CRA grants Related a time extension for Element 7 financing; board conditions extension on site‑plan progress

The Riviera Beach CRA approved a request from Related Urban Development Group to extend the financing period for Element 7 of its ground‑lease project, citing delays in the entitlement process tied to redesigns for a right‑turn lane and coordination with transit and public‑works agencies.

Representatives from Related explained that a revised site plan addressing the turn‑lane design and comments from public‑works and Palm Tran was resubmitted the evening of Sept. 10 and that final entitlement and site plan approval would be required before the developer could secure construction financing. Related said the delay — driven by added design and agency coordination — made it unlikely the project would meet the current financing deadline of Oct. 1, 2025.

After discussion board members proposed a time‑limited extension to balance the developer’s need for additional time with the agency’s interest in timely progress. Commissioner Spiritus moved an amendment that the board grant a six‑month extension, with an additional six‑month extension to follow automatically if the site plan had not received planning‑and‑zoning and council approvals within the first six months. The board approved that amendment and then approved the resolution as amended. The amended extension passed on final vote 5–0.

Staff and Related agreed to provide regular updates; the board requested quarterly progress reports and asked staff to monitor the entitlement timeline closely. The board’s action preserves the project’s ability to pursue financing while creating a measurable timetable for staff and Related to advance site‑plan approval.