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03-23-2015 Special Meeting City of Clermont MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING March 23, 2015 The Clermont City Council met in a special meeting on Monday, March 23, 2015 in the Council Chambers at City Hall Mayor Ash called the meeting to order at 6 OOpm with the following Council Members present Council Members Goodgame, Mullins, Bates and Travis Other City officials present were City Manager Gray and City Clerk Ackroyd Pledge of Allegiance Master Plan City Manager Gray stated the Downtown and Waterfront Master Plan was the result of input from the community's visioning sessions two years ago The City and Staff were tasked with bnngmg new vibrancy to the downtown and waterfront area Portions of the vision have become a reality through projects including the Community Redevelopment Association (CRA) incentive program, acquisition of the Clermont Community Center, Lake Hiawatha Preserve, the new Boathouse, KaBoom Park, and the Champions Splash Park Following the visioning sessions, the City adopted a new brand The Master Plan provides a ten year vision of projects for the area Pete Seckler, GAI Consulting Group, reviewed the early settlement of Clermont and where the community is today Linking the City is important and people want to connect with Histonc Downtown Clermont There is an opportumty for new residential development m the Histonc Downtown area and the Greater Downtown area to support existing retail businesses Five points were determined as a strong link in the vision and for developing a strategy for revitalization (1) A place for people, (2) A great waterfront, (3) A quality sense of place, character and image, (4) Connect the centers,and(5)High performing infrastructure and services Several key strategies included (1) Create a window to Downtown on State Road 50, (2) Connect the Downtown parks and neighborhoods, (3) Add energy and activity to the Downtown Core, and (4) Re- onent and diversify waterfront activities Mr Seckler provided an overview of the twenty year long-range vision plan which included creating a new open space venue in the Downtown Core, gateway signage, and moving the trail into the City The recommendation was for the City to begin with key fundamental projects, including a Downtown Promenade, signage and way finding, a West Lake Wetland Park, a Mmneola Greet Street, a "Front Door" image improvement, and switchbacks The cost estimate was approximately $15 million, however grants are available for these projects Mayor Ash opened the public heanng Edward Apadaca, Mark Graff, Alison Strange, Ray Sanfratello, Paul McPherson, and Lake County Commissioner Parks spoke in support of the proposal Karen Border mquired if the trail change would be m the form of a boardwalk Pete Seckler stated the concept would include a trail system which works well for exercising and competition, and a complimentary senes of expanses for those who would like to engage Stacey Uptain Smith urged Council to continue with the plans and keep sailing in mind Mr Seckler stated consideration was for a sailing area on the eastern component of the lake, with a local community park 1 City of Clermont MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING March 23, 2015 Mayor Ash closed the public heanng Council Member Mullins spoke in support of the plan Council Member Travis questioned if the trail would remain where it is when the boat ramp is moved to East Avenue Pete Seckler stated the details would have to be worked out The trail would be realigned to follow the new geometry created Any modification to the trail would include a clear through-trail and other opportunities for people to explore the Waterfront and the businesses Council Member Bates inquired the amount the City could receive in grant funding Mr Seckler commented there are different mechanisms available on the public side and as a strategy towards certain key elements are developed, certain grant opportunities will be available. City Manager Gray commented 75 percent of what the City of Eustis accomplished was funded by grants or through other agencies. Council Member Goodgame spoke in support of the plan Council Member Goodgame moved to accept the long range planning vision presented tonight: seconded by Council Member Mullins.The motion passed unanimously 4t '` ADJOURN: With no further comments, this meeting was adjourned at 7:05pm. APPROVED: •• ‘..‘ gil Gail L Ash, ayo ATTES : Tracy Ackro d, City Cler 2 . _ - fir. .Y.<'=�T.3 u7�' ,-i•' yqt�.. ,� i.