CRA approves one-year revocable license for youth-led urban farm at 29 SW 6th Ave

The Delray Beach CRA unanimously directed staff to prepare a one-year revocable license permitting Shared Future Foundation, a Florida nonprofit, to temporarily use the CRA parcel at 29 SW 6th Ave for a youth-led food forest and urban-farm programming.

Staff explained the parcel is zoned RM (multi-family residential) and has adjacent residential uses; the proposed license would be revocable and limited to a one-year term to allow the nonprofit to activate the lot while preserving CRA land options for future housing development. "It would be we would draft it for one year," a commissioner said, noting the CRA would retain the ability to revoke the license and to pursue housing or other uses later.

The nonprofit’s representative, Sarah Selsnick of Shared Future Foundation, attended and confirmed the organization’s interest in creative, youth-led programming and in working within a temporary license framework. Commissioners praised the idea as a community benefit for children and neighborhood activation but repeatedly emphasized that any temporary use must not preclude the CRA’s development obligations to provide housing on RM-zoned land.

Motion and outcome: The board moved, seconded and voted unanimously to direct staff to draft the revocable license with legal counsel and bring the document forward for execution. Staff said it will work with the nonprofit and the CRA attorney to finalize terms and to preserve the CRA’s development options if plans for housing or other long-term uses proceed.

Next steps: Staff will prepare the license document for signature, with a one-year duration and revocation rights for the CRA; if the board later decides to pursue a long-term disposition or acquisition related to housing, staff said it would follow the usual procurement and notice procedures.