Chuck Chestnut

October 24, 2002

CITY OF GAINESVILLE
Office of the City Commission

To Whom It May Concern:

The Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is deeply concerned about several of the proposed ADA parking requirements contained in the “Draft Guidelines for Accessible Public Rights-of-Way.” These changes will negatively impact downtown areas and will prevent local governments from making the best choices for locating handicapped spaces within their districts.

The CRA is concerned with the impact of placing a handicapped parking space on each block face in the downtown area. Gainesville, like most communities in Florida, has a small block face; the addition of one handicapped parking space per block face would have a significant impact on parking availability. This mandate would also hinder the governing body from using its best judgment in placement of handicapped spaces, whereby these much needed spaces may be placed in inappropriate locations rather than where they are most needed.

The changes required to curbing and placement of street furniture would also have a major impact on streetscape projects. Extended runs of drop curbs would create drainage and cleanliness issues. Removal of street furnishing would impact all of those citizens who use downtown. Long stretches of sidewalk without benches, trash cans and pedestrian lighting will make downtown less attractive to the average pedestrian and create a downtown less appealing to all.

Please reconsider the plan mandate of one handicapped space per block face, as well as the additional concerns relating to the proposed requirements.

Sincerely,

Chuck Chestnut, Chair
Community Redevelopment Agency