Last Day For Palm Harbor Residents To Comment On Downtown Plan

PALM HARBOR, FL -- This is the last chance for Palm Harbor residents to give feedback on a new downtown master plan that’s in the works.

Residents have until Dec. 18 to complete an online survey by clicking here.

Pinellas County wants to get residents' thoughts on the future of the Palm Harbor historic district. Feedback from the survey will be considered during a public meeting in early 2019.

A draft of the 2018-19 proposed master plan and additional information is available by clicking here.

The downtown area consists of about 64 acres located between Alternate U.S. 19 to the west and Omaha Street to the east, Indiana Avenue to the north and Michigan Avenue to the south.

Work started in 1994 to create a downtown that would maintain the character and heritage of the area. Those efforts led to the creation of the Palm Harbor Historic District. In 2001, the county adopted the Downtown Historic Palm Harbor Master Plan. And in 2002, the county adopted the Old Palm Harbor-Downtown Zoning District.

A number of changes have occurred since the first master plan was adopted. County planning department staff has been working with the community on a new plan for about two years.

A focus group began discussions in 2016 about current needs for the downtown area. The focus group identified three main areas: character and identity; connectivity; and branding and marketing.

The goal was to create a pedestrian-friendly downtown that allowed for mixed uses.

A safe connection to cross Alternate 19 to get to the Pinellas Trail, Pop Stansell Park, the Sunderman Complex and the harbor was identified as a priority.

The group also wanted to create a gateway to downtown and find ways to give it an identity to help brand and market the area.

Pinellas County staff conducted an online survey in December 2016. Communitywide open houses were held in January and March 2017. Many of the same needs identified by the focus group were echoed by the community at large. Those needs included:

• Creating safe connections across Alternate 19.

• Improving lighting in the downtown area.

• Providing pedestrian amenities, such as benches and bike racks.

• Closing gaps in the sidewalk network.

• Providing opportunities for family-friendly community events.

• Addressing parking needs.

• Improving opportunities for additional retail.

The new master plan updates the previous version adopted by the county in 2001, incorporating many of the recommendations from the community. The recommendations include the completion of parking and retail studies; an updated historic survey; a petition to gauge community support to become a golf cart community; and several other issues identified during focus groups and open house meetings held in 2016-17.

Funding to implement the community’s needs could come from the county’s general fund, tax increment financing, municipal service benefit unit, Penny for Pinellas and by creating a lighting district, staff said.

According to the draft of the new master plan, the downtown area has “greatly benefited” from the actions that came from the original 2001 plan. A new plan would allow the community to “build on those successes to further enhance the area’s identity and vitality.”

Image via Pinellas County

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