- �•r,� Aim � i 'HIV NE CIT 'GROW „ City Ask" i of Clermont ,. Downtown &Waterfront ,fr. i�c� - Master Plan r F9 }Sh 1 r } f ACKNOWLEDGMENTS March 23, 2015 Prepared for the City of Clermont City Council City Manager Mayor Gail L. Ash Darren Gray Timothy Bates Ray h Diane Travis Keith Mullins Prepared by GAI's Community Solutions Group & Community Development Community Solutions Group Kevin Aust Frank Bellomo Dave Darsey Blake Drury Tom Kohler Richard Levey Claudia Ray Pete Sechler Robin Wells Donald Wishart Community Development Jason Dunn Jaime Igua Nick Leyva Bob Schanck ABOUT THE PLAN The Clermont community is committed to ensuring the ongoing social, cultural and economic value of its downtown and waterfront. For the last 100 years, the hills, historic downtown, adjacent neighborhoods and the Lake Minneola waterfront have been the defining characteristics of the community, creating a setting for a livable, small town feel that is connected to friend and family, the local Florida environment, and an emergent identification with healthy living. The downtown and waterfront is the place which all of Clermont takes ownership in, and it is a place where residents, business owners, and institutions have invested themselves to enjoy the high quality of life of this intimate community. Clermont and its waterfront are also emerging as a regionally significant address. Since the development of the South Lake Trail, the Olympic Training Center, and the strong regional growth, the South Lake County area has developed a unique character brand and identity associated specifically with Clermont. Today, Clermont has become a destination for tourism, athletic training and competition, recreation, commerce, and culture. The community's current challenge is to leverage these assets while protecting and enhancing the character of the 'real Clermont' to the benefit of those who live and work here. As a community, Clermont has engaged in discussions about its character, vision, and future. This was accomplished, in part, through an extensive visioning process and recently adopted re -branding. The outcome of these efforts is the development of a platform of engaged stakeholders who are optimistic about the future, and prepared to tackle challenges in order to maximize Clermont's potential as a beautiful, livable community of choice. The plan on the following pages advances this work as part of a more focused initiative to enhance the downtown and waterfront. This plan builds on the community conversation outcomes from the visioning process and defines and prioritizes common aspirations, new opportunities, and specific enhancements necessary for the continued quality development of a great waterfront community. LOOKING AT CLERMONT listoric Growth 1941 1994 2014 IMAGES OF CLERMONT Downtown and Neighborhoods The settlement pattern in Clermont has evolved since the end of World War II, when the city comprised the area between Lakes Minneola and Minnehaha along SR 50 and the Orange Belt RR. Even 20 years ago the city was fairly compact and largely still found west of US 27. The past two decades have seen growth to the east and south, away from downtown and the waterfront. Images from downtown and the close -in neighborhoods, clockwise from below: The Farmer's Market is one of many special events that bring people to downtown; One of many service -type uses downtown; Races like this triathlon have the potential to bring many more people to downtown if they occur closer to 8th Street, The shopping core on Montrose Street has streetscope and on -street parking already in place Future Land Use c; Waterfront Images from the downtown waterfront, clockwise from above: Watersports, like jet - skiing, sailing, and kayaking, are year-round activities at the lake edge; Footrace jockeying for the some space as leisure walkers at 8th Street Waterfront rentals provide a node of activity along the waterfront; Passive activities, like these shaded swingsets, can be found in several locations on the waterfront; Staging for large events is an important element to design. Key Community Destinations CITRU5TDWER x3• is� LAKEMA4h C A TRMVR •FI45PITA z-, N s r LAKE MINNENANA 5oj [Pi41 WALMART N MARKET OUTLOOK 0 THERE COULD BE FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOOD + BEVERAGE OR ENTERTAINMENT DEVELOPMENT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA Demand for this product will lag residential development. If the number of events and festivals in the downtown area can increase, this will augment restaurant/food and beverage demand. It is likely that food and beverage operations will be local in nature. • Increases in traditional retail will be difficult. Most retailers prefer the higher traffic areas along SR 50 and US 27. Current Downtown Retail Market Snapshots 14.9% 7.5% 92.5% 185.1% 19.6%. 