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FPRA endorses Marina Square conceptual plan; commissioners press parking garage first
Summary
The board accepted a conceptual Marina Square master plan emphasizing a phased waterfront park and a three-part parking strategy; commissioners insisted on firm plans and financing for a parking garage and road shift before removing downtown surface spaces.
The Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency voted to accept a conceptual Marina Square plan that envisions a reconfigured waterfront park, vendor colonnade, event lawn, ecological stormwater features and a new structured parking facility east of the railroad.
Presenter George Kramer of Inspire Placemaking said the team separated the study area into three zones and identified "more than 1,282" city-controlled parking spaces and modest opportunities to reconfigure lots for about 82 additional spaces. Kramer described a three-part approach—modify, manage, maximize—to capture near-term capacity gains, implement better parking management, and pursue a structured garage and ground leases for long-term capacity.
Several commissioners cautioned that any removal of existing surface parking must be accompanied by construction of replacement parking. Commissioner Broderick, who chairs the city's parking committee, urged the city to seek construction-ready designs and cost estimates for a garage before approving work that would remove several hundred spaces downtown. "We need to have shovels in the ground in a parking garage prior to ripping away 200 parking spaces in the downtown area," Broderick said.
Staff described a phased park build and noted the CRA will sunset in 2042; tax increment revenues returning to the general fund could help pay maintenance. The board moved, seconded and approved FPRA Resolution 26-11 to receive and accept the Marina Square conceptual design as a planning framework (no implementation required by the resolution). The roll call reflected affirmative votes from Commissioners Johnson, Broderick, Zadofsky, Gaines and Chairwoman Hudson.
Board members asked staff to return with refined cost estimates and financing options, a project timeline and details for any proposed road shift of Indian River Drive that would enable the proposed garage.
