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Community Redevelopment Area: CRAs and Waterfront Communities

Community Redevelopment Area: CRAs and Waterfront Communities. University of Florida College of Law Conservation Clinic. What is a CRA?.

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Community Redevelopment Area: CRAs and Waterfront Communities

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  1. Community Redevelopment Area:CRAs and Waterfront Communities University of Florida College of Law Conservation Clinic

  2. What is a CRA? • Florida Law (Chapter 163, Part III), authorizes local governments to designate areas as Community Redevelopment Areas (CRAs) when certain conditions exist. • The FL legislature adopted the Community Redevelopment Act in 1969 to help communities revitalize downtowns, preserve historic structures, and otherwise enhance communities through CRAs. The Act is discussed in greater detail in later slides. Fla. Stat. §163.330 et seq. • Simply put, a CRA is a specifically focused financing tool that channels tax increments paid on properties within the designated CRA district back into the CRA area for redevelopment within the CRA.

  3. CRAs & Waterfront Communities • CRAs are a viable tool for funding traditional and working waterfront preservation, restoration, and redevelopment. • Traditional & Working waterfronts include: • Commercial and recreational fishing • Catch processing • Boat building • Marinas to accommodate both commercial and non-commercial public access • Commercial ports (trade and cruise ships) • Public recreational beach fronts • Certain CRA requirements are waived for waterfront areas as part of the initiative to protect working waterfronts and public access to the waterfront.Fla. Stat. §163.335 and §163.340 • With the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA), Congress established a national policy to preserve marine natural resources, historic coastal features, and public access to waterfronts.16 U.S.C. 1451

  4. Preserving Waterfronts: Character & ResourcesCoastal Zone Management The CZMA provides: (a) There is a national interest in the effective management, beneficial use, protection, and development of the coastal zone. (c) . . . .increasing and competing demands upon the lands and waters of our coastal zone occasioned by population growth and economic development, [have resulted in] the loss of living marine resources, wildlife, nutrient rich areas, permanent and adverse changes to ecological systems, decreasing open space for public use, and shoreline erosion. 16 U.S.C. §1451 (emphasis added) Congress recognized that “important ecological, cultural, historic, and esthetic values in the coastal zone which are essential to the well-being of all citizens are being irretrievably damaged or lost.” 16 U.S.C. 1451 § 302(e) (emphasis added)

  5. Who Uses CRAs? • CRAs are used in over 140 Florida cities • CRAs are used for improvement and redevelopment from the larger cities of Jacksonville, Tampa (Ybor City) and Orlando (Church Street) to mid-size and smaller cities and communities like: • Boynton Beach, Ft. Pierce, • Jupiter, Key West, Panama City, • Punta Gorda, Riviera Beach, Stuart, St. Andrews • Cortez, and the beachfront in Ft. Lauderdale.

  6. Why Use CRAs? • CRAs can improve area conditions, including: • Substandard or inadequate structures • Inadequate parking • Insufficient roadways • Shortage of affordable housing • CRAs in Waterfront Communities can be used for: • Creating or Preserving Public Access • Improving docking facilities • Building riverwalks or boardwalks • Improving on-street or beach access parking • Providing areas for planting native vegetation

  7. CRA requirements for Waterfront Communities • The CRA Act contains special provisions relative to Waterfront Communities: • Fl. Stat. 163.335: The Legislature found that economically and physically distressed waterfront areas should be revitalized • Fl. Stat. 163.340(10) defines CRA to include: a coastal and tourist area that is deteriorating and economically distressed due to outdated building density patterns, inadequate transportation and parking facilities, faulty lot layout or inadequate street layout, or a combination thereof which the governing body designates as appropriate for community redevelopment

  8. The Design and Planning Committee developed design guidelines for the streetscape, including: increased on-street parking, slowing through traffic, increasing pedestrian safety, and providing areas for planting native vegetation CRAs in Waterfront Communities St. Andrews Boardwalk&Pavilion PublicAccess

  9. CRAs in Waterfront Communities Riviera Beach: Working Waterfront • The CRA Viking Inlet Plan includes: • Creation of a Public Lagoon • 400 Boat Slips • Waterfront Aquarium • An Amphitheater • Marine Sales Center, including boat storage and mechanics

  10. CRAs in Waterfront Communities Jensen Beach Community Redevelopment District Restoration. Development and Protection of the beach area surrounding the Indian River Lagoon, including • increased publicaccess to and education about this valuable aquatic resource • Agency has proposed an educational riverwalk which incorporates stormwater retention structures in its design.