80.4% 19 WE BELIEVE THERE IS CURRENTLY DEMAND FOR NEW RESIDENTIAL UNITS IN THE DOWNTOWN CLERMONT AREA The residential market has rebounded locally and state-wide. Multi -family for -sale prices have started to increase again, though they are still far off from market peak Current residential prices are about what was achieved in the years just prior (2003-2004) to the peak market years. • The rental market is strong, with high occupancies. Rents are typical for suburban product at about $1.00+ per SF. • For -sale townhome or condo development would be more appropriate for smaller in -fill locations. • Rental apartments would be more appropriate for larger sites that could accommodate 100+ units. • Development in the core of downtown needs to have access to zoning (either by right or through incentives) to allow 25 to 40 units per acre, which achieves 3-4 story surface parked development. Residential and Retail Data Since 2000, 28% off all multi -family % of Cafe/ units sold in the city were in downtown. Restaurant •• (50 units) % of Retail Recent citywide multi -family for -rent occupancies range from about 91 % to • • 98%. 3.4% i.6% U_ U_ U V) to to 0 0 O Co 0 p E 10 c U w Multi -family units in Downtown averages about $30,000 to $75,000 per unit. Downtown Clermont CRA has about ■ 167,000 SF of retail space. U_ o Clermont has the highest percentage • of restaurant space compared to other nearby cities (19.6%) WATERFRONT & DOWNTOWN RELATIONSHIPS Several other Central Florida cities have seen a renaissance along their waterfronts, and offer some interesting comparisons and lessons to Clermont. Tavares: The waterfront park space is immediately adjacent to downtown's shopping/retail district (shown in red on the image). This proximity allows events that happen at the park to "drive" retail and restaurant customers to the district's shopping streets. Clermont Kissimmee Eustis: The waterfront park is again proximate to downtown, which allows a strong relationship between downtown uses like shopping and restaurants and the lake amenity. Kissimmee: Kissimmee's multi -million dollar Lakefront Park brings a very large amount of diverse activities to the area two blocks from the main street of the district, linked by a pedestrian - friendly street. Tavares Eustis PLANNING FRAMEWORK FOR THE DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT The plan is based on a set of THEMES that describe the future downtown waterfront. The THEMES are organized into four MOVES that are implemented in individual PROJECTS. The projects cover the wide geography of downtown (as shown on the following pages) and have been loosely grouped into projects that should be considered now, soon (in 2 to 5 years), and later (beyond 5 years) based on their ability to fundamentally alter the course of downtown toward the MOVES and the City's perceived readiness for the activity. A PLACE FOR PEOPLE Downtown is an established "place" but needs to encourage more people to stay longer, more often, in order to grow and thrive. A GREAT WATERFRONT The waterfront presents an opportunity to have a linear park experience with many more leisure and recreational activities than are currently provided. QUALITY SENSE OF PLACE, CHARACTER, & IMAGES The community cares about the aesthetics of both natural and constructed places, but the perception of downtown from major routes is undifferentiated and unremarkable. CONNECT TO THE CITY Downtown, along with the other two emerging centers at the NTC and Clermont Community Center, needs to be better connected to the surrounding neighborhoods. L.HIGH-PERFORMING INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES The success of downtown will be built on a foundation of supporting infrastructure and city services. THEMES Create a Window to Downtown on SR 50 Connect the Parks and Neighborhoods Add Energy and Activity to the Downtown Core Re -Orient and Diversify Waterfront Activities IYIV V LV 4 The Lumberyard Redevelopment 1 12th St Train Connector [N] 3 12th St Trail Connector [S] 8 West Ave [N] Green Street 10 Minneola Ave [C] Green Street 20 Switchback/Community Gardens 0 21 Lake/Osceola Redevelopment 6 Rowing Center Event Space 5 Minneola Ave [W] Green Street 18 The Bluff Redevelopment 19 The Marsh 29 Boating Center 16 Front Door Improvements - 13 Desoto St Green Street 15 Center Lake LID Stormwater Er12 West Ave [S] Green Street 2 West Beach Lake Edge Rehab 11 The Station Redevelopment 14 Desoto Garden Park 25 Lake Dot Park 17 Shared Garage ■ 30 North41The. Edge Enha -Landing 26 Sparkling Water Lake Park 28 Waterfront Park Improvements 122 Lake Ave[N] Green Street 24 Lake Ave[S] Green Street 33 East Ave Green Street �23 Minneola Ave [E] Green Street 27 3rd St Trail Connector � 32 Minneola/East Trail Connector LONG - RANGE PLANNING VISION I ri-• This is the long-range vision for Downtown