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Council reviews downtown master plan: five‑year action plan, wayfinding and short‑term projects
Summary
Staff outlined a downtown five‑year action/CIP tied to EDZ funds, proposed comprehensive‑plan updates and a set of short‑term projects (wayfinding signage, benches, new street trees) aimed at improving downtown character and walkability ahead of larger projects.
City staff presented a three‑part update on downtown planning that pairs longer‑range implementation with a package of short‑term improvements.
Staff described a five‑year action plan that will feed the EDZ capital program and said Stantec and other consultants will provide realistic cost estimates to shape a CIP the council could fold into the next budget cycle. The comprehensive‑plan amendments (future land‑use map and supporting traffic study) and concurrent land‑development regulation updates were discussed as part of an adoption schedule that targets planning‑board review by July–August and city adoption processes in the fall.
In the near term, staff identified approximately $100,000 in quick‑start projects to roll out this fiscal year, including wayfinding signage, replacement benches and targeted streetscape and planting work to restore historic character on the downtown corridor and mitigate damage from people walking through planted beds. Members discussed tree species selection and placement to avoid future maintenance or pedestrian conflicts and emphasized using durable, easily maintained plantings.
Council also heard about coordination with Florida Power & Light on a street‑lighting replacement program that staff said FPL expects to install around August–September. The council suggested a ribbon‑cutting and asked staff to coordinate timing with FPL.
