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Dunedin May Open Downtown To Golf Carts
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Published: December 5, 2008
City commissioners will consider allowing golf carts within the downtown Community Redevelopment District.
One of the architect's of the Main Street district's renaissance, however, sees problems with opening the retailing and entertainment area to carts.
According to Assistant City Manager Harry Gross, several city commissioners have expressed interest in allowing the use of golf carts on certain Dunedin streets, most notably downtown.
Downtown cart use would be in line with the city's embrace of environmentally friendly and fuel-conserving green principles, advocates say. Having golf carts on public streets in Ozona and Crystal Beach has not created problems in the North Pinellas communities, backers say.
Community Redevelopment Agency Director Robert Ironsmith, however, says carts might work in a small place like Ozona but would not fit into downtown Dunedin. The city has been trying to make downtown friendly to walkers and bicycle riders, he says.
Pinellas County does not allow golf carts on the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail, which runs through downtown, Ironsmith notes.
In addition, golf carts would interfere with rush hour car and truck traffic on downtown streets like Broadway and take up downtown parking space, which are in short supply, Ironsmith says.
Carts could also run counter to the city's efforts to make downtown more welcoming to people with vision problems, Ironsmith says. For example, there are downtown traffic signals that via recorded message tell visually impaired people when it is safe to cross a street.
People with vision problems, however, might not be able to detect the approach of golf carts that don't make much noise, Ironsmith believes.
Golf carts could not be driven into or out of downtown because they are not permitted on state roads bordering the area, Ironsmith adds.
Those in favor of the carts say downtown Dunedin has always been at the forefront of trendy change and use of golf carts there is worthy of study.
Carts would have to be licensed and have lights and seats belts.
City commissioners have asked staff to return with more information on how golf carts are used in other cities and report sometimes next year.
Mark Schantz can be reached at 727-815-1075 or mschantz@suncoastnews.com.
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