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updated August 24, 2010

South Florida East Coast Corridor Study

Phase 2 of the South Florida East Coast Corridor Study is nearly complete. After talking with members of the public at more than 275 meetings, the study team is recommending three possible technologies for the Locally Preferred Alterative (LPA): regional bus, bus rapid transit and commuter rail. The LPA will define the route, vehicle type and station locations for new regional passenger transit service. Fifty-two station locations are recommended along an 85-mile segment of the Florida East Coast Railway from downtown Miami to Jupiter in Palm Beach County.

The Study seeks to improve north-south mobility in the tri-county region and is being conducted by the Florida Department of Transportation in partnership with planning and transit agencies of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. All of the planning includes environmental and community considerations.

The Florida Department of Transportation District Four will conduct a public hearing regarding proposed transit improvements along the South Florida East Coast Corridor. Citizens are invited to give their comments about technologies, route plans, and station locations at any one of five sites in Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach Counties.

All hearings begin with a 30-minutes open house where citizens can talk with study team members. A formal presentation will follow after which there will be a public testimony period, when comments and opinions are entered into the public record, one person at a time. Study team members will also be available to discuss the project and answer questions after the public comment period. For more information, visit www.SFECCstudy.com.

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons in the Treasure Coast Region who require translation services (free of charge) should contact the following at least seven days prior to a hearing: Palm Beach County – Clear Light Communications, Inc. 561.798.9633

Public Hearings in the Treasure Coast Region

 

West Palm Beach
Tuesday, September 14
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
701 Okeechobee Boulevard
3:30 – 5:30 p.m. AND 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

 

Boca Raton
Thursday, September 16
Boca Raton Community Center - Royal Palm Room
150 Crawford Boulevard
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

 

Rule Development Workshop
The Department of Community Affairs will hold a rule development workshop on Rule 9J-5.003 (Definitions), Rule 9J-5.005 (General Requirements), and Rule 9J-5.006 (Future Land Use Element), Florida Administrative Code, to amend the rule to provide greater detail and explanation relating to the statutory requirements that the future land use element be based upon the amount of land required to accommodate anticipated growth and the projected population of the area. The rule development workshop will be held Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. at the Tampa Convention Center, 333 South Franklin Street, Room 5, Ground Level, Tampa, Florida. The workshop notice is published in the Florida Administrative Weekly at https://www.flrules.org/gateway/readFile.asp?sid=1&tid=9027904&type=1&File=9J-5.003.htm.

For those planning to attend the 2010 American Planning Association, Florida Chapter Annual Conference, the rule development workshop is taking place one day prior to the opening session and is being held in the same location. For more information on the conference, please visit http://www.floridaplanning.org/.

A draft rule is now available on DCA's website at http://www.dca.state.fl.us/notices/. Look for a link to "Draft Rule for Population Projections and Land Use Analysis Requirements (August 20, 2010)" at the bottom of the page. There is no registration fee or RSVP required for this publicly noticed workshop. We look forward to your participation.

At the April meeting, Council staff presented Division Chief Dan Wouters with a certificate in recognition of his receipt of the 2009 Thomas Yatabe award from the State Emergency Response Commission, and in appreciation of his dedicated service to the District 10 Local Emergency Planning Committee and to the safety of citizens and responders of the Treasure Coast Region. Chief Wouters serves as the Division Chief of Field Operations at Martin County Fire Rescue and has been a member of the District 10 Local Emergency Planning Committee for a number of years.

The Thomas Yatabe Award is presented annually by the State Emergency Response Commission to recognize outstanding achievement, accomplishment or superior participation in the hazardous materials planning program.

Pictured from left to right: Terry Hess, Council Deputy Director and
Division Chief Daniel Wouters, Martin County Fire Rescue.

 
Florida American Planning Association & CNU Florida Brown Bag Lunch Presentations
Presentations from the February 23, 2010 FAPA-CNU FL Brown Bag Lunch are available below.
Henry Flagler Rides Again - presentation by Michael Busha Transit Planning and Redevelopment - presentation by Dana Little
TCRPC wins Adaptive Reuse Award from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation

Florida Trust for Historic Preservation awarded TCRPC the Adaptive Use award for 2009. The Trust awarded TCRPC for the renovation of the Knapp Inn in historic downtown Stuart for Council offices.

Before and After Tour of TCRPC offices Congratulatory Letter from Senator Pruitt

 

 

Imagine KC Video

Most people do not know that Light Rail is a land use issue - and not just about transportation. This video shows how pedestrian friendly developments are created around station locations, making light rail a catalyst for positive change in the community. This video was created for Kansas City Public Television as part of their Imagine KC.

 

Bank of America Continues Neighborhood Excellence Initiative

Bank of America has announced it will continue its Neighborhood Excellence Initiative (NEI), a six-year-old philanthropic program that invests in 45 of the bank’s major markets. In 2009, the NEI will invest $20 million in three key areas: grants to nonprofit organizations that work to promote vibrant neighborhoods, awards to local community heroes, and leadership development for high school students with a passion for neighborhood improvement.

 

Regional Evacuation Study

As part of a statewide initiative by the Florida Division of Emergency Management to coordinate up-to-date regional evacuation information across Florida, the Florida Regional Planning Councils will be preparing Regional Evacuation Studies. The Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council will research, analyze and compile data to generate a report containing a demographic and land use analysis, a hazards analysis, a behavioral analysis, a critical facilities inventory, a shelter analysis, a regional evacuation transportation networks analysis, and a vulnerability analysis specific to the Treasure Coast region. This Regional Evacuation Study will produce important, thorough and relevant information for emergency management decision-making.

For additional information, please contact Terry Hess

 

APA National Conference 2008, Las Vegas, Nevada
Michael Busha's Presentation

 

Introducing the Florida Planning Toolbox

CUES, in partnership with the Florida Department of Community Affairs, is proud to announce the release of the Florida Planning Toolbox, an effort to further regional visioning initiatives in Florida by providing descriptions and examples of planning tools designed to protect and enhance natural resources, promote economic prosperity for all residents, and enable a sustainable quality of life. Tools have been compiled in sixteen broad categories, including agricultural land conservation, benchmarking, climate change, coastal planning, diversity and social equity, economic development, education and health, fiscal analysis &financing, housing, infill and redevelopment, land use planning &development, military-community growth planning, natural systems conservation, public involvement &education, transportation planning, and water resource planning. The toolbox can be accessed in print and web-friendly versions at www.cuesfau.org/toolbox.