Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 02-14-12 cra — reading text

ADEQUA THROUGHOUT THE CRA A Objectives: Continue Sidewalk and Pavement Improveme . P'r't grams,-ft Continue to Upgrade Water and Sewer Li Throughout the an: Consider Narrowing Excess Righ y ak..Creating oF; xtending Alleyways in the CRA Increase the Use and Screening of Joint Use sters Consider an Underground Utili ., rogram in the' Consider Narrowing Excess Rq - ay and ating or Extending Alleyways in the CRA ";: Introduction Aging infrastructure c a sig [ cant impech to successful redevelopment. While Fort Walton Beach is a leadin to ology job growth, deficiencies still exist such as utility lines,;& se ` trcet , ,. F; j' ewalks. A continual program for updating infrastm can :; he ore attractive for redevelopment, in turn, attracting more The CRA mam" ual s walk and pavement improvement Capital Improvement Programs CIP). The pure '' pf pavement improvement program is to perform preventative maintenance on roa prevent them from deteriorating to a point requiring a complete rehabilitation. The could also consider utilizing funding to match needed road improvement projects including capacity projects, congestion management, and other transportation projects, including bike lanes. The annual sidewalk improvement program is designed to increase pedestrian safety and provide a pedestrian- friendly urban environment in the CRA. The sidewalk program should consider the classification of each road, as some roads require wider sidewalks further away from the main street. City of Fort Walton Beach February 2012 Packef.Pg..  F718 2012 Community Redevelopment Plan Insert maps ofCRA Sidewalk Deficiencies & MicroPaver map ofasphalt conditions) 1. Continue the annual pavement improvement program and possibly expand the program to include other road improvement projects, such as capacity building, bicycle lanes, congestion management, and enhanced pedestrian features. 2. Continue adding sidewalks and improving existing sidewalks w c needed. If possible, a- ized transit to occur construct wider sidewalks, allowing for multiple modes of n t projects. simultaneously. Develop a prioritized list of sidewalk it oy. Agi ng and failing water and sewer lines make the FoNafion redevelopment compared to newly built areas. ding t Beach CNacA- e lines to tractive for te higher density may attract more developc' "`_- 1. Consider implementing a yearly p , - to utilize rids to complete needed underground infrastructure in the CRA ' 14i" frastructu n be costly to update, this program can attract developers into the > A an ` { Pc aat more competitive compared to other newly built area, 2. Offer incentives,: ` incom sdevelopers,`.Vch as a Development Infrastructure grant program, that ovide I to 75% oK:." gVlifying expenses necessary to upgrade infrastructure for me a al and res " Cntial projects in the CRA. In oca[ ions, mu ily r sand businesses rely on individual garbage cans, primaril to space li tions r dumpsters. For small businesses, even the smallest dumpster M' a too large . the business needs. However, in areas with small lots, narrow sidewalks, or w streets, c proliferation of garbage cans, seen in the photograph below, is unsightly and pof s ] y uns' iitary. The City could coordinate with users to establish a location for dumpsters to se ' ple users, reducing the need for individual garbage cans. In addition, dumpsters, whether currently in use or provided to meet this objective, should be screened from view to the maximum extent possible. Insert photo of screened dumpster) a, City of Fort Walton February 2012 Packet Pg. 31  7. 1. a 2012 Community Redevelopment Plan 1. Develop a program for establishing joint use dumpsters in areas now cluttered with individual garbage cans. 2. Provide financial incentives for installing screening or landscaping to buffer existing dumpsters to improve the appearance of these facilities throughout the CRA. Traditional overhead utility lines connected by utility poles can creatcrii-visual clutter and inhibit Co h̀iributes to an overall urban center development patterns. Placing utilities lines undergr ' ' pedestrian -friendly environment and may prove to be safer and . reliable during hurricanes and other natural disasters. Converting overhead utilities to rd utilities is not without its drawbacks. Therefore, the CRA should consider al a§pecis ot, "` underground utilities program and should evaluate the cost benefit for each iaY^ project:* rground program, The City has completed several steps towards including a Feasibility Study in 2007 and obod Gulf Pow *K r the Eglin several mor? steps must be Parkway corridor. If the CRA wishes to pursue u taken. I. Coordinate with Gulf Power to produce t for Gtinverting overhead utilities to underground along major corridors, such i lrooks Street, and Miracle Strip Parkway. f^t. 2. Consider differ0f: to entire project in one or more phases. Several problems t 0 and utilities project including: the substantial, t. of overhe mo4 ration cost different man iffe bids, and costsl.,. 3. Coordinate lul ' Power for placement of r nes in alleys, especially during iplementation of programs to creatt o extend alleys and when underground placement is not feasible. 4. Continue the CRA Streetscape grant program, which provides matching funds to private businesses for underground utilities. City of Fort Walton February 2012 PacketPg. 32  7. 1. a 2012 Community Redevelopment Plan Several streets in the CRA have excess right -of w - ay that is currently underutilized. In some areas, the right -of w - ay can be " transferred" to alleyways. Extending and creating alleyways allows pedestrians a place to walk far away from traffic and noise and also allows businesses adequate space for storage and loading /unloading. hicago Avenue and 1. Implement a pilot study that will decrease the right -of -way icago Avenue and to extend the alley that currently exists parallel to Chestnut AN to First Street. the south of Oak Street. Extend that alley north to Ferry RO be created and/ or 2. Based on the success of the alley extension pilot sttii extended. sss' to lopment in Just as infrastructure improvements are vitally i _ growth and r ' the CRA, transportation improvements are equally i 4ransportatiory ystem should provide for safe and efficient mobility allowing residen visitors to travel from residential areas to shops and restaurants. A goo4, transportation syt is also a key component of an effective mixed -use district, supporting act mix of s. The following section will outline the goal for the transportation sy e Fort It , ' ch CRA, as well as the objectives and strategies formulated to achi the City of Fort Walton Beach February 2012 Packet Pg 33  7. 1. a 2012 Community Redevelopment Plan COMPONENT 3 - TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION GOAL' ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF AN ADEQUATE AN FE'ìJIULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THROUGH ,{tI, .,.,.SHE CRA Objectives Improve Safety Through Installing Calming '¥ If Congestion Management Design Features . Promote the Use of and Enhance the Aw Continue to Promote