North Port commission delays adoption of city-owned property inventory for affordable housing after extended debate

The City Commission of North Port voted 5-0 on June 10 to delay adoption of Resolution 2025-R-33, an inventory of city-owned properties staff identified as appropriate for affordable housing, to allow additional review of public-use definitions, sale authority and other planning matters.

Staff presented an abbreviated inventory narrowed from an earlier, larger list; the presentation said 141 parcels were identified as suitable for affordable housing under the statutory process described in Florida Statute Section 166.0451 (Live Local Act). The presentation summarized permitted dispositions under state law: long-term land leases requiring affordable housing development and maintenance; sales with proceeds used to buy land for affordable housing or to increase local affordable-housing funds; sale with deed restrictions requiring permanent affordable housing; donation to nonprofits to develop permanent affordable housing; or making the property available for production and preservation of permanent affordable housing.

Commissioners raised repeated concerns about the implications of listing large numbers of parcels. Questions centered on whether placing a parcel on the inventory would effectively prevent the city from selling it for other municipal uses or to raise general revenue, how narrowly or broadly "public use" is interpreted, whether parcels adjacent to planned roads, stormwater facilities or canals should remain on the list, and whether zoning would constrain any future development. Staff and department leaders explained the vetting process: an initial list (originally larger) was reviewed by multiple departments — planning and zoning, public works, utilities, parks and recreation and others — and the list was edited to remove parcels identified for future public infrastructure or expansion. Staff said they considered zoning, existing city facilities, capital improvement plan entries and departmental input when narrowing the list.

Legal and staff remarks differed in places over the update frequency of the inventory. Staff referenced Florida Statute Section 166.0451 and said the statute requires producing the inventory and described several legal disposition options. Commissioners and staff noted the statute had included a 10/01/2023 deadline and had been represented in some sources as a three-year requirement; staff said there were recent amendments or clarifications discussed at the state level that could affect whether updates are annual or triennial and that the city is currently out of compliance with the earlier statutory deadline. Commissioners asked whether the city could sell parcels before adopting an inventory; staff said the question requires legal research and agreed to request a formal opinion from the city attorney’s office. Staff also said appraisals had not been completed and that estimating total value would require additional work.

Several commissioners asked that staff revisit the list to remove parcels likely needed for future infrastructure projects (examples raised included parcels along West Price Boulevard and properties providing access to canals or stormwater facilities). Commissioners also requested clearer guidance on whether proceeds from any sale of parcels listed for affordable housing could be used for general city purposes or are limited to affordable housing acquisition per the statute. The commission directed staff to research the legal definition of "public use," to confirm whether parcels can be sold before inclusion on the inventory and to provide additional information on acreage and likely values for larger parcels. The motion to continue the resolution for further review passed unanimously.

During public comment a local real-estate professional advised the commission to consult land-use attorneys and flagged relocation costs for protected species (gopher tortoises) as a development cost to consider when assessing parcel value.