The City of Eustis Commission directed staff to schedule a retreat on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, to discuss downtown redevelopment, commission priorities and whether to engage outside experts to advise on land-use, redevelopment negotiations and design standards.

Commissioner George Asfadi urged an immediate workshop and recommended hiring a consultant and an experienced land-use attorney to “empower” the commission and staff before or while working with the developer identified in the city’s exclusive negotiating agreement (referenced in the meeting as G3C2). Asfadi said the goal was to ensure the city sets clear expectations and design standards and does not cede leverage to developers.

Other commissioners voiced caution that bringing in additional consultants could delay progress on the downtown project, which the commission and the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) have been working on for years. Commissioner Michael Holland and Vice Mayor Gary Ashcraft emphasized the importance of moving forward and not needlessly delaying a plan that already has significant prior work, including a master plan and an existing agreement with a developer. City Manager Tom said the city has an obligation to work in good faith with G3C2 during the six-month period referenced in the agreement, but added that the city can concurrently hold workshops and pursue consultants.

City Attorney Sasha informed the commission that the CRA had approved the contract with G3C2 and that, under that agreement, the city should be mindful of limits on separate negotiations or meetings that could conflict with the CRA’s commitments. Sasha recommended notifying the developer of the planned workshop and inviting their representatives so the workshop would not create an apparent conflict with the CRA-approved agreement.

Commissioners agreed to hold a retreat on Jan. 13 starting at 10 a.m., with location to be determined, and directed staff to invite potential consultants and report back on land-use counsel options. Tom said he would research and invite at least one candidate with municipal redevelopment experience (he mentioned a possible consultant, Mike Gohman) to participate in the workshop discussions. The workshop was described as an initial, open-ended planning session; commissioners said they were prepared to extend the meeting as needed.

The discussion also revisited the city’s master plan timeline and past delays; commissioners cited the master plan’s original 300‑day estimate and said actual work had taken longer, to illustrate the value of external expertise. No formal contract awards or procurement decisions were made at the Jan. 2 meeting; commissioners asked staff to return with options and potential costs for consultants and counsel at a later date.