Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 2025-10 Approving the Community Redevelopment Area Plan Update — reading text

determine if factors of blight were present and, ultimately, use expand the CRA boundaries. An FON report was developed Implemented façade grant program that led to the expansion of the CRA via the three areas of Created a signage grant program concern identified in the FON. These expansion areas, along Established a streetscape grant program with the 2012 boundaries, make up the 2018 CRA Created a nuisance abatement grant boundary, as stated by Resolution 2019-6. Incorporated a development assistance grant Established Downtown Design District Developed the Downtown Master Plan 1.3 2018 CRA Expansion Invested in several capital improvement projects Since the creation of the Fort Walton Beach CRA, the focused on improving physical and economic Redevelopment Agency has made significant progress in conditions within the CRA reducing blight conditions, encouraging private development, and developing a more cohesive and Based on the detailed CRA assessment completed for this integrated urban core of the city; however, to continue the project (Appendix C), a number of considerations have been evolution of the area and include adjacent areas containing identified for evaluation in the preparation of the 2018 CRA conditions of blight, the City determined that an FON be Plan update, including, but not limited to, the following: completed to determine if an expansion to the CRA was Need for a clear vision, goals and objectives. warranted. Prioritization of policies and project ideas within the Per 2017 Florida Statute (F.S.) 163.361(1), the CRA. Redevelopment Agency may amend or modify the CRA Plan Connection of the CRA Plan to the FON. to include a change in the boundaries of the CRA to add to Assessment of recent CIP Plans to ensure that capital or exclude land from the CRA. To expand the CRA boundary, improvements on the City/ County adopted CIP are not the Redevelopment Agency must hold a public hearing on being funded by CRA funds. the proposed CRA Boundary and CRA Plan modification Creation of a CRA Annual Report to offer a clear and after public notice and report such proposed modification concise summary of operations to the public. to each taxing authority in writing or by an oral Inclusion of a detailed CIP Plan that identifies projects presentation, or both, regarding such proposed and general timeframes for implementation. modification (F.S., 163.361[2][3a]). In addition, a change to Creation of a conceptual diagram to identify the the CRA boundary must be supported by a resolution and planned projects that will be implemented throughout an FON (F.S. 163.361[4]). The FON and the 2018 CRA Plan the lifetime of the CRA. were also submitted to Okaloosa County for review, and, Connections of transportation, land use, and the public within 30 days, the County may provide notice by Fort Walton Beach CRA Plan  Registered Mail to the City and the Redevelopment Agency transportation, and pedestrian network that that the County has competing policy goals and plans for satisfies current and future land use patterns. the public funds, and the County would be required to A major problem with future redevelopment within deposit to the Redevelopment Trust Fund under the the Areas of Concern is the ability to provide proposed modification to the 2018 CRA Plan (F.S. 163.361 acceptable, viable, and safe parking and circulation 3b]). for customers due to the small lot sizes (less than 0.25 acres) without property aggregation or The FON was completed for three Areas of Concern and variances. Currently, there are parking lots with was assessed in accordance with F.S. 163.340(8) and confined spaces that require vehicles to back onto adopted by resolution as specified in F.S. 163.355 the roadways, many of which cross over the concurrent with the 2018 CRA Plan. In addition, the FON sidewalk, particularly along Beal Parkway NE, and documentation prepared for the 1982, 1998, and 2007 CRA there are no cross access easements, resulting in Plans was adopted by reference into the 2018 CRA Plan potential pedestrian safety and traffic hazards. In Map 1 2). addition, there are numerous deteriorated parking The FON for the three Areas of Concern concluded that the lots and driveways as well as inadequate parking areas are not considered a “ Slum Area” based on the lot landscaping that does not contribute to an definition and criteria for determining “Slum Area” as PlanINTRODUCIN inviting and pleasant pedestrian environment and specified in F.S. 163.340(7). However, the Areas of Concern does not meet contemporary development design are considered “Blighted Areas” as specified in F.S. 163.340 standards. 8) based on the findings concluded in the FON. Fromthe 14 Limited service times during the evenings, no criteria, of which 2 or more conditions are required to be weekend service, and one hour headways of EC considered a “Blighted Area,” it has been determined that Rider Routes 2, 4, and 14 are not convenient to eight blight conditions exist in Area of Concern 1 and seven encourage ridership to improve mobility within the exist in Areas of Concern 2 and 3. The blight criteria that Areas of Concern. The existing EC Rider stops were found are described in the following: consist of pole signs and some bus shelters. There 1. Predominance of defective or inadequate street layout, is no cohesiveness in the design and amenities of parking facilities, roadways, bridges, or public the bus stops, and many locations are not ADA transportation facilities. (2017 F.S. 163.340[8][a]) compliant and lack berthing landings and sidewalk connections, which contribute to defective and High traffic volumes and congestion demonstrate inadequate access to public transportation inadequate roadway capacity along Miracle Strip facilities. Parkway SW, Eglin Parkway, Hollywood Boulevard 2. Aggregate assessed values of real property in the area SW, and Beal Parkway NE, which are major arterial for ad valorem tax purposes have failed to show any roadways within Areas of Concern 1 and 3 and appreciable increase over the 5 years prior to the finding connect to Area of Concern 2. of such conditions. (2017 F.S. 163.340[8][b]) There is a lack of a bicycle network within the Areas of Concern, and most of the existing and Areas of Concern 2 and 3 have grown in tax value programmed bicycle lanes are striped shoulders similar to the City over the five year period without clear demarcation and signage. Bicycle examined (2012–2016), but only Area of Concern 1 parking is also lacking at public facilities, such as at has failed to show any appreciable increase, with a Jet Stadium (Future Public Works site), Liza Jackson nearly four percent decrease in tax value. Park, and commercial properties. The sidewalk Therefore, this condition of blight was found in system is sporadic within the Areas of Concern, Area 1. does not connect to public facilities/ destinations, 3. Faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy, lacks wayfinding signage and streetscaping, and accessibility, or usefulness. (2017 F.S. 163.340[8][c]) has unsafe crossings adjacent to parking lots/ The parcels with future land uses designated as driveways. The absence of these facilities does not Medium Density Residential, Commercial, and make for a safe or satisfactory roadway, 6 Fort Walton Beach CRA Map 1 2: Fort Walton Beach CRA Areas of Concern Fort Walton Beach CRA Plan 7  Mixed Use within the Areas of Concern are of a viable, comprehensive system of accessible inadequate in size,