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
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