SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
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Approve a referendum question for the city voters to consider a charter amendment to allow for the construction and maintenance of certain improvements and the use for other than open space in the area west of Osceola Avenue between Drew Street and Pierce Street lying below the 28-foot mean sea level elevation, known as the downtown waterfront, call for a special city election to be held in conjunction with the county election on November 7, 2017, and pass Ordinance 9063-17 on first reading.
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SUMMARY:
In an effort to further existing initiatives, the City of Clearwater contracted with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to evaluate the City's vision and strategies for the development of the downtown. The Urban Land Institute is the nation’s premier nonprofit urban planning and real estate education and research institution representing the entire spectrum of land use and development disciplines.
The creation of a master plan for the downtown waterfront area was identified as a priority project by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Advisory Services Panel during their study of Downtown Clearwater in June, 2014. Subsequently, the City issued Request for Proposal 04-16 for consulting services to prepare a master plan for the Downtown waterfront/bluff area, which was awarded to the HR & A Advisors, Inc. on April 21, 2016, for the Downtown waterfront master plan (Imagine Clearwater).
Over the course of six months, the City engaged hundreds of Clearwater residents, business owners and other stakeholders who shared their broad visions and specific design and programming ideas for their future waterfront. The City’s consultant team conducted over 40 interviews with local stakeholders, including developers, real estate brokers, small business owners, and Downtown property owners. The City hosted seven interactive community workshops in various Clearwater neighborhoods to share progress on Imagine Clearwater and allow members of the community to engage directly with the planning and design team on specific elements of the plan including: a vision for the waterfront and bluff; the character of various places throughout the study area; the role of waterfront recreation, parks and open space, and economic development opportunity within the overall vision; and the City convened a group of 18 Clearwater residents active in resident affairs, the local business community, local institutions and community organizations to play a supporting role in the City’s robust outreach process.
In addition, materials related to Imagine Clearwater were posted on a dedicated website and the City’s Facebook page and community members were invited to call and email the City to provide direct verbal feedback and engage with elements of the plan as it was formed.
The goal of Imagine Clearwater is to draw residents and visitors to the Downtown waterfront, catalyze greater Downtown activity and attract investment, and better connect the waterfront to the rest of Clearwater. Four key strategies underpin the recommendation of Imagine Clearwater: the waterfront must be anchored by a dynamic new open space; Coachman Park needs an active edge; an improved Osceola should complement Cleveland Street; and access to the site should incorporate all modes.
In order to realize the community’s vision for Imagine Clearwater, an Action Plan provides a series of strategic implementation recommendations to serve as a starting point for the City and its partners to refine and advance.
The City Council unanimously voted to adopt Imagine Clearwater by Resolution 17-13; however, the Clearwater City Charter Section 2.01(d), Limitations, contains certain limitations on the legislative power of the City Council. Section 2.01(d)(6) prohibits the development or maintenance for other than as open space and public utilities of certain property lying below the 28-foot mean sea level elevation of Osceola Avenue on the east, Clearwater Harbor on the west, Drew Street on the north and Chestnut Street on the south, and the Memorial Causeway without a referendum.
As a result, the following amendments to Charter §2.01(d)(6) are proposed in order to allow the implementation of Imagine Clearwater. First, the proposed ordinance defines the term “open space” for the purposes of the charter section to include sidewalks, boardwalks, elevated walkways, trails, roadways, stairs, benches, tables, water fountains, litter receptacles, lighting, wayfinding, similar amenities, and surface parking. Secondly the proposed ordinance allows as an exception to the open space limitation certain uses and facilities specifically playgrounds, splash pad, water features, artwork and similar amenities. Additionally public restrooms and Park storage may be constructed. The amendment also specifically allows the licensing of events, temporary booths for vending and mobile concessions. In the portion of the section which addresses the boat slip facility, language allowing for a boathouse for storage of non-motorized recreational equipment such as canoes, kayaks, paddle boards and paddleboats, and a boat ramp to be constructed for such non-motorized recreational equipment is added.
The ordinance calls for a special city election to be held in conjunction with the County election on November 7, 2017 for purpose of consideration of the Charter amendment.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
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