Strategic Planning for the Commmunity Redevelopment Area - On June 5th the City Commission will advance the expansion of our CRA into the North Sarasota area, specifically the area covered by the Newtown Redevelopment Plan. Then on June 22 in a joint meeting with the CRA advisory board they will talk about strategic planning for the remaining ten years of the CRA. To oversimplify a bit, this will be largely about prioritizing the money that will be collected in the redevelopment trust fund in the next 10 years (when it expires). Much of that money is allocated already, but upwards of $70 million remains. The question - with housing, parking, roundabouts, streetscaping and other infrastructure, the cultural district, historic districts, transit, and all of the other things that have been discussed lately, and whatever hasn't that might be important to you, how would you prioritize the uses for that money?
posted by Michael McNees at 4:06 PM
7 Comments:
I came across a publication from 2000 which I believe was an introduction by the Planning Department to the Downtown Master Plan 2010. There were themes in the then "new plan' which may need reiterating:
"Connecting the downtown to the bayfront
A system of walkable streets
A balanced transportation system
Walk-To-Town neighborhoods
Civic Improvements
Strategic, pragmatic implementation"
Authors of the plan were Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company in conjunction with Cardinal Carlson & Parks, Hall Planning & Engineering and James Moore. It states that this plan incorporated earlier plans from 1986, 1983 and John Nolen's plan of 1925. To further quote from this introduction; "To realize the City's motto, "A city of urban amenities with a small town feeling," it is necessary to create an urban downtown proper surrounded by small town neighborhoods. The study area of this plan includes the three inner-city neighborhoods, Rosemary, Gillespie Park, and Park East, recognizing that together with the downtown proper they form an integral part of the pedestrian experience and must be conceived as a single sector.
By designating each of the City's streets as either "A" pedestrian oriented, or "B", auto oriented, based on what currently exists, the Master Plan provides a guide for future growth. Sarasota will be able to fulfill the potential of its existing street network, creating a cohesive and functional system that facilitates vehicular movement and at the same time creates a viable and pleasant system for pedestrians and bicyclists."
I would utilize the above themes as priorities and further define each theme in terms of goals and objectives inclusive of all of the neighborhoods as a single sector as stated above. The zoning code is the tool, not the plan. The resultant priorities from your proposed discussion should include civic responsibility and assure that the adopted themes are not lost in the technicality of the code. Perhaps reviewing the adopted plans and summarizing important themes for the community and the developers would be important right now. Money should not drive the implementation. To furhter quote from this introduction, "This version's main contribution is an increase in precision, the assignment of priorities, and the provision of tools for implementation-specifically a new zoning code. Since Sarasota is a relatively young city, the Master Plan and zoning code will provide the guidance and discipline needed to bring the city into a period of graceful maturity."
To follow up to my previous post, I would like to encourage a review of the themes within the Master Plan by the CRA and advisory board with the Redevelopment and Planning officers. I also believe the Cultural District Plan and the Mobility study and all the related plans should be reviewed. As an example, I am not sure if the lease with Marina Jack's was extended. Yet, in the Downtown Master Plan it was stated that this area is underutilized and that it should be seriously reviewed for future use. Related to parking it was recommended that developers should pay into the system "in lieu of constructing their own facilities."
It appears that increasing density was not a recommendation, at least not without furhter study. It also recommended not accepting development proposals too quickly. Now, if the Palm Av. parking was anticipated to be a reality we are obviously trying to facilitate parking. However, I encourage all aspects of future development, including the bayfront to be considered as recommended in the plan so that we do not focus on one issue without considering the ramifications of addressing an issue separately from all others. Perhaps by reviewing all of the plans we can see where we are and where we should be going. Despite all of these plans we appear to not be addressing development as a community. Mr. McNees, I agree that you are to implement the Commission's decisions. However, I do believe it is management's responsibility to assure that there is a complete understanding by the Commission of the recommendations for each and every plan that has been received. This is not to say that that hasn't been done but merely to state that it may be time once again for an in depth review before development proposals are approved that may be detrimental to future civic needs. Civic spaces were recommended to be designated for future use. The Arts and Culture are emphasized moreso than retail.
