Davie CRA presentation outlines plan to extend agency to 2039 and direct county funds to townwide affordable housing

Philip Hosey, the town’s assistant administrator and Community Redevelopment Agency director, presented an interlocal agreement between the Davie CRA, the Town of Davie and Broward County that would extend the CRA’s term through September 2039 and create an annual county contribution for townwide affordable-housing programs beginning in fiscal year 2028.

“This agreement accomplishes two significant goals,” Hosey said, explaining that the extension would allow the CRA to operate another 12 years and that county contributions would be used for affordable-housing initiatives townwide. He read from Broward County’s 10-year affordable housing master plan, which the presentation said identified a homeowner supply gap of 4,644 units and a rental supply gap of 3,696 units in Davie.

Under the terms described in the presentation, the CRA would stop receiving funding from other taxing entities after fiscal year 2027 (entities named in the presentation included Broward County, hospital districts, the Children’s Services Council and the Central Broward Water Control District). Starting fiscal year 2028, the CRA would receive funding from the Town of Davie and an annual county contribution from Broward County running through fiscal year 2035; those county dollars would be spent on affordable-housing programs across the town, not only inside the CRA boundaries.

Hosey outlined eligible uses included in the interlocal agreement: residential rehabilitation with restricted covenants requiring at least 10 years of affordability for owner-occupied housing; first-time homebuyer assistance with at least 15 years of restricted affordability; infrastructure spending (drainage, water, wastewater, paving, lighting, solid waste, bridges, roadways and canals) in support of affordable-housing projects, subject to a cap (presentation referenced roughly a 15% limit on such infrastructure spending); and gap financing for projects that would not otherwise reach required returns, with extended affordability periods (the presentation said some residential units would be required to remain affordable for at least 30 years).

Hosey said the county contribution will be budgeted and distributed annually and that, under Florida law cited in the presentation (Florida Statute 129), the county cannot commit multi-year allocations; he also said the county administration had committed to making the annual contributions and that much of the money would come from expiring CRAs countywide. If Broward County misses a year, the presentation said the contribution would be due on or before Dec. 1 of the following fiscal year.

The presentation described continued reporting and oversight requirements: the CRA would maintain its existing annual report and audit obligations, and the Town of Davie would prepare an additional annual report showing how county funding was spent on affordable housing (Hosey said that additional report would come from the town, not the CRA). Hosey also outlined next steps if the interlocal agreement is approved: the town would have about 180 days to amend its redevelopment plan (last amended in 2012), submit the modification to the local planning agency for review and recommendation, return to the CRA board for final adoption, and then the town council would adopt resolutions formally adopting the modified redevelopment plan and extending the CRA through Sept. 30, 2039.

During questions, a board member asked whether the county’s contribution could be used to reimburse projects or loans the CRA may undertake before the county payments begin; Hosey said reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the county contribution start date was not anticipated and that expenditures would generally need to occur when the county contributions begin in fiscal year 2028. Another board member asked whether infrastructure items listed as eligible (roadway improvements, canals, paving, lighting, solid waste) remained allowable under the interlocal; Hosey confirmed those items were included as eligible expenses but reiterated a cap restricted how much of the county contribution could be spent on such infrastructure.

After the presentation and discussion, the CRA board approved the consent agenda by voice vote; the board recorded the approval as unanimous.

Next steps identified in the presentation: if the CRA board and town council approve the proposed interlocal agreement, Town of Davie staff expect to place the agreement on the Broward County Commission agenda in February 2025 and then follow the redevelopment-plan amendment, public-notice and hearing requirements spelled out in local and state law.

Less-critical details: Hosey thanked the town and county staff who worked on the interlocal agreement (he named staff and county officials during his remarks) and noted that the interlocal allows the parties to add additional programs or incentives in the future with county approval.