Tampa Coastal Area Action Plan
Tampa, FL

Tampa Coastal Area Action Plan

Project Type: Planning & Resilience
Project Status: Completed | June 2023
Site Area: 5,000AC
Team: Plusurbia Design, Benesch (lead)
Client: City of Tampa

Coastal resiliency in low lying areas is an increasingly important issue as sea levels rise and weather patterns become more unpredictable. The low-lying coastal regions in the City of Tampa are home to a variety of human, animal, and natural habitats that are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The inhabitants of these areas must face the challenge of protecting their homes, communities, and livelihoods from the impacts of natural disasters.
To help meet this challenge, the City of Tampa developed Coastal Area Action Plans for Palmetto Beach and neighborhoods south of Gandy Boulevard, including Port Tampa, Gandy Civic, Interbay, and Ballast Point. These communities are within Hurricane Evacuation Zones A and B and face a high risk from the impacts of sea level rise and storm surge. This project developed extensive public participation to educate the public on possible resilient adaptation strategies for private property and gathered feedback on the community’s preferences.
The feedback led to the creation of an adaptation strategies report where the different adaptation options where further developed and applicability considerations were summarized.