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Zephyrhills CRA approves grants, outlines parks, signage and tree plans
Summary
At its Dec. 8 meeting the Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Authority approved a commercial improvement grant for Village Inn and a $10,000 residential ownership incentive for buyers of 38017 Old Fifth Avenue, and staff laid out parks, street-signage and a 200-tree planting goal for the coming year.
The Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Authority on Dec. 8 approved a commercial improvement grant to help repair the Village Inn parking lot and unanimously authorized a $10,000 residential ownership incentive grant contingent on staff verifying required documents. The Village Inn award covers 50% of the work, roughly $9,000, for paving performed by O'Neil's Asphalt Paving, and staff recommended approval after the applicant submitted the lowest responsive bid.
Miss Hamilton, CRA director, said staff found the Village Inn application met the grant criteria and recommended the board approve funding. "Staff is recommending approval," she told the board. Board members asked whether the applicant had solicited three bids; staff said one bid was missing but the application still met program guidelines.
Councilors also voted to add and approve an emergency residential‑ownership incentive application for Richard and Selena Figueroa, who are purchasing a home at 38017 Old Fifth Avenue. Miss Hamilton described the program as a $10,000 closing‑cost incentive with a five‑year lien and homestead requirement; she said staff will complete final eligibility checks before the award is finalized.
In her CRA director's report, Miss Hamilton reviewed several downtown and parks initiatives. She said crews began installing shade structures and play equipment at Ellis Herald Park and that the contractor expects most park work to be completed by early 2026. The city also approved a sign contract; staff said the vendor proposed steel‑framed signs with solar lighting and that mass installation is scheduled around May 1, 2026, to install all city park signs at once.
On streetscape work, staff reported replacement of Washingtonian palms on 5th Avenue, ongoing irrigation and landscaping design tied to a Clock Plaza renovation, and plans to cable the plaza audio so repeat events can run without Wi‑Fi speaker issues. Miss Hamilton said the CRA would coordinate signage, lighting and landscaping so the various projects open as a unified downtown improvement.
The CRA also proposed a tree‑planting program with a goal of about 200 trees per year in parks and rights‑of‑way. Miss Hamilton emphasized coordination with utilities before planting to avoid conflicts with underground water, sewer and electric lines and discussed a contractor‑installation approach that includes a one‑year warranty.
Board members and staff said the CRA has earmarked funds for trees and streetscape improvements and that the CRA will continue outreach to property owners and businesses about grant opportunities and Main Street promotional assistance.
The CRA meeting then adjourned and members moved to the city council agenda.
