Pensacola City Councilman Brian Spencer discussed downtown development on News Talk 1370 WCOA’s “Pensacola Speaks” on Monday. He explained when he believed it was the correct decision to hire Urban Design Associates to help the CRA develop a new RFP for the Hawkshaw property.
“I feel strongly that the primary goal of using the professional planning firm, in this case the Urban Design Associates, is to assist the CRA in writing and crafting an RFP that incorporates, and this is the big difference Rick, unlike the other studies, the concerns and goals that may be outside the parameters of zoning, the city’s Land Development Code, as well as the other studies that are on the shelf,” he said on the radio.
“What I believe that this partnership with the CRA and the consultant is going to provide examples that will include now via consensus through a participatory planning process, we will arrive at what is a agreed upon density, building heights, amount of green space versus building footprint, and stormwater management solutions.”
Spencer said that the consultant will hold three public forums to gather input from different sectors from the community including members of the Veterans’ Memorial Park Board.
Councilman Spencer said,”When this RFP is released Rick, it will be one that has been established through the workshop process and ultimately, I even hope that we will be so bold or reach a consensus to understand for instance what do we as a community agree upon that will be a minimum valuation, building valuation or project valuation, so that we can be assured there will be money that spins off to fill the coffers of the CRA.”
