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Commission directs manager to begin CRA finding‑of‑necessity study and outreach
Summary
Commissioners authorized staff to begin a finding‑of‑necessity study for a potential Community Redevelopment Agency and asked consultants to scope tree, infrastructure and affordable‑housing priorities; commissioners emphasized limits on program eligibility and requested quick but careful outreach.
At an add‑on discussion the Commission received a proposal and scope of work from consultant Kevin Crowder (Business Flare) to prepare a Finding of Necessity (FON) as the first step toward considering a Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). The manager said the FON is the initial technical assessment to determine whether the statutory criteria for blight exist and recommended proceeding with the study.
Consultants explained the FON process takes about six weeks to prepare and the subsequent CRA plan typically requires 8–12 weeks with public outreach and an existing‑conditions phase. Commissioners asked about changes since the 2019 study, whether commercial vacancy and code violations remain, and the cost of both the FON and the full CRA plan. Consultant explained typical eligible uses for CRA/TIF funds focus on built infrastructure — streetscapes, sewer/water upgrades, intersection improvements, and affordable housing — and noted recent state scrutiny around grants and operating subsidies.
Commissioners emphasized priorities they would like the plan to consider, including downtown streetscape and transit‑station improvements, sewer/water upgrades to support future housing, intersection and pedestrian safety upgrades along US‑1, and targeted incentives to attract higher‑quality commercial tenants. The Commission gave the manager direction to proceed with the FON and to explore cost‑sharing for the CRA plan work where appropriate.
