Board reviews status of required 10‑ft sidewalks and considers vegetative buffers on Gulf Boulevard

City staff updated the board on the status of a 10‑ft sidewalk requirement within the special planning area and said the rule is triggered by development projects along Gulf Boulevard and Blind Pass Road. Brandon, a city staff member, read the code provision: “A 10‑ft sidewalk shall be constructed to allow for safe, unobstructed, and efficient pedestrian flow and the potential for sidewalk cafes and outdoor eating areas as appropriate,” and noted that the requirement can be reduced to 6 ft through technical‑review committee action but staff rarely grants that reduction.

Staff described completed and committed sidewalks downtown and along key redevelopment frontages. Corey Landings and a recent Caribou Coffee conversion installed 10‑ft sidewalks as part of their development commitments, and Miramar Resort and other large projects have sidewalk installations tied to project triggers regardless of whether the full project is completed. At the same time, staff cautioned that small change‑of‑use projects often face expensive related work, such as upgrading storm‑water inlets to current standards, which can make sidewalk compliance relatively costly for local owners.

Several board members said the city should consider a vegetation buffer between the road and new sidewalks where feasible. One member said they would prefer “a 6‑ft sidewalk and 4 ft of vegetation” to improve safety, shade and pedestrian comfort; other members noted that Gulf Boulevard is constrained in places and that curb‑cut rules and FDOT jurisdiction will affect feasibility. Staff said FDOT has been cooperative on the 10‑ft standard and that the city will engage the state on landscaping setbacks, sight‑line concerns and maintenance obligations.

Board members also raised maintenance and irrigation concerns for vegetated buffers and asked whether responsibility would fall to property owners or the city. Staff said certifications and sidewalk commitments are generally the developer’s responsibility and that some variance or technical solutions are possible for constrained sites. The board asked staff to coordinate with FDOT on landscaping and curb‑cut issues and to return with options for where a buffer is feasible.

Next steps: staff will engage FDOT on landscaping and curb‑cut constraints on Gulf Boulevard, and return to the board with recommendations and potential design options that balance safety, shade and maintenance responsibilities.