Background:
The City Commission awarded a contract in March 2017 to Redevelopment Management Associates (RMA), a planning consultant, to develop an improvements master plan for the eastern portion of the City, more specifically an area that includes University Drive and extends east to the eastern City limits, and from W. Oakland Park Boulevard south to Sunrise Boulevard. This master plan, known as the East Sunrise Improvements Master Plan, included a variety of tasks from refining a vision statement, compiling and analyzing a variety of data, reviewing redevelopment opportunities, and providing design concepts for the public realm.
Throughout the planning process, RMA and City staff engaged the residents, businesses, stakeholders, and City officials during public workshops and one-on-one sessions. The final Master Plan refines the vision statement based on input from members of the City Commission:
“East Sunrise will be a dynamic and welcoming community that appreciates and celebrates its diverse people and culture that embraces smart growth and development, while preserving its unique heritage as Sunrise’s original neighborhood. All of Sunrise will work together to create exceptionally vibrant and walkable neighborhoods with streetscapes, parks and recreational amenities, civic buildings, and quality public spaces where residents can enjoy opportunities for interaction and enrichment. New programing and initiatives will facilitate and foster a thriving local business community and enhanced quality of life. East Sunrise will be a place celebrated for years to come.”
The attached Master Plan is the final product of these planning efforts and is divided into three primary sections: Executive Summary, Recommendations & Strategies, and Implementation. The Master Plan includes a variety of recommendations for staff to begin working on the implementation of a branding and marketing program, regulatory changes to encourage redevelopment opportunity, and plaza and public art enhancements. The Master Plan also recommends improvements to streetscape, connectivity, signage, landscaping, and lighting. All recommendations were based on the shared vision.
This item is the formal adoption of the East Sunrise Improvements Master Plan and authorizes staff to move forward with utilizing the recommendations contained in the East Sunrise Improvements Master Plan as a guide for planning of future projects or programs. Staff is committed to progressing this vision.