June 9 City Commission Meeting:

This meeting was short, with only a few tidbits relevant to downtown:

1) The first reading of a new, proposed code ordinance occured. If passed at the June 23 commission meeting, major construction projects will be required to submit a plan and pull a permit for employee parking and materials delivery routes.   The goal is to minimize traffic & parking chaos in the surrounding neighborhood.  

2) During Covid, Governor DeSantis authorized / encouraged the expansion of outdoor seating for restaurants and bars. 

SCHMIDT'S ADVOCACY REPORT for May 2025 Newsletter
May 12, 2025 City Commission Meeting:
This commission meeting was excruciatingly long (4 hours), due to an extensive presentation about "Flagler House", a proposed condo tower at 3705 S. Flagler, just a few hundred yards north of Southern Blvd. It will be 18 stories, 39 units, with a concealed garage on 1.4 acres. In order to garner neighborhood support, the project proposes a public path between Washington Road and Flagler Drive along the south side of the property so that pedestrians and dog-walkers can more easily access the waterfront. A crosswalk on Flagler Drive will also be installed, along with a dog & human water fountain. In order to mitigate king-tide incursions on Flagler Drive, the developer (Kolter & Perko) will also install weirs in the storm sewers in that area. Many nearby residents spoke with passion about the project, with approval vs. disapproval evenly split. The motion to approve a rezoning of the 1.4 acres to accommodate Flagler House passed unanimously.

SCHMIDT'S ADVOCACY REPORT for May 2025 Newsletter

April 28, 2025 City Commission Meeting, DMP Consultant Meeting and Visioning Meeting Highlights

Item 10.1: There was lots of talk about the 800 block of Datura Street.  With Vanderbilt University moving in, the WPB Department of Community Services and their 200+ employees need to move out.  For some time, Community Services have been eyeing a larger space at the corner of 45th Street and Australian avenue---a 41 acre parcel already owned by the city and occupied by various city offices.  At that site, Community Services sought commission approval to build a 4-story office building and 5-story parking garage, which was granted unanimously.  Commissioners were emphatic that the surrounding neighborhoods have ample opportunity to hear presentations about the project nearby.  Community Services helps veterans, homeless, senior citizens, AIDS patients, etc., and some commissioners wanted reassurance that homeless would not be housed at that facility---and that same assurance would be given to neighbors.

SCHMIDT'S ADVOCACY REPORT

Downtown Master Plan Panel #1 , March 20, 2025 -The Downtown Master Plan was first created in 1994, revised in 2007, and the mayor wants to revise it again to reflect changing times.  Downtown Master Plan Roundtable #1 was the first public meeting on that topic.  Roundtables #2 and #3 will be April 24 and May 22.  The format: local developers and government officials give power-point presentations and are interviewed by a moderator regarding their concerns about attracting and retaining residents and businesses. 

Here's the gist:

1) Gopal Rajegowda from Related Ross lives in Flamingo Park, and he believes that there is an urgent need for taller, denser buildings appealing to both the rich and poorer folk in and near downtown.