BROWARD BOULEVARD GATEWAY IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT A Summary of Projects and Recommendations to Transform Broward Boulevard CAM 13-0483 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Broward Boulevard Gateway Implementation Plan ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FORT LAUDERDALE CITY COMMISSION CORE PARTNERS COMMITTEE JACK SEILER MAYOR DIANA ALARCON, CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE ALFRED BATTLE, CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE BRUCE ROBERTS VICE MAYOR/COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1 MICHAEL BUSHA, TREASURE COAST REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL DEAN TRANTALIS COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 2 BOB CAMBRIC, SOUTH FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL BOBBY DUBOSE COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3 SHARON CINO, FDOT DISTRICT 4 ROMNEY ROBERTS COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 4 JAMES CROMAR, BROWARD METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION RENEE CROSS, CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE CHARLOTTE RODSTROM COMMISSIONER DANA LITTLE, TREASURE COAST REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL BARNEY MCCOY, BROWARD COUNTY TRANSIT CITY MANAGER JENNI MOREJON, CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE LEE R. FELDMAN GREG STUART, BROWARD METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZA- TION ANDREW RIDDLE, FDOT DISTRICT 4 JONATHAN ROBERSON, BROWARD COUNTY TRANSIT ELIZABETH VAN ZANDT, FORT LAUDERDALE DOWNTOWN DEVELOP- MENT AUTHORITY KEVIN WALFORD, CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE JEFF WEIDNER, FDOT DISTRICT 4 LYNDA WESTIN, SOUTH FLORIDA REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AU- THORITY THIS MASTER PLAN DOCUMENT REPRESENTS THE CITIZENS’ IDEAS AND VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF BROWARD BOULEVARD IN DOWNTOWN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA. THE DESIGNS, ILLUSTRATIONS, AND GRAPHICS INCLUDED WITHIN THIS REPORT ARE MEANT TO CONVEY THAT VISION AND ARE CONCEPTUAL IN NATURE. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Broward Boulevard Gateway TABLE OF CONTENTS Implementation Plan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...............................................................4 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT THE PUBLIC PROCESS............................................................... 6 EXISTING CONDITIONS................................................42 RECOMMENDATIONS..................................................43 THE VISION............................................................................ 8 PROJECT 7: 5TH AVENUE ROUNDABOUT.....................44 NEIGHBORHOODS & DISTRICTS DOWNTOWN DISTRICT A CORRIDOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD & DISTRICTS........... 10 EXISTING CONDITIONS..............................................48 DISTRICTS OF BROWARD BOULEVARD...........................11 RECOMMENDATIONS..................................................49 TOD DISTRICTS........................................................12 PROJECT 8: BROWARD BOULEVARD LANE REDUCTION....50 PROJECT 9: LAS OLAS PLAZA....................................58 THE CORRIDOR PROJECTS ON BROWARD BOULEVARD...........................13 BROWARD BOULEVARD EAST DISTRICT EXISTING CONDITIONS..............................................62 THE RIVERBEND DISTRICT EXISTING CONDITIONS................................................16 LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE ANALYSIS RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................17 LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE RECOMMENDATIONS.............68 PROJECT 1: LARGE FORMAT RETAIL CENTER...................18 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS...................69 PROJECT 2: THE RIVERBEND NORTH PARCEL...................20 TOD DISTRICT STANDARDS..........................................70 PROJECT 3: TRI-RAIL & BROWARD BOULEVARD..............22 RECOMMENDED FRONTAGE STANDARDS.........................71 PARKING RECOMMENDATIONS......................................77 NORTH FORK DISTRICT STREAMLINED APPROVAL PROCESS.................................80 EXISTING CONDITIONS................................................26 RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................27 IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX........................................................81 PROJECT 4A: THE SALVATION ARMY SITE.....................28 PROJECT 4B: THE NORTH FORK BRIDGE.....................30 APPENDICES A. BACKGROUND, DATA, AND ANALYSIS BROWARD BOULEVARD CORE DISTRICT B. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PLAN EXISTING CONDITIONS................................................34 C. MARKET AND ECONOMIC STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................35 D. WALKABILITY ANALYSIS PROJECT 5: THE POLICE STATION SITE........................36 E. TRAFFIC ANALYSIS PROJECT 6: STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES.....38 F. SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS STUDIES 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Broward Boulevard Gateway Implementation Plan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Broward Boulevard Gateway Implementation Plan Public involvement was critical during this process. envisions Broward Boulevard evolving into a signa- Over 23 public presentations, nearly 50 individual ture entry to the City, characterized by wide, shaded interviews, and a day-long public design workshop sidewalks; urban redevelopment that creates a sense were part of the public involvement campaign. These of place through the careful positioning of buildings, efforts facilitated the incorporation of information and parking, and landscaping; a rich mix of uses that serve ideas from a wide range of community stakeholders. the daily needs of residents, visitors, and businesses; safe and attractive facilities for bicycles and transit; After gathering public input, the following steps were and many convenient transportation choices. taken: Broward County Transit (BCT) is • existing conditions (property ownership patterns, heavily used on Broward Boule- vard despite limited transit shel- The Plan has been developed in a climate of renewed future land use, and zoning) along the Broward ters and facilities. This issue is interest, both locally and nationally, in the benefits of Boulevard corridor were analyzed; currently being addressed, as sustainable urban environments and the links among • major parcels and their redevelopment potential 168 new bus shelters are being provided throughout the city. livability, mobility, and quality of life. A Core Part- was studied; ners Committee, comprised of nine different public • key projects and potential design scenarios were agencies and local governments, was formed to work identifi ed throughout the study area; with the City to improve long-term mobility and quality • incremental, implementable improvements to bring of life. The Core Partners Committee helped guide multi-modal balance to the corridor were identi- the process of creating the Plan as well as review its fi ed. findings and recommendations. The result is a series of analyses and recommendations This Plan is the result of a multi-step, public process. for implementing a range of projects, including infra- The fi rst step included collecting and analyzing the structure improvements, regulation updates, and po- This view looking west shows Broward Boulevard bridging over planning, transportation, and visioning studies that had tential redevelopment opportunities that will advance I-95 and the CSX corridor. This been conducted over the course of previous years. Not the corridor towards achieving the overall vision. crossing is a challenging environ- surprisingly, improved quality of life, protecting exist- ment for pedestrians and bicy- clists, who are accessing Tri-Rail ing neighborhoods, and providing a healthy climate and BCT transit. for business opportunities were identifi ed as common themes that are reinforced by this Plan. 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Broward Boulevard Gateway BROWARD BOULEVARD KEY RECOMMENDATIONS Implementation Plan 1. Maintain the Core Partners Committee for project 5. Update the Land Development Code to enhance oversight and implementation. streetscapes and livability. 2. Coordinate with Riverbend retail developers to 6. Implement an Infi ll Shade Tree Planting Program. provide excellent pedestrian environments on Bro- 7. Build a roundabout at 5th Avenue and Broward ward Boulevard and W 27th Avenue. Boulevard. 3. Build vertical circulation, transit shelters, and new 8. Reduce the number of travel lanes on Broward access ramps at Broward Boulevard and I-95. Boulevard east of 7th Avenue to emphasize Bro- 4. Coordinate Salvation Army redevelopment, ward Boulevard as the gateway to Downtown. No shade makes for a hot wait for the bus and will not attract improvements to the North Fork River Park, 9. Minimize neighborhood traffi c intrusion east of SE “choice” riders. the proposed riverfront multi-purpose path, and 15th Avenue. the Broward Boulevard Bridge to create a major 10. Build the Las Olas Plaza to establish a critical pe- gateway element on Broward Boulevard. destrian link between east and west Las Olas Bou- levard. The existing shelters provide some shade, however, the great- est shade on the corridor, as seen above, could be provided by the addition of shade trees. Broward Boulevard existing conditions looking west. Proposed view of Broward Boulevard with shade trees, en- hanced sidewalk width, and a disciplined urban form. 5 PUBLIC PROCESS Broward Boulevard Gateway Implementation Plan PUBLIC PROCESS Purpose Public involvement and input has been a fundamen- tal element of the development of the Broward Bou- To ensure participation in the levard Gateway Implementation Project. Over 23 Broward Boulevard Imple- public presentations, nearly 50 individual interviews, mentation Project by actively and a day-long public design workshop were part encouraging and facilitating of the public involvement campaign that has been the involvement of citizens, instrumental in crafting priorities and recommenda- business owners, special in- tions for the project. In addition, the Core Partners terest groups, partner agen- Committee has provided continual oversight from a cies as well as elected and multi-agency,