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CRA directs staff to begin finding-of-necessity work to study expanding districts; timeline about 9–12 months
Summary
The board authorized staff to proceed with mapping and a finding-of-necessity study to evaluate expansion of Saint Andrews and Millville CRA districts; staff estimated a 9–12 month process and discussed plan updates and likely consultant costs.
The CRA board directed staff to initiate the technical work to study possible expansions of existing CRA districts and to return with maps and a cost estimate for the necessary finding-of-necessity study.
This is significant because expanding CRA boundaries can unlock redevelopment tools and funding in neighborhoods that currently fall outside redevelopment areas, but expansions require legal findings, plan amendments and outreach under Florida law.
Staff briefed the board on the multi-step process to expand a CRA district under Chapter 163, Part III of the Florida Statutes and described the required “finding of necessity” study. Staff said the most likely path would be to amend existing CRA plans to include any newly added areas; staff noted the Saint Andrews expansion was recently completed and that similar work could be started for Millville and other gaps the board identified.
Board members suggested specific areas for study — for example, extending Millville north from Seventh to Eleventh streets and addressing a small area east to Everett Avenue — and asked for maps to be brought back for review. Staff said the finding-of-necessity and related planning work are often performed by outside consultants; staff noted it has used GAI Consulting in the past and estimated a timeline of roughly nine to 12 months to complete the process if work began promptly. Staff also explained how plan updates and study costs have been shared across CRA districts in prior efforts.
The board voted, by roll call, to authorize staff to proceed with mapping and the finding-of-necessity study and to return with a proposed expanded map and cost estimate; staff said they would either fund the study from current budgets or include it in the next budget cycle depending on price.
Ending: Staff will produce proposed maps and a cost estimate for the study and will return to the CRA for approval of the area to be submitted for the finding-of-necessity study; if authorized, the full process to finalize an expansion could take nine to 12 months.
