Jensen Beach 4 - Martin County, Florida

Martin County CRA Jensen Beach 4
41 | P a g e

Jensen Beach Community
Redevelopment Plan
The goal of the September 2002, Jensen Beach CRA Plan is
to create a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly, mixed use
community. The vision includes a continuation of the
‘casual’ Jensen Beach image, emphasizing street life and
activity, buildings built to the street to create public
outdoor space, a down-home feel with Florida vernacular
architecture, enhanced landscaping, and coordinated
signage.
The Jensen Beach Vision Plan sets out priority projects and
details their implementation:
1. Infrastructure Improvements
2. Maple Avenue
3. Ricou Terrace
4. Public Buildings
5. Indian River Drive
6. Ocean Breeze Plaza (outside CRA)
7. Marina
8. Riverwalk
9. Municipal Parking
The priority projects list is headed by the provision of
infrastructure including water, sewer, fiber optics and
master stormwater facilities. The CRA understands the
need for these essential services to promote
redevelopment in the Jensen Beach district, which will
allow it to compete with other areas of the county for
quality development. The priority projects also identified
the desire for a civic presence, such as a public building for
Jensen Beach.
NOW Visioning Exercise
A factor in the text of the Vision Plan, and one that was
referred to numerous times during the NOW Visioning
sessions, was the continuing recognition by the
community of the significance of maintaining a ‘downhome’
feel by encouraging small scale development.
The community also emphasized, during the NOW
Visioning exercise, that the health of the waterfront is key
to the prosperity and regeneration of Jensen Beach.
Significant progress is being made towards the aims set
out in the 2002 Plan. Projects have been completed and
are in progress on Ricou Terrace, Indian River Drive and
the Community Building, all of which were indicated as
priority projects in the 2002 Jensen Beach CRA Plan.
Martin County CRA Jensen Beach 4
42 | P a g e

Commercial X-Ray
Commercial: Commercial land activities are focused along
Jensen Beach Boulevard. Several large commercial parcels
are located outside the CRA in the Town of Ocean Breeze.
Industrial X-Ray
Industrial: Florida East Coast Railroad (FEC) rail line runs
the entire length of the Jensen Beach Planning Area. There
are a limited number of industrial parcels outside the CRA
to the west.
Residential X-Ray
Residential: The Jensen Beach Planning Area is bound by
residential neighborhoods. The limited residential lots in
the Planning Area are concentrated on Mango Terrace and
Renar River Place. Community NOW Vision promotes small
size cottage type development and infill.
Martin County CRA Jensen Beach 4
43 | P a g e

Vacant Land X-Ray
Vacant: The numbers of vacant parcels are limited;
however the total acreage is almost half of the
developable area in the Jensen Beach CRA. A pro-active
Redevelopment Zoning should be implemented to
promote the Community Vision.
Street Contributing Network X-Ray
Streets: Indian River Drive, Jensen Beach Boulevard, and
the Jensen Beach Causeway, all merge in the Jensen Beach
CRA. NOW Visioning revealed Community desire to
improve and reinforce the internal roadway connections.
Open Space X-Ray
Open Space and Institutions: Three are no public parks in
the planning area, and a very limited number of
institutional uses. However, the Waterfront and publicly
owned land adjacent to the Waterfront offers
opportunities to create an exciting public place.
Martin County CRA Jensen Beach 4
44 | P a g e

STRENGTHS
The Green Dots represent the areas that the local
community liked. These together with written comments,
have resulted with the following strengths being identified
by the community:
1. Small Cottage Businesses
2. Streets – Jensen Beach
Boulevard
3. Waterfront
4. Community Events
5. Mixed Use
6. The Potential for
Redevelopment
Martin County CRA Jensen Beach 4
45 | P a g e

WEAKNESS
The Red Dots indicate locations that the Community had
issues and concerns that demonstrate a weakness.
Together with written comments the community
identified the following weaknesses:
1. Renar Building
2. ‘Drug’ Motel
3. Sundance Building
4. Parking
5. Landscaping/ Streetscape
6. Derelict Boats
7. Entrance from Jensen Beach
Boulevard.
Martin County CRA Jensen Beach 4
46 | P a g e

OPPORTUNITIES
The Blue Dots highlight locations that the Community has
identified as offering some opportunities. Together with
written comments the community identified the following
opportunities:
1. Waterfront Access/Use
2. Develop – Jensen Beach Style
3. Sundance Marine
4. Community Events
5. Mixed Use
6. Potential for Redevelopment
Martin County CRA Jensen Beach 4
47 | P a g e

DAN BURDEN’s
RECOMMENDATIONS
Walkability Factors
Dan Burden spent some time looking at Walkability factors
that are affecting Jensen Beach Community
Redevelopment Area. Some proposals are located outside
of the Community Redevelopment Area, but are
considered to be contributing factors that affect the
driver/pedestrian perception of the Area.
Median crossings
Reduce speeds to 20-25 mph, through design
Load corridors with shade trees, spaced in planters,
inset parking and planters each 30-50 feet
Roundabouts to replace signals at Jensen Beach
Boulevard with Indian River Drive
Study and consider a roundabout at Jensen Beach
Boulevard at Skyline Drive
Add mid block crossings in key areas
Continue to Promote the Urban form
Turn Maple into a Living Street, like Rosemary (West
Palm Beach)
Reconstruct Jensen Beach Boulevard into an efficient
Avenue or a Boulevard
Martin County CRA Jensen Beach 4
48 | P a g e

ACTIVITY FOCUS
1
Recommended Activity Focus
1. WATERFRONT ENHANCEMENT
Explore Partnerships with waterfront property
owners.
Boardwalk
Encourage Small Scale Business
Redevelopment Coding
Grant Funding
Jensen Beach Now Visioning and
Recommended Activity Focus
The Jensen Beach Now Visioning exercise revealed a
number of consistent themes. The Community expressed,
and focused on, the need to retain a ‘Jensen Beach’ feel. A
primary focus was the central area of Jensen Beach north
of Ricou Terrace. The Community desire is to promote a
central business/community/historic core through the
encouragement of small scale retail and cottage
development. The Waterfront was also strongly discussed
with a boardwalk and improved waterfront access and
waterfront development being suggested. Therefore, the
recommended Activity Focus for Jensen Beach is a
combined effort directed at attracting Small Family
Businesses situated harmoniously with a small scale
Jensen Beach Style Waterfront. The Activity Focus will be
to facilitate a partnership to develop a pedestrian
accessible and clean waterfront.
Martin County CRA Jensen Beach 4
49 | P a g e

THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK
Martin County CRA Jensen Beach 4
50 | P a g e