Clermont as a place for people, with a great waterfront and quality sense of place, visual character, and image, which is connected to the greater city and is supported by high -performing infrastructure and services. A number of potential infrastructure improvements that {+ rI y could implement the vision are shown. The improvements are conceptual in nature; as each is considered, I FRMN"a ! a further level of design needs to be undertaken to define the project and confirm its purpose in t implementing the vision. Some are long-term, requiring land assembly and significant construction. Some require public policy changes while others are private redevelopment projects. The recommended first six projects are indicated by letter, and are described on the following pages. r _ # 2 West Beach Lake Edge Rehab g Initial BB Opportunity Tar- . ram` get Area 1 � t • A. MAEMMMOM AomvG 12th-St-Trail Connector [N] J6 Rowing Center hvent Space ��' . �• t • "tir>ti - - !!�**WAS �� sit _ �lJL6 Fk , -08 Alk 4 T bya • r._.. ��.. r 8 \/Vest Ave [N] 18, T $f P + ecFe�fe meht - _ = r - reen Stre t [teclevelo eFi r Downtown CRA ST• Boundary 5- Minneola Ave [1 ✓] Green Str [C] t� w:sraARe 17. Sharq Garage L 1 �i 3 12th St Trail • s` Connector [S] • ;' t �7 =12 t ve'I .3 a_- i�[� 11 The zt,Rion n Street 11 edevel ` i T v'1 :• r ;r it r — — — r warorosr` - - _ ► �► L-1. 3 soto.St Green ICI. t _ 15 Center Lake LID r r Stormwater IP�e.., `f 16 Frond. Tait,�..-, _ n... - Improvements r o aoo e i soo f 1 I! 1 ! 1 �. PAMPKAHAPARY -—A I I I I I LL��? 30 Northeas 4: ! - Edge Enhan wts 404V SffMSTFrsr+rR� arR - - -29 ating CenterIA I �. k , ;f�►/ � • 31 The Landing- , �i}•- � � I F.Uture Developm@rat 28 Waterfront Park Improvements," Initial B+B Opportunityi �•� Rar t • Target Area cr f 40D ' I sel�cl *A Fir FH5FREF? .. ! , - .� PO: F_ -� .,.26 Sparkling , _. i �. - (iERMdNTM1pp[FfCN00! Saar - s. Water Lake Park l ARKER6 WATER [Alai 19 The Marsh ry�• � r a - ElEMFNFARSS( 00 21 Lake 'Osceola �' y -1 - - 33 EastAve - Redevelopment . `} -' -Green Street r.2O �witFhback/ t „. -.. 1 r Community Gardens. L 23 M - E}+ r Str e'_t' � _ t -i r JL4 Id. 'rrFv.yAr 22a L � r• eery �r x - �1• +�._.. ti:_� - �"f :1.`/ ,.'�'',- � F `� F' z�J L _ _ _r _ _ s�`--.wo�sarvsw •� .r' •� ! - . �,Y�v ...y'"'" 'fix } sib 1 6t Park J '' f• � �-^r- ' � 1. � •'4� 5t'AR[HIAI�$1 .. n �• n�,� l ...•••1....... 50 .... -, -TTT7-1 � r..� "T-T�1 T J -- 1 i - - ■ i i �T i �'-i � -+�-� i � NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTORS & GATEWAYS Destination (Community Center) The improvements envisioned at the Downtown Waterfront need to be connected to the wider city. The map above shows a potential system of tree - lined boulevards that link the city's neighborhoods to important community destinations, like downtown, the community center, and the training center. These boulevards could be in the form of upgraded landscape and bike lanes in locations where they are not already provided, and can be implemented incrementally as roadway resurfacing projects are undertaken. Fj O THE PROMENADE One of the key elements of the plan is to maximize the number of people who come downtown, either by living (residential), staying (hotel), or visiting (events). Having a space that can handle events from small festivals to huge races and regattas is imperative at the foot of 8th Street. The Promenade, as shown above, provides such as venue, along with a continuous waterfront path experience and pier with docking capabilities at the foot of 8th Street. Here activity can generate business for Montrose Street businesses and others in the vicinity. =-- _ Event-ViEvtimc .- ■ V Terrace , �ff�h • a'*,* • • • 1 • 1 1.• • � • • • N r • � 00� 200� 407 • Design+Engineering (20%) $833,000 M Equipment+Mobilization (14%) $583,100 Contingency (25%) $1,041,250 TOTAL $6,705,650 •`Aff4 y i`{ 7 West Lake' Wetlands Parr:;' ' 1 11 The Stan 1 12'West Ave jS] Reme developn ,, Greed Street 4 ................... ` e 14 Desoto �" Garden Park IL i CENTER LAKE T- ' 2 01�0,1 im Const Design+Engineering (20%) $85,000 Permitting (2 Equipment+Mobilization (14%) $59,500 Lontingency (25°� TOTAL $684,250 a {. 18 The Bluff Redevelopment ©'....�............................. ......................... .......................... 17 Shared • Gaya a _r ©TROSEST 22 Lake Ave [N] Green Street ` ........,...... "�1Y3 t tS`,r`een .... Street......... ........... 