Palmetto passes lofty CRA plan onto public hearing

PALMETTO -- Palmetto officials Monday voted unanimously to move an updated five-year community redevelopment agency plan to a public hearing on Nov. 16.

It is only the second update to the city's CRA plan since 1993, but was completely overhauled in 2011 by incoming CRA Director Jeff Burton, who outlined an ambitious plan just two days shy of the CRA's 30th birthday. Burton said the "meat and potatoes" of the plan highlights goals that he believes can be accomplished. The biggest change to the CRA's direction is replacing slum and blight with affordable housing.

"We didn't put housing in the last plan because we couldn't build one cheap enough to compete with the market at the time" said Burton. "Now things are different. We want to aim at housing that are concerns to the police department and code enforcement and have fully depreciated on the tax rolls."

Burton said his primary goal is to target rundown duplexes in the city's CRA and to form a partnership with the Palmetto Housing Authority, an agency formed by the city and lacks the money to accomplish its goals.

"It's our idea to partner with them by building sustainable products," said Burton. "We also want to provide housing for seniors, millennials and veterans, of which there is state money for all three. We could do Section 8 housing as well and the housing authority has the ability to inspect those. We'd build them and hold them, and the housing authority can manage them, which gives them a purpose and we'll pay them a fee."

In its general five-year goals, Burton said CRA accountability will remain a high priority, as will property clean-ups and continued training and education for CRA board members and city staff.

Burton said the CRA can take on other city challenges that have been debated for years, including the possible construction of a police station as long as it is within the CRA and on the department's community policing innovation plan.

"It's a big ticket item and maybe a little controversial, but it's allowable and we don't have to go through other taxing authorities to get it done," said Burton.

Specific goals for the next five years include:

Redevelopment of the Edenfield property, a brownfield project on Fifth Street East the city wants to eventually turn into a dog park.

Minimizing noise and blight in the city's heavy commercial district.

Research a citywide linear park trail, make public parks Internet accessible and develop a city pool, possibly at Sutton Park.

Assist the city with pedestrian improvements on the Green Bridge fishing pier and continue development of Riverside Park West.

Add bathrooms to the newly constructed Martin Luther King Jr. Park and acquire property for a pedestrian bridge to allow access from the south.

Continue planning for the 10th Avenue West Complete Street Project that will improve roads in the city's historic district, add amenities and construct a multi-modal trail beginning in 2021.

Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant said the CRA has been awarded more than $4.1 million in matching grants and funding over the past five years. The Complete Street Project alone will cost more than $10 million with the majority of funding coming from the Florida Department of Transportation and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

"We continue to improve with every project or incentive we undertake," said Bryant. "I am proud of all we have accomplished, but what is dear to my heart is the Sutton Park improvements because it is dedicated to our veterans and has become the center of our downtown."

With even more improvements on their way, Bryant said the combination will "Create a walkable, prosperous, friendly, safe community."

Mark Young, Herald urban affairs reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7041 or follow him on Twitter@urbanmark2014.

This story was originally published November 2, 2015 at 8:46 PM with the headline "Palmetto passes lofty CRA plan onto public hearing ."