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Council opens 10-year Community Redevelopment Area review, favors staff-led update
Summary
Staff told the council the town's CRA plan has reached its 10-year mark and presented four review options. Councilors generally favored an in-house staff review to conserve limited CRA funds, with a plan to revisit consultant help if needed after deliverables from a county RFP are available.
CRA staff reported that the town's Community Redevelopment Agency plan is now 10 years old and suggested four options: a staff-led review, hire a consultant, a hybrid approach, or wait for county deliverables from a regional RFP before proceeding. The staff presentation noted the CRA document is 70 pages and that much of the plan predates COVID-era changes in development patterns.
Councilors discussed trade-offs. Some members urged a conservative approach to consultant spending so CRA funds remain available for projects; others said consultants can add capacity and a professional estimate. "I would lean towards option 1," one councilor said, supporting an in-house review with the ability to escalate to a consultant for targeted tasks. Staff said the CRA corridor on Forest Hill Boulevard has grown in value and that tax-increment financing (TIF) resources support a limited set of improvements; staff recommended starting with a staff review and returning with findings.
No formal motion was made; the council reached consensus to begin with a staff review and to coordinate with the county's pending RFP deliverables. Staff will report progress and recommend whether consultant assistance is needed.