I went into the planning site to review some of the demographic and pooulation data. From 2005 to 2010 the population estimate only jumps 2200 people within the City. Is that correct? I was hoping to compare the actual and proposed number of new residences and resultant population just to get a handle on the development. I think that actual numbers from the proposals of the developers would also be important information to assess.
beamer - Your suggestion to review the existing master plan and other adopted documents for our planning session is a good one, and if it hasn't already been considered it will be now.
It seems the whole reason the TIF was created is being negotiated into other areas that do not directly impact the area that this was designated for.
Nobody downplays the importance of affordable housing or improvements to surrounding neighborhoods like Newtown but I do not feel the Tax Increment Funding should be paying for those items.
We all see with the little that has been spent already by our city the huge benefits our downtown people are enjoying.
TIF should continue to provide improvements to our surroundings like that which was done on Lemon and Main Street, Parking in Whole Foods and the Herald Tribune.
The money should not be spent as give aways to developers. If we improve the areas as we did Lemon then the developers will want to be there. We do not need to give them money because we as a city provided the beautiful streets for the pedestrian experience.
I say we keep improving our parking, streets, landscaping and sidewalks.
This is what the money was for to make our city, a specific area, better. The rest will follow or can be another initiative.
Why do we think of other things to do with the money when there is still so much to do downtown. Why does the downtown tax money have to consider paying for other areas before themselves?
No other area was offering to help downtown when it was dying but now that it is becoming what it is suppose to become, everyone wants a piece.
The recent article in the ICMA bulletin on branding would seem to compliment nicely many things that have been talked about on this blog. Some include the possibility of a community forum, a review of priorities, including neghborhoods and developers, as an example to participate in forum strategies, , etc. One of the things I have noticed is that Sarsota needs a theme or a "brand" that the community agrees upon. I know I have said it before but I believe the civic needs have to drive the development synergistically and there does not seem to be a community agreed upon ;brand" for the City. If you haven't all ready take a look at the article. It is very interesting. As an aside, the City of Gainesville opened a parking garage about a year and a half ago and is going through growing pains. It might be interesting to solicit comments from other City leaders as to what adjustments they are having to make from their previous projections to now dealing with reality.
Mike –
Congratulations on the recognition of your innovative idea to utilize the web to promote open communications with the community you so greatly serve. I hope my writing as a former department head who reported directly to you is not misconstrued by the visitors of your blog and the community as anything but tremendous pride and respect I feel for what you and other leaders in the City of Sarasota have been able to deliver - for your at times underestimated dedication to public service, your at times misunderstood sense of humor, and your at times misunderstood communication style - all of which have become vividly clear to me now that I have played on other rather infamous and large public teams.
On Senator Bradley’s keynote speech, I remember a few years ago you mentioned your discomfort with the over reference to the citizenry as “customers”. In fact, I believe you used a hamburger franchise as an example to make your point: “If you don’t like burger place A you go to burger place B…whereas we’re the only game in town...like a monopoly...citizens deserve more from their government...” So you see, with all due respect to Senator Bradley, it wasn’t him that got you thinking about government being more to the people than business school 101 terms and phrases – you were there years ago.
While I’m here, as a naturalized citizen who as a teenager experienced a totalitarian government and brutality, I encourage everyone to participate in the democratic process, communicate on the issues, and proudly and politely use their voice. There aren’t too many places in the world where a chief government executive invites citizen participation. Mike, I think you are at the forefront of e-democracy. Thank You!
I hope your bloggers forgive my intrusion but I just had to let everyone know that they have, in my experience, one of the most professional, dedicated, and citizen centric (there’s another term that appears to be used loosely) group of elected and appointed professionals any corporation would be fortunate to call employees.
Wishing you continued success and best regards,
-Ramin
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