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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.06.67MINUTES ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION Regular Meeting, April 6, 1967 8 :00 P.M. - City Commission Room, City Hall Members present: Clifford W. McKibbin, Chairman Jefferson R. Davis Donald Bishop, Jr. Arthur Harris C. F. Brooke Smith Absent: Robert E. Karns Phillip Logan Mason H. Wharton The Chairman called the meeting to order. The first item of business was consideration of name suggestions for recommending to the City Commission for the appointment of one to serve as a member on the Zoning and Planning Commission to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of A. W. Lee, Jr. The following names were submitted and recommended that they be forwarded to the City Commission: Dewit Mathews R. T. Cowan, Jr. Gordon Bradley Uj CL Eoghan N. Kelley, Architect, next appeared to enlighten the Board regarding his public service proposal for revitalizing and or improvement of the downtown area, namely First Street into a mall idea. He outlined the following: TRAFFIC AND PARKING: A continued development of "Use Classifications" for public streets which provide for free flow of private, public and service vehicles is essential for significant growth. Every possible means should be explored to avoid conflicting and limiting vehicle circulation routes. Page 2 Z & P minutes .. 4/6/67 Parking sites require that "Mall Busses" pick up and return shoppers; a situation which will need careful coordination with the landscape, walks- decks, and canopies. Free expansion and almost immediate possibilities for implementation seem to justify the cost of Mall Bus service. 250,000 sq. feet of commercial area are illustrated in the "Future Downtown Mall Plan" which requires approximately 1,000 additional parking spaces. Capitalization of existing buildings will require denser and higher cost merchandising to offset increased overhead. The total package must end up producing a lower total overhead than could be achieved by competition in new construction. Therefore, a ratio of seven parking spaces per 1,000 sq. feet of sales area is presumed minimum. Phases of renovation to store fronts, etc., could very profitably be attempted according to parking space development. EXISTING SPACE, RENOVATION & GROWTH: With an overall improvement of the exterior will come expensive renovation to existing space, upgrading of display and sales systems, and higher levels of stock per sq. foot. The burden within each stbrre will vary, but this cost should be determined by the merchants prior to their assuming that • Mall Burden is desirable. Local architects can give merchants • rough approximation of qualities and costs. Two large new competing stores of approximately 25,000 sq. feet each are constructed in the intersection of First Street with Magnolia and First Street and Oak (one in each). This new space can provide an "Advertizing Focus ", set a high standard for existing businessmen and define special limits for the Mall. (See view looking southeast from 1st and Park and notice the quality of space achieved by placing the structure in the Magnolia intersection. ADVERTISEMENT DIRECTORY: Located at the Old Clock Site the directory can provide shoppers with lists of "specials" available on the Mall in addition to offering the Daily Downtown Sanford Special. As televised purchasing development indicates, the Directory Building can be expanded and coordinated with computerized banking techniques. CHILD CARE BUILDING: A childrens recreation center supported by either purchase coupon or hourly rate from the non - buyer. Initially this uses the Park -First Street parking site and ultimately expands westward. Page 3 Z & P minutes ... 4/6/67 GENERAL: Mall Busses bring shoppers from each parking site past all shops. Continuous shopper "rain cover" from all parking sites to all shops. This cover is located and adjacent to shops and displays. Landscaping of tree wells, flower beds, fountains, sculpture and walks together with benches for rest and public gatherings generate variety and interest. Political and cultural activities can be encouraged by seating in the Mall. All lighting and signs are visually coordinated and uniform throughout the mall. Existing facades are either updated uniformly and /or extended over the Mall for additional space and interest or are demolished if unsound. Mr. Kelley presented renderings and /or sketches of his proposed ideas, and stated that he had presented the plan to the Executive Committee, We Care Merchants, and would be pre- senting it to the We Care Merchants in body within the next week. In outlining the plan, he felt that a problem or question would revolve around one thought and that was: Does it make economical sense? He felt that the local merchants would have to do more than just dress up the store fronts, but should consider elevating the quality of their merchandising. Mr. Harris brought forth the idea of dressing up the back of the stores and running the parking directly up in back of the stores would appeal to the shopper. Mr. Kelley said that at present he estimates the costs as follows: $750,000 for the parking 400,000 for the land 100,000 for paving and improvements but was still working on more concrete cost figures. The Board requested Mr..Kelley to appear before them- on April 20th, with further information relative to more concrete costs of the plan and stated that they would be interested to learn of the We Care Merchants reactions and ideas to the Downtown Improvement Plan. On motion of Mr.Smith, seconded by Mr. Bishop and carried, recommendation was made that the proper letter and /or resolution be drawn by this Board and forwarded to Mr. Eoghan N. Kelley commending him for his excellent ideas and his public service gesture in preparing the plans for the downtown improvement as a mall. II� R� ydk v !A CL. c� s� r E 9� _ Page 4 Z & P minutes ... 4/6/67 After discussion, Mr. Smith moved that a recommendation be forwarded to the City Commission for consideration relative to the erection of a - concrete sidewalk and railing along the lakefront, abutting the bulkhead, from the bandshell pier to Mellonville Avenue and concrete benches be placed at intervals; the City Manager to determine the feasibility and cost of same. Seconded by Mr. Harris and carried. It was recommended by the Board that consideration be given to contacting the Seminole Junior College regarding the assistance of their students to the City of Sanford in updating the Comprehensive City Plan relative to the leg work and analysis work pertaining to the "Neighborhood Analysis" to permit the City to become applicable for federal aid grants. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.