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Dade City approves Seventh Street streetscape plan with 48 new diagonal parking spaces and roughly 120 street trees
Summary
The commission approved a final concept plan funded by a $400,000 state grant to reconfigure Seventh Street with diagonal parking, pedestrian improvements, and tree plantings; construction is estimated at six to nine months and will start after the bypass reopens.
The Dade City Commission approved the final conceptual design for the Seventh Street Streetscape project, a downtown pedestrian and landscaping improvement funded in part by a $400,000 state grant.
City staff described the plan as a one‑lane‑each‑direction reconfiguration from Pond Avenue to Church Avenue that converts northbound parallel parking to diagonal parking and retains parallel parking on the southbound side. "The conversion of the existing parallel parking to diagonal parking in the northbound direction will add an additional 48 parking spaces," staff said during the presentation. The concept also includes roughly 120 new street trees, mid‑space tree grates, decorative paving at crosswalks, and additional crosswalks at Pineapple, Pond and Sumner to improve pedestrian access.
Project representatives said the design uses a mix of canopy trees suited to Florida conditions (such as live oaks, redbuds, crepe myrtles and elms) and that plantings will be low‑maintenance and water‑adaptive. Staff estimated construction would take approximately six to nine months and said they plan to begin at the north end of downtown and work south. Business outreach and careful scheduling around downtown events are planned; staff said they will be the primary contact for merchants during construction.
Several commissioners and members of the public praised the design but raised traffic and access concerns. Commissioner Cosentino (read by staff) asked about the elimination of a left‑turn lane at Meridian Avenue and warned the proposed diagonal parking adjacent to the courthouse could create difficulties for vehicles backing into traffic. Staff responded that retaining a center turn lane would eliminate the diagonal parking option in the same blocks, costing the added spaces. Commissioners noted that the project should avoid interfering with parades and that work should be scheduled to avoid major events; Vicky Wiggins, representing the Kumquat Festival, asked the city to delay construction until after the festival, saying, "please, please, please wait until after Kumquat to get started." Merchant representatives supported the plan but urged careful scheduling and promotional support for businesses during construction.
The commission voted to approve the final concept plan in a roll call that carried 4‑0.
Ending: Staff will move forward with construction documents, outreach to business owners and property owners, and scheduling; a separate construction timeline and outreach plan will be provided before work begins.