25 Lake Dot Park BROOMEY - - , 16 Front Door Improvements attAvel r N LF5O3...:.. i 0 200• a00' soo Finding destinations in downtown, either from the South Lake Trail or SR 50, will be key in building the downtown Clermont brand in the community's consciousness. It is of particular importance as a key location along the Coast to Coast trail, as cross -state cyclists looking for destinations will be helped by a a robust system of signage and wayfinding. This system is recommended to include elements such as monument signs, vehicular directional signs, and pedestrian directional signs. The visual elements of the signage should include the "Clermont Choice of Champions" branding. Development in the western portion of downtown is limited by on -site stormwater requirements, often making sites here 15% less functional than in other portions of downtown served by regional ponds. In addition, the waterfront has several dry ponds that impact the environmental experience of the waterfront. West Lake Wetlands Park serves to combine those elements into a utility stormwater pond serving west Design+Engineering (20%) $1,070,000 downtown and freeing up lakefront land for park or amenity development. In addition, this area should Equipment+Mobilization (14%) $749,000 be designed as a park space and event area for larger races and include a filter marsh to polish the storm Contingency (25%) runoff before it reaches Lake Minneola. TOTAL $8,613,500 O MINNEOLA GREEN STREET ..................... k............I.......................... + ... uY..a.......... .::. .—.....................,QW-.1..........................................; 0 50' 300' 600' Design+Engineering (20%) $325,000 Permitting Equipment+Mobilization (14%) $227,500 kontingency (25° TOTAL $2,616,250 Several "Green Streets" are recommended for downtown. Green Streets are locations that combine low -impact stormwater drainage techniques with improved pedestrian streetscapes and that form the spine of the connected pedestrian and cycling environment in downtown, connecting the uphill parks to the neighborhoods and to Lake Minneola. The first of these streets is Minneola Avenue from Lake Avenue to the proposed West Lake Wetlands Park. The street would include stormwater planters, on -street parking, upgraded street tree planting, a 5' sidewalk on the north side of the street and a 12' multi -purpose path on the south side of the street. I -- - 11TI0 r k- • • R Y �i ; 11 The Station 1 r i Redevelopment + `'�.. ��� •rr•rrrrr�-aaaaara.ri'ir •�Zra fir` ' • 13 Desoto St Green Street v r a fill' • WG*aaredeeno rParkrrrrr14 Desoto ........ �' . It Av%c r a••• r r a a a a a a• y' a • • + r lm The current perception of downtown from SR 50 is undifferentiated and unremarkable. The streetscape does not change to reflect the downtown and the signage is outdated. A series of landscape improvements at 8th Street and SR 50 are recommended to make the entrance into downtown consistent with the quality environment found on the lake side. This landscape would include sidewalks, street trees, and incremental low -impact stormwater management techniques. Design+Engineering (20%) Equipment+Mobilization (14%) Contingency (25%)' TOTAL 407 $45,000 $31,500 $362,250 0 "THE SWITCHBACKS" ; , . • •' : f _ �• 19 The Marsh r� V LID/GREEN STORMWATER r _ MARSH + LAKE EDGE A r �_ ! • • e �-� , •• 2Q ikhback/ _ ar sty 21 Lake%Osceo o� •' � 6.. Redevelopment �r r.._. i _ • • W OSCEOLA ST i I� G -- -- •-r ,�i N f As the trail system is expanded away from the Lake Minneola waterfront into downtown and the close - in neighborhoods, there is opportunity to make a connection at the end of Lake Avenue. In this location, steep topography has led to an unbuilt street right-of- way with the potential to carry a trail that connects to c the proposed trail on Minneola Street. This trail would Design+Engineering (20%) $35,000 be configured in a "switchback" design to lessen the Permitting (2 grade for all users and would conceptually contain a Equipment+Mobilization (14%) $24,500 community garden space in between the switchbacks contingency (25°� that is accessible from both uphill and downhill sides. TOTAL $281,750 GETTING STARTED: INITIAL BUDGET ESTIMATE A The Promenade $4,165,000 $833,000 $83,300 $583,100 $1,041,250 $6,705,650 B Signage & Wayfinding $425,000 $85,000 $8,500 $59,500 $106,250 $684,250 C West Lake Wetland Park $5,350,000 $1,070,000 $107,000 $749,000 $1,337,500 $8,613,500 D Minneola Greet Street $1,625,000 $325,000 $32,500 $227,500 $406,250 $2,616,250 E "Front Door" Image Improvements $225,000 $45,000 $4,500 $31,500 $56,250 $362,250 F The Switchbacks $175,000 $35,000 $3,500 $24,500$43,750 $281,750 Projects The Master Plan Vision Clermont is a place for people, with a great waterfront and quality sense of place, visual character, and image; connected to the greater city and supported by high -performing infrastructure and services. COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS GROUP 618 E South Street Suite 700 Orlando, FL 32801 T 407.423.8398 F 407.843.1070 A GAI Consultants, Inc. Service Group