Title
East Gainesville SPROUT Project - Conceptual Park Design (B)
Explanation
The City's environmental and park design consultants, ECT, Inc., and Genesis Group, have completed the Conceptual Park Plan. The plan contains the conceptual program elements for the park as well as the general scale and arrangement of these features on the park site. The designers incorporated advice generated by citizens as well as technical information specific to site remediation, stormwater treatment requirements, and infrastructure enhancements proposed for the area.
On February 19, 2002, the East Gainesville SPROUT Project Task Force reviewed the park concept, approved the plan, and identified these specific issues for the City Commission to consider when accepting the Conceptual Park Plan:
1. Viability of amphitheater: whether or not revenue can be generated on property purchased with Florida Communities Trust funding and questions concerning its size.
2. Design of the proposed South Main Street slip lane regarding pedestrian and bicycle safety.
3. Potential effects of homeless population in the park and costs associated with security.
4. Location of a transit stop serving the park.
This Conceptual Park Plan represents about 1/3 of the planning necessary for this project. The other 2/3 of the planning involves the Remediation Plan and the Stormwater Plan for the site. Because each part of this site development process is co-dependent on the others, all need to be considered for approval as a complete set of reports. ECT will present the Risk Assessment and Feasibility Study components of the Remediation Plan to the Task Force on April 2. Subsequently, these reports will be brought to the City Commission for consideration. Likewise, the Stormwater Plan will be brought to the City Commission. Once the City Commission has received all the Plans, it may consider approving the staff-recommended approaches described in the Plans and authorizing the project to proceed.
Fiscal Note
None
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) hear a presentation describing the park concept; and 2) receive the park concept and take appropriate action.