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CRA virtual workshop weighs Millville outdoor-seating incentives and proposed Third Street pedestrian path
Summary
CRA members discussed an incentive program to help Millville restaurants build outdoor seating and heard staff describe a proposed Third Street pedestrian path and waterfront beautification tied to an FDOT grant and a potential bond.
City commissioners and CRA staff discussed an outdoor-seating incentive proposal aimed at helping Millville restaurants add patios, decks, lighting and furnishings, and considered pairing that work with a larger streetscape and pedestrian-path project proposed for Third Street.
Mayor Alan introduced the outdoor-seating concept, saying the goal is to “get people outside” and noting that “when patrons of businesses are outside the buildings, people go where people are.” The proposal would aim to reduce administrative burdens and the cost barrier for small restaurants that lack sidewalks or usable frontage.
Michelle Zirkle, CRA program manager, said staff is pursuing a separate but related Third Street project under a Florida Department of Transportation beautification grant and a potential bond. She described the proposal: “We're currently looking into installing a pedestrian path that's about 8 feet wide that would start at Everett and go down to Maple and go from on Maple, from Third to Business 90. This was an an ask in the CRA socials that we had back in February, and we're currently pursuing doing getting a bond to be able to make this happen.”
Workshop participants noted Millville currently has four restaurants inside the CRA boundary; two already have outdoor-seating (cafe) permits and Jean's Oyster Bar received two CRA grants for its outdoor area. Commissioners and staff discussed practical barriers such as parking and safety along Business 98 and suggested starting with sketches and direct outreach to interested restaurant owners to build local buy-in before any engineering or spending.
Staff described related work at Whittington Park (FDOT beautification work expected to be completed at the end of the month) and said the CRA is preparing visual materials for neighborhood outreach. The CRA agreed to return with sketches and examples at the next virtual meeting; no grant approvals or contract awards were made during the session.
