November 2006 Design Session

Session Summary

The Florida Public Officials Design Institute at Abacoa, dedicated to improving South Florida communities by offering training in smart growth and design, hosted its eighth session in Jupiter, Florida, on November 2nd and 3rd, 2006. This session included the City of Fort Pierce, Indian River County, Town of Jupiter and Town of Sewall's Point.

The session began with teams of design experts visiting the communities for site tours hosted by the officials and presentations by staff on November 2nd. Later that evening, Michael Wallwork, a transportation expert specializing in people-oriented design of streets and intersections, delivered the keynote address at the Florida Atlantic University Jupiter Campus. Mr. Wallwork also joined the team of design experts the following day.

Michael Wallwork delivers his keynote address.

The second day of the Design Institute consisted of an all day workshop during which the design team addressed the challenges of each project. Through brainstorming sessions, the team suggested ideas, developed alternative solutions and made recommendations.

 Commissioner Rufus Alexander (left), Charles Pattison and Milt Rhodes.

Fort Pierce Commissioner Rufus Alexander brought the Port of Fort Pierce – Fisherman's Wharf Study Area to the Design Institute and sought input on how to overcome various obstacles when redeveloping the site. In 1996, the City of Fort Pierce started its new vision for this site with a non-binding public referendum and charrette process that focused on marine industries, specifically the mega yacht industry, as the industrial component for the mixed use Port.

Jupiter Councilor Todd Wodraska sought advice on how to develop the town's Riverwalk – Inlet Village Study Area, primarily located along the eastern shoreline of the Intracoastal Waterway. Jupiter officials desire to maintain a pedestrian and water-oriented working waterfront that is consistent with the scale and charm of a historic and "funky" fishing village that existed in the late 1800's. The Town would also like to create a “main street” along an unimproved 30-foot right-of-way known as Cramer Road and along the Riverwalk with active retail and/or entertainment type uses on the ground floor.

Indian River County Commissioner Gary C. Wheeler brought the 98 th Avenue Initiative Study Area to the Design Institute and sought guidance on how to best develop the area. This entire site is located west of I-95, “isolated” from the urban area, larger than the “Vero Beach” community to the east and is surrounded by square miles of low density agriculturally designated land (one unit per 10 acres). The area is connected to the larger Vero Beach urban area by SR60 and 4 th Street, an unpaved street that extends east of I-95 at an underpass and functions as a major through street all the way to Indian River Boulevard.

Michael Wallwork (left), Dan Cary,

Vice-Mayor Pamela Busha and Gary Rogers

Vice-Mayor Pamela M. Busha of Sewall's Point brought the town's A1A Corridor Study Area to the Design Institute to seek advice on various redevelopment issues.  Sewall’s Point Town officials feel that this downtown corridor is unattractive, inhibits traffic flow and needs revamping. Initially, the 1998 charrette was conducted in order to create a Master Plan for the Town of Sewall ’s Point to address this and other issues confronting the Town.