Council hears Florence Boulevard design-concept report; planning commission recommends downtown be first phase

Paul Theis, Director, presented the Florence Boulevard Corridor design concept report to the City Council and reviewed three segments — the freeway segment at the east (about 1 mile), a midtown segment (about 2.75 miles) and the downtown segment (about 0.75 mile). Theis said Planning Commission held a public hearing on March 6, was generally supportive and voted unanimously to recommend council approval while asking that the downtown segment be classified as the first phase.

Staff described two design options for the downtown segment (a three-lane and a five-lane configuration) and told council they would drop the three-lane option after public comment favored preserving five lanes. "Accordingly, staff is recommending that the 3‑lane configuration option be dropped from the DCR," Theis said. The downtown option retains five travel lanes with an enhanced center left-turn lane and expands sidewalks and pedestrian-scale elements where right-of-way allows; staff noted the downtown segment likely cannot accommodate separate bike lanes because of existing right-of-way constraints.

Staff compared pros and cons of starting construction on the downtown segment versus the freeway segment. The downtown segment is shortest, lower cost per linear foot and would produce a visible streetscape improvement in less time but could cause more short‑term disruption to adjacent small businesses during construction. The freeway segment is about a mile, would convert the corridor from four to six lanes with median and bike lanes, and could catalyze development along larger vacant parcels, but would cost more and take longer. Staff recommended delaying a final phasing decision until additional right‑of‑way and construction-constraints analysis is complete.

Planning Commission action was recorded: a unanimous recommendation to adopt the DCR with the change that the downtown segment be considered Phase 1. Council members discussed prioritization; some members favored the freeway first to catalyze development and reduce escalation risk on a larger-cost segment, while others emphasized downtown visibility and potential to accelerate a downtown entryway sign and streetscape elements. Council asked whether the downtown entryway sign could be built before larger street reconstruction; staff said the sign could likely proceed downtown sooner than on the freeway because curb lines on downtown segments are less likely to change.

Next steps included consultant revisions to remove the three-lane downtown option, further right‑of‑way and construction analysis for both downtown and freeway segments, return to council for DCR adoption and then development of civil design plans and CIP funding consideration once a phase is selected. Planning commission’s recommendation and staff’s requested analyses will inform the council’s final decision on phasing.