Title
Updating the Eastside Redevelopment Plan (B)
Explanation
In 2009, the City Commission considered potential expansions to the Eastside CRA Area and, after considering slum/blight studies, adopted resolutions finding blight in two areas adjacent to the existing Eastside Redevelopment Area. Subsequently, the CRA Board requested that staff craft amendments to the Eastside Redevelopment Plan in order to accommodate and recognize the proposed boundary modifications and to thoroughly update the content of the Eastside Redevelopment Plan.
A Community Redevelopment Plan is a very powerful visioning and policy tool, which, if structured properly, can provide great support for redevelopment initiatives. For a number of months, CRA staff worked on comprehensive updates to the Eastside Community Redevelopment Plan, coordinating closely with citizens through the Eastside Redevelopment Advisory Board (ERAB), who provided input and feedback to the proposed revisions. These revisions will bring the plan up-to-date, provide a more dynamic redevelopment policy, and accommodate the proposed boundary expansions to the Eastside Redevelopment Area. The structure of the revised Eastside Plan is modeled in part after the Fifth Avenue/Pleasant Street Redevelopment Plan, which was recently updated by CRA staff and which has been recognized by the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association as an exemplary neighborhood planning initiative. At the February 4, 2010 meeting, ERAB approved the draft revised Plan and forwarded the document to the CRA. The CRA Board approved the revised Redevelopment Plan at its Aril 19, 2010 meeting. The proposed Eastside Redevelopment Plan, revised in its entirety, is attached as backup to this agenda.
Pursuant to Florida Statutes, taxing authorities were notified that the CRA Board has approved Redevelopment Plan amendments which include modifying the boundaries of a Redevelopment Area, and that the CRA is recommending the City Commission also approve these changes. The CRA did not receive comments back from the taxing authorities and Alachua County did not notify the CRA or the City that the County has competing policy goals and plans for the public funds the County would be required to deposit to the community redevelopment trust fund under the proposed modification to the Redevelopment Plan.
Fiscal Note
None at this time.
Recommendation
CRA to the City Commission: 1) adopt a resolution amending the Eastside Redevelopment Plan in its entirety, subject to approval as to form and legality by the CRA/City attorney; and
CRA Executive Director to the City Commission: 1) request the City Attorney prepare ordinances redefining the legal description of the Eastside Redevelopment Area and defining the base value for tax increment calculations; and 2) advertise and hold public hearings to adopt ordinances related to CRA boundaries and the tax increment base value for the newly expanded Eastside Community Redevelopment Area.