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Commission ratifies 25‑year driveway and sidewalk easements for Safety Harbor Resort & Spa parking lot
Summary
The commission approved a 25‑year driveway easement (with a 10‑year renewal) and an extension of a sidewalk and landscape agreement for the Safety Harbor Resort & Spa parking lot; commissioners pressed for stronger screening along the park frontage.
The Safety Harbor City Commission on June 16 approved two related easement agreements to facilitate a private parking lot for the Safety Harbor Resort & Spa, including a driveway easement across city property and a renewal of a sidewalk and landscape agreement.
Community Development Director Carol Strickland said the driveway easement term is 25 years with a 10‑year renewal; if the driveway ceases to serve a parking lot the easement would terminate. The sidewalk and landscape agreement covers the north side of Veterans Memorial Lane; staff presented a proposed 25‑year term with a 10‑year renewal and said the city would construct and maintain the sidewalk and landscaping covered by the agreement. Strickland said both agreements were negotiated to implement a site plan the commission previously approved.
"The intent was the city would construct and maintain the sidewalk as well as the landscaping," Strickland said during the presentation.
A representative for the resort, identified in the meeting as Mr. Chalumas, signed both agreements the day of the meeting, staff said. Commissioner concern focused on visual screening where the parking lot meets Waterfront Park: one commissioner said a few specimen trees would not be sufficient and asked staff to require thicker screening so park users would not see an "eyesore" when looking west across the park.
Strickland said the approved site plan already requires a significant planting buffer around the lot and that the city could evaluate additional screening on the park side after the resort completes its plantings. She also noted that the resort must obtain a right‑of‑way permit and restore any city property damaged during construction as part of its permitting obligations.
Commissioner comments emphasized that the easement approvals implement a previously‑approved site plan and do not change project design. The commission approved the driveway easement and ratified the sidewalk and landscape extension in two separate votes; both motions passed 5‑0.
Staff said it will continue to work with the resort on the timing of construction access during the pier and marina work and will present landscaping outcomes to the commission if additional screening is necessary.
