Subject:
Title
Resolution adopting the Downtown Palm Harbor Streetscape and Parking Strategic Action Plan identifying future improvements in the greater Downtown Palm Harbor area.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of a resolution adopting the Downtown Palm Harbor Streetscape and Parking Strategic Action Plan identifying future improvements in the greater Downtown Palm Harbor area for the benefit of residents, businesses, and visitors.
• The Downtown Palm Harbor Streetscape and Parking Strategic Action Plan (Plan) directly addresses many of the targeted efforts included in the Downtown Palm Harbor Master Plan, adopted by the Board of County Commissioners, and included in the Pinellas County Comprehensive Plan (PLANPinellas).
• The Plan provides a list of recommended improvements and design concepts vetted by both the community and area business owners.
• The recommended improvements will allow the County greater funding opportunities to advance projects important to implementing the Plan and improving greater Downtown Palm Harbor.
• Recommended improvements and design concepts were presented to the public and received public comments thereto.
• The Ad Hoc Downtown Palm Harbor Advisory Committee has been continually updated on the Plan’s progress and has provided support for adoption.
• County staff intends to annually review projects for incorporation into the County’s Six-Year Schedule of Capital Improvements and Capital Improvements Program portfolio review process.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Foster Continual Economic Growth and Vitality
4.3 Catalyze redevelopment through planning and regulatory programs
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and our Customers
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
Summary:
Summary
County staff, local residents, business owners, and the Ad Hoc Downtown Palm Harbor Advisory Committee worked with a consultant team to address both mobility improvements and parking issues in greater Downtown Palm Harbor. The result of this effort is the Downtown Palm Harbor Streetscape and Parking Strategic Action Plan (Plan).
The Plan includes streetscape concept plans for streets and intersections; wayfinding recommendations to help visitors find destinations of interest in the vicinity as well as public parking areas; and a district-wide parking assessment to address parking supply and demand along with recommendations related to parking improvements and management in the greater Downtown Palm Harbor area.
With an adopted Plan in place, County staff intends to seek funding opportunities to implement recommended project improvements; as well as annually review projects for incorporation into the County’s Six-Year Schedule of Capital Improvements and CIP portfolio review process.
Body
Background Information:
The Plan was developed in most part to address ‘targeted efforts’ identified in the Downtown Palm Harbor Master Plan, adopted by the Board of County Commissioners and incorporated into the Pinellas County Comprehensive Plan (PLANPinellas) in October of 2020. Two of the ten targeted efforts contained in the Downtown Palm Harbor Master Plan include recommendations to explore opportunities to improve the pedestrian experience in the downtown with additional amenities such as lighting, landscaping, wayfinding signage, benches and bike racks; and to explore solutions to address parking issues, considering both daily parking needs as well as needs for larger community events.
Beginning in April of 2022, efforts began to address these targeted efforts with recommended strategic action items that could eventually be incorporated into the County’s Six-Year Schedule of Capital Improvements and CIP portfolio review process. The Plan grounds these recommendations in a detailed inventory of existing conditions, a parking assessment, an improvement specifications book, streetscape improvement design concepts, a list of projects, potential funding opportunities, and a maintenance plan and schedule. The list of projects identified in the Plan will be reviewed annually for incorporation into the County’s Six-Year Schedule of Capital Improvements and CIP portfolio review process.
The draft Plan was presented to the Ad Hoc Downtown Palm Harbor Advisory Committee, the community, and local stakeholders in August 2022. County staff and the consultant team refined the Plan based on comments from the community, the Ad Hoc Downtown Palm Harbor Advisory Committee, local stakeholders, and applicable County departments, resulting in the final Plan as included with this report.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Staff Member Responsible:
Carol Stricklin, Director, Housing and Community Development
Partners:
N/A
Attachments:
Resolution
Downtown Palm Harbor Streetscape and Parking Strategic Action Plan
Presentation