Planning commission recommends TIF amendment to fund River Park roundabout

The Brandon Planning Commission voted Feb. 5 to recommend that the City Council amend Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district No. 9 to allow reimbursement for a planned roundabout at the River Park Avenue and Holly intersection.

Staff described an arrangement in which the city would initially pay the construction cost and recover the expense from TIF revenues allocated to TIF No. 9 through 2030. Patrick, the presenting planner, said that if the project is not fully reimbursed by that date, the property owner — identified in staff materials as Van Buskirk — would make the outstanding payment. “If it’s not fully reimbursed by that point, then Van Buskirk will cut us a check,” Patrick said.

Commissioner Totes moved to recommend the amendment to the council; a second was offered and the motion carried by voice vote. The recommendation is advisory: the City Council must approve any formal amendment to the TIF. Staff asked the commission to make a recommendation consistent with what would be recorded in an ordinance amendment and noted the change would allow the roundabout cost to be treated as a reimbursable TIF expense.

The commission framed the item as a forward‑looking infrastructure action tied to anticipated development at the Fairway/River Park area. Patrick said staff prefers the roundabout be installed before nearby construction begins to avoid interruptions to an active construction schedule. The commission did not place conditions on the recommendation and moved the item forward to the council agenda.

Next steps: the Planning Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration as an amendment to TIF No. 9.