  11. Creating a CRA 7Basic Steps: 1. Research Necessity for a CRA 2. Notify the Public and Taxing Authorities of Intent 3. Present Finding of Necessity at a Public Meeting 4. Legislative Body adopts a Resolution to create a CRA and an overseeing Community Redevelopment Agency 5. Legislative Body creates an Ordinance detailing duties of the Agency and creates a RedevelopmentPlan 6. Establish a Trust Fund to finance the CRA

  12. What is a “Finding of Necessity”? Local Government must survey the proposed redevelopment area to prepare a document (Finding of Necessity) that confirms the required conditions exist to qualify for a CRA: Blight = - Presence of substandard or inadequate structures - Inadequate parking - Insufficient roadways - Shortage of affordable housing

  13. What is a “Finding of Necessity”? Research Necessity for a CRA • Find Blight in the area • Show deteriorated buildings are leading to economic distress or endanger life or property AND • Show 2 elements of ‘blight’ in area: • Defective or Inadequate street layout, parking, etc. • Deterioration of site or other improvements • 2002 Legislation made findings of blight more stringent • Prove blight through government-maintained statistics or other studies • HOWEVER …

  14. Waterfront CRAs Requirements may be less stringent because of statutory support for coastal revitalization: A coastal resort or tourist area that is deteriorating and Economically distressed due to outdatedbuilding densitypatterns, inadequatetransportation and parkingfacilities, faultylotlayout or inadequate Street layout could [through CRAs] be revitalized and redeveloped to improve the economic and social conditions of the community. FL Stat.§163.335 Findings and declarations of necessity

  15. Who Approves Establishing a CRA? Requirement of County Approval • In a county that is a charter county, the local municipality may be required to gain county approval. • County approval may be a requirement for unincorporated municipalities • If the county is non-charter, county approval may not be required before establishing a CRA.

  16. The Next Steps to Establish a CRA • Notify Public and All Taxing Authorities of Intent • Registered Mail • Publication in Newspaper • Copy of Notice in Clerk’s Office • Present Finding of Necessity at a Public Meeting • Provides an opportunity for feedback • The City Council Adopts a Resolution creating a CRAand an overseeing Community Redevelopment Agency • Specifies the redevelopment boundary area • Determines the membership of the CRA Agency

  17. The Next Steps to Establish a CRA • Council Passes an Ordinance detailing the duties of the Agency to oversee the CRA • Determine powers, duties, and procedures • Agency must consist of 5-9 members • As of 2006, Agency no longer has power of eminent domain • Create a Redevelopment Plan • Consistent with the Comprehensive Plan • Offer maximum opportunity for redevelopment by private enterprise • Make provision for community parks and recreation areas • Provide a feasible method to relocate displaced families

  18. Administration of the CRA:Three Bodies • The Community Redevelopment Agency • An Agency required under the CRA Act and created by the local government to administer the CRA district • The CRA Board • A 5 to 9 member board also created by the local government, directs the agency with the support of Advisory Boards for each CRA district • Advisory Board • Members are appointed by the Agency to develop annual work plans with input from members of the public interested in redevelopment projects in the CRA. • Periodically review the Redevelopment Plan to recommend any changes to the long-term plan.

  19. The Next Steps to Establish a CRA Establish a Trust Fund to finance the CRA • No money from tax increment financing may be spent or collected until the Fund is established • Money through taxing authorities is deposited by Jan 1st of each year • Examples of what the Fund may finance: • Incentives for restoration or redevelopment • Administrative and overhead expenses • Redevelopment planning, surveys, analysis, etc. • Acquisition of real property in the CRA • Clearance and preparation of any area for redevelopment • Provide matching funds for Community Block Grants • Transportation Improvements

  20. How are CRAs Funded? Redevelopment Trust Funds • The principal funding source is a Trust Fund set up to receive annual Tax Increment Financing (TIF). • TIF is any increase (the increment) in CRA District property taxes collected by the County over and above the amount of taxes collected in the base year. • These incremental funds are returned to the CRA District and deposited into the Trust Fund to be used only by the District for projects in the CRA District.

  21. Valid Uses for TIF Monies Redevelopment Trust Funds can be expended for specific redevelopment purposes in the CRA districts for things like: • Administrative and overhead expenses • Redevelopment planning, surveys, and financial analysis • Acquisition and disposal of property • Preparing land for redevelopment, including clearance, relocation of owners and occupants, and site preparation of redevelopment area property • Public utilities • Appropriated to a specific redevelopment project to be completed within 3 years of the date of appropriation • Deposited in an escrow account to later reduce any indebtedness that increment revenues are pledged • Develop affordable housing for residents of the area, and more.

  22. More on Funding for a CRA Funding the CRA • Tax Increment Financing • Revenue comes from 50-95% of tax increment within the redevelopment area • Other Available Funds • Florida Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) • provides funding for new sidewalks, underground utilities, trees and facade renovations. • Facade Renovation Grant Program • provides up to $5,000 per store front • Florida Historic Preservation Grants

  23. After the CRA is Established • Money from the Fund is used to finance restoration and redevelopment of the commercial area • Matching Funds • Bonding • The CRA exists until it expires or is dissolved • Use it for things like: • Transportation & Parking • Sidewalks, crosswalks, medians, and turn lanes • Adequate parking • Waterfront Boardwalks • Landscaping • Improve facades (paint, fencing, & flower barrels) • Underground utility lines • Seawalls and Bulkheads • Commercial Public Infrastructure • Maritime Museum • Public Docks and Slips • Encourage renovations through incentive

  24. Why Not Your Community?

  25. Thank You for Your Time Please feel free to ask any questions.

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