The South Florida Avenue (SR 37) Charrette and Master Plan received the “Plan It Award” at the annual meeting of the Heart of Florida Section of the American Planning Association Florida Chapter on February 9, 2018. This award is given to planning documents, studies, reports, or analyses that reflect sound planning principles and that have been adopted by a public agency for use in a local jurisdiction.

The Florida Department of Transportation, District 1 (FDOT), in collaboration with the Central Florida Regional Planning Council, supported by the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council staff, and the City of Lakeland, entered into an agreement to study and implement ways to improve mobility, quality of life, and economic vitality along the South Florida Avenue (SR 37) corridor between Ariana Street and Pine Street in Lakeland, Florida.  A significant public involvement process, which included a “Complete Streets” public design charrette was conducted, and an economic development analysis and detailed traffic study on South Florida Avenue to assist FDOT in accomplishing the goal of promoting safety, quality of life, and economic development were prepared.  In addition, the Master Plan provides options and improvements that are market-based realities supported by the Market Overview which considers growth potential and impediments to housing, employment, and retail, as well as other factors.

Marcia Staszko was awarded the 2017 Sheila Winitzer Shining Star Award by the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged for her over 30-years of leadership in the Transportation Disadvantaged coordinated system in Central Florida. Ms. Staszko retired as the Transportation Disadvantaged Program Director for Central Florida Regional Planning Council in May of 2016, however, returned part-time late that same year to assist with projects related to the Transportation Disadvantaged program.

Throughout her career, Marcia has been involved in all aspects of the program at the state and local levels. She was a founding member and an organizer of the grassroots effort that resulted in the creation of the Florida Association of Coordinated Transportation Systems and served as a Board member for a number of years.

She has routinely attended state Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged meetings and conferences and has been actively involved in the continuous improvement of the Coordinated Transportation System on all levels. Marcia was instrumental in outlining the process for selecting and brokering Transportation Disadvantaged services as the planning agency.  In the words of Jo Ann Hutchinson, former Executive Director of the Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged, “Marcia was always very respectful while being a strong advocate for coordinated transportation.  She led by example and was a role model for staffing a coordinating board. As a result, she had great local support resulting in more Transportation Disadvantaged services”.

In 2010, Marcia was the recipient of the “William G. and Budd Bell Lifetime Achievement Award”, also presented by the Commission. Marcia is an active community volunteer and provides volunteer transportation to individuals who have limited mobility and transportation options in order to get them to essential services and also serves as the representative for seniors on the Polk TPO Local Coordinating Board.

The award was presented to Marcia at the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged Awards Banquet held on August 30, 2017, in Orlando, Florida.

The Central Florida Regional Planning Council (CFRPC) accepted an Award of Excellence in the Best Practices Category at the American Planning Association (APA) Florida conference in Tampa, FL on September 7, 2016 for the East Lake Parker/West North Combee Areawide Plan. The APA Florida Project Awards program recognizes projects where planning has had a positive impact on the outcome and are scored on innovation, transferability, quality, implementation, and comprehensiveness.

Completed in the fall of 2015, the plan was developed by the CFRPC over a two-year period through public/private partnerships and extensive community involvement to draw attention to the needs of the community and provide a road map for public and private investment. The plan sets the foundation for creating economic recovery and resiliency in the East Lake Parker/West North Combee area of Polk County.

CFRPC Team that worked on the E Lake Parker/ W North Combee Areawide Plan

The opportunity to focus attention on this neighborhood came with the Environmental Protection Agency’s nationwide competitive Brownfields Areawide Grant that was awarded to the CFRPC in 2013. Through a partnership with CARE, which is the Combee Area Revitalization Effort, the collaboration developed extensive community-based involvement, local government support, and partnerships with private property owners in the area. Community preference guided all areas of the plan development.

Redevelopment features of the Catalyst Site focused on open spaces with vistas to the lake and pedestrian access to the neighborhood. A conceptual site plan including a land use and pathway plan with renderings included: office, medical, and neighborhood commercial areas, community services, apartment homes, and senior living facilities. Development proposals have already been submitted for the site and work will continue using a Brownfields Assessment Grant and the CFRPC’s Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund to continue redevelopment in the community.

While still in the early stages of implementation, the plan has positive impact on the community through attention from local code enforcement, safer streets through traffic calming and complete street planning, an additional bus stop in a safer, more accessible area for the community, and alternative low impact standards for site redevelopment.

For more information about the East Lake Parker/West North Combee Areawide Plan or the Brownfields Program, visit http://www.cfrpc.org/areawideplanning/ or contact Jennifer Codo-Salisbury, Planning Director, CFRPC, 863-534-7130.