlarged and redesigned park that includes five distinct areas - the Civic Gateway, Bluff Walk, the Green, Coachman Garden, and the Estuary. These areas provide a variety of spatial experiences with opportunities for active and passive use. This variety, along with additional programming, is intended to accommodate people of all ages and interests, which will help draw people to the park. In addition to creating a unique and exciting waterfront, a central element of Imagine Clearwater is to activate the bluff. Framing the park with active uses, such as residential, hotel, dining and cultural uses will increase activity and safety within the park and attract people to the area. An active bluff will also better connect the waterfront with Downtown and leverage city investments, and create physical connections to attract people from Downtown to the waterfront and vice versa. Improved connectivity and access to the waterfront through a variety of modes is also central to the success of the Downtown waterfront/bluff area, therefore, Imagine Clearwater also includes a multi-modal strategy that includes a variety of pedestrian routes, shared bicycles lanes, a Jolley Trolley route, the Clearwater Ferry and parking dispersed throughout the park.
Imagine Clearwater includes an implementation strategy which sets forth phasing, governance, funding, and key next steps. Due to the size and complexity of the project, the improvements are proposed to be implemented in two phases over a 10 year period. Due to the elevated level of programming envisioned for the park, the Plan also recommends the formation of a public-private partnership to share the responsibilities of programming, maintenance, capital projects and even advocacy for the plan vision and passage of the referendum.
In response to the presentation of several options for an aerial transit system that would link Downtown Clearwater to Clearwater Beach, City Council authorized the expansion of the Imagine Clearwater scope to evaluate possible downtown terminus locations. After an initial period of review, and further assessment of the direction of the master plan and other city actions, staff directed that the consultant discontinue further analysis. The reasons include but are not limited to the following. First, at one point it was determined that the park master plan would not accommodate infrastructure for a transit component in its final draft recommendation. Secondly, the City initiated an agreement for a coordinated approach with PSTA for conceptualized design for a bus transfer station and facility on property currently owned by the City. Lastly, limited analysis and other supporting documentation that could be provided by specific transit alternatives limited the level of detailed review that would be able to provide substantive and meaningful direction at this time.
This is not to imply or suggest in any way that additional consideration should not be given to increasing the number of transit options to provide improved service from the mainland to Clearwater Beach. Rather, it is staff’s belief that a more deliberate and comprehensive approach would better advance the level of serious discussion needed to determine that next appropriate steps in transportation planning options. A more timely engagement of the City’s transportation planner, traffic operations, and coordination with PSTA and Forward Pinellas can better position the City to advance transportation options.
The Planning and Development Department recommends that City Council accept Imagine Clearwater A community Vision For the Downtown Clearwater Waterfront.