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Seminole begins considering image, identity

Seminole leaders begin considering its identity. Ideas on beautification, a design plan and a possible city center are proposed.

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published October 16, 2005

SEMINOLE - Council members will begin deciding Tuesday how far they want to go in revamping Seminole's aesthetic future.

That's when they will first hear from the Renaissance Planning Group, an Orlando company they hired in August to help give Seminole an identity that distinguishes it from other Pinellas municipalities.

Since Renaissance was hired, city staff members have met with representatives from the firm to draft a proposal covering the company's duties and fees. The proposed work was separated into three projects - citywide beautification, the feasibility of establishing a city center and creating a design plan.

Each has its own fees and timetable: $84,990 for beautification; $134,960 for the city center project; and $78,230 for the design plan.

However, City Manager Frank Edmunds said, "the City Council can actually pick and choose" which parts of the three proposals it wants to do.

If the council decides to do all three, the total fee would be $298,180. Other potential project costs could bring that total up to approximately $350,000.

Once council members decide how expansive they want the program to be, a contract will be drawn up and, once officially approved, work will begin. Edmunds estimated the planning portion of Seminole's image change could take 12 to 18 months. The execution of any plan that's developed could, however, take 10 to 15 years, depending upon funding.

Edmunds said he and the council are adamant about getting plenty of ideas from the public for the three projects.

Although the council has long talked of establishing a city image and design rules for developers, this step comes at an active time in Seminole's history. Harbor Lights Mobile Home Park is about to be sold so it can be developed as single family homes and townhomes. And Orange Blossom Groves, long a city landmark, is also for sale.

It is possible, Edmunds said, that those properties would be the first developments to have to adhere to any new design code. Such a code may not be formally adopted by the time plans for those developments are presented. Still, Edmunds said he hopes the code will be complete enough that the developers would willingly comply with the council's vision.

A bit easier to control, he said, would be any city projects, such as a municipal building to house a historical museum. At a council workshop last week, members spoke with leaders of the Seminole Historical Society about the possibility of creating such a museum.

[Last modified October 16, 2005, 01:32:18]