Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 04-10-12 cra — reading text

achieve a common goal. LLC 3. Demolish dilapidated housing on a case -by -case basis. A CRA- specific program to consider n demolishing dilapidated housing and other buildings contributes to the positive growth of the e CRA and directly achieves the objective to improve the quality of housing in the CRA. This program would be especially effective when combined with Code Enforcement activities. Increasing median age within the CRA is due to the population as a whole getting older. Some existing residents will continue to live in their homes and age in place. Fort Walton Beach and the CRA area is expected to continue to attract retirees, many of whom will continue to live in their new homes and age in place. As the average age continues to rise, the CRA must include adequate and desirable housing for this