CATEGORY VI – STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS:
The development of the Streetscape Improvement component of the Capital Improvement Program is derived from specific recommendations or action strategies set forth in the Master Park, Recreation, and Open Space Study and the Right-of-Way Master Plan. Additionally, the Transportation Element goal statement suggests aesthetic improvements are a desired component the City’s transportation system.
Comprehensive Plan Goal: “TO PROVIDE AND ENCOURAGE A MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT MEETS THE CIRCULATION NEEDS OF MARCO ISLAND IN A SAFE AND EFFICIENT MANNER BUT DOES NOT ADVERSELY IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE RESIDENTS.”
Comprehensive Plan Information: The City’s Comprehensive Plan is divided into two sections: Part 1 – Goals, Objectives and Policies; and Part 2 – Data and Analysis. Part 1 identifies the goal of the Transportation Element as listed above. The relevant Comprehensive Plan Objectives from Part 1 are:
· Promote a safe, convenient, and energy efficient multimodal transportation system
· The City shall coordinate future transportation, park and infrastructure improvements to ensure compatibility and appropriateness of adjacent land uses, and to promote the Island’s small town character
Part 2 of the Comprehensive Plan addressing the desire to advance a multimodal transportation network that reflects aesthetic expectations of the community is based on information and recommendations contained in the City’s Master Park, Recreation and Open Space Study, and the Right-of-Way Master Plan.
Master Park, Recreation and Open Space Study Recommendations: The Citywide interconnected system of pedestrian-friendly facilities include landscaped sidewalks borders in our neighborhoods, safe facilities for bicycle use and improved safety at pedestrian crosswalks. The system of sidewalks and bikeways connect neighborhoods to town centers, parks, public buildings, and natural areas. The benefits of an interconnecting alternative transportation system include:
· Improved safety for pedestrians and cyclists;
· Less reliance on the automobile and other motorized travel;
· Improved air quality; and
· Improved quality of life for residents
Right-of-Way Master Plan Recommendations: Although the City's Right-of-Way Master Study is primarily a transportation-planning document that focuses on capacity and system preservation improvements to bridges and arterial, collector, and local streets, the document also provides evaluations and recommendations for aesthetic designs within roadway right-of-way. At the outset, the planning document clearly announces a citizen-supported goal that future transportation infrastructure improvements be balanced with elements of streetscape aesthetics.
Section Six of the Right-of-Way Master Plan is devoted solely to streetscape improvements, and provides recommendations for street furniture and elements, street signage, lighting and landscaping.
Streetscape improvements generally include roadside and median landscaping. Also included are associated street level amenities such as benches, architectural lighting and signing, brick paver designs, linear parks, aesthetic mast arm traffic signals, decoratively designed newspaper arbors, sidewalks, bicycle facilities and other landscape architecture elements servicing the needs of pedestrians and bicyclists.
Optimally, streetscape improvements are designed concurrently with transportation engineering projects to achieve maximum benefits in first costs and perpetual maintenance. However, in instances of limited funds or different program time lines whereby roadway expansion projects follow initial streetscape improvements consisting of basic landscaping elements, design strategies need to be employed to minimize future loss or relocation of constructed streetscape improvements.
Consistency With Adopted Schedule of Capital Improvements – Based on the Adopted Schedule of Capital Improvements contained in the amended Comprehensive Plan, $800,000 has been committed to streetscape improvement projects for the prior Five-Year CIP for FY06-FY10. The streetscape expenditures contained in this proposed Five-Year CIP promote financial consistency with the adopted Comprehensive Plan.
The Five-Year CIP for fiscal years 2007-2011 allocates $875,000 for streetscape improvement projects.
PROJECT #14: Roadside Border Landscaping
Project Goal: “To increase the number of trees planted along streets, within the rights-of-way, that serve to improve the landscape quality and character of Marco Island.”
Project Objectives:
1. To increase the number of trees planted along North Collier Blvd. between Rose Ct. and the Jolley Bridge and to begin tree replacements in planted medians that were damaged or destroyed by the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes in FY07.
Project’s Relationship to Comprehensive Plan:
· “Incorporation of the recommendations contained in the Master Right-of-Way Plan into the five year Capital Improvement Elements based on priority of need and availability of fiscal resources” (Section II, Policy 1.1.1)
Project’s Relationship to Master Right-of-Way Plan:
· “Due to the high temperature and intense sunlight the island experiences in a year, citizens want to maximize the amount of shade available within the roadway pedestrian corridors. The new roadway cross section has been prepared to maximize room within the right of way for meandering sidewalks and increased amounts of shade trees.” (Section 5, Roadway Shade/Lighting, pages 3 & 4)
· “Due to extensive overhead power lines along the majority of the project area, the small tree acts as the staple street tree on the island. Because of their smaller size, more trees would be planted to permit the desired shade and streetscape effect. No understory planting is recommended, except to accent proposed pedestrian nodes.” (Section 6, Streetscaping, page 10)
· “Landscape Palette provides recommendations for suitable species.” (Section 6, Streetscaping, pages 14-31)
Project’s Relationship to MPROSS:
· “Establish a tree-planting program that targets individual corridors for improvements.” (Section 4, page 5, #5)
Success Measurement: Completion of the FY07, FY08, FY09, FY10 and FY11 planting projects within the approved budget and within the fiscal year.
Project Narrative: Marco Island is a beautiful City. The landscape character sets the City apart from many other Florida communities and is a significant enhancement to both the physical beauty of the island and the quality of life for residents. To further enrich the beauty of the Island, planting street trees along major roadways has been a priority for the last three fiscal years. A combination of palms, shade trees, flowering trees, and shrubbery have been used to improve the visual quality of Winterberry Drive (FY02), Bald Eagle Drive (FY03), San Marco Road (FY04), Bald Eagle Drive Phase 2 (FY05), and North Barfield Drive (FY06).
Using the plant recommendations from the Right-of-Way Master Plan (1999), staff has worked with the Beautification Advisory Committee and consultants to design the first three phases of the “Roadside Border Landscaping” project. This collaboration will continue in FY07 as North Collier Boulevard, between Rose Court and the Jolley Bridge is planted. Remaining funds will be used to begin median tree replacements on South Barfield Drive. Projects in FY08-FY11 will continue roadside beautification in areas targeted through the Right-of-Way Master Plan, MPROSS, and as recommended by the Beautification Advisory Committee. All projects are supported in the MPROSS, The Master Right-of-Way Plan and the Comprehensive Plan. Recommended funding for FY11 has been included.
Five-Year Funding Recommendation:
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
FY10 |
FY11 |
Total |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$750,000 |
Funding: $750,000 GF
Project #15: Cul-de-Sac Tree and Landscaping Installations
Project Goal: “To continue with an annual citywide Cul-de-Sac program by installing plant material per the “standard” design as recommended by the City’s Beautification Advisory Committee.”
Project Objectives:
1. To maintain cul-de-sacs in accordance with the “standard” design as recommended by the Beautification Advisory Committee.
2. To encourage resident maintenance of cul-de-sacs.
Project’s Relationship to Comprehensive Plan:
· “Promote a safe, convenient, and energy efficient multimodal transportation system.” (Section VI, Objective 1.3)
· “Encourage non-motorized travel on the island to reduce fossil fuel emissions through improved pedestrian and bicycle facilities.” (Section V, Policy 1.1.2)
Project’s Relationship to Master Park, Recreation and Open Space Study Recommendations:
· This project is primarily intended to provide street trees and ground cover plantings at local street cul-de-sacs to provide aesthetic benefits to residents such as high visual impact and shade.
Project’s Relationship to the Right-of-Way Master Plan Recommendations:
· This tree installation and ground cover landscaping program for local street Cul-de-Sacs is consistent with recommendations set forth in the Right-of-Way Master Plan, as further elaborated and recommended by the City’s Beautification Advisory Committee.
Success Measurement: Complete all annual tree installation and landscape work by September 30 of each ending fiscal year programmed in the Five-Year CIP.
Project Narrative: Through review of the Cul-de-sac program with the Beautification Advisory Committee, a “standard” design has been developed for cul-de-sacs not planted and maintained by residents. This “standard” design will be installed by the City at cul-de-sacs without resident maintenance agreements over a period of time and as funding allows. This effort will be coordinated with the LCEC as they place electrical utilities underground as approved by City Council.
Five-Year Funding Recommendation:
FY07 |
FY08 |
FY09 |
FY10 |
FY11 |
Total |
25,000 |
25,000 |
25,000 |
25,000 |
25,000 |
125,000 |
Funding: $125,000 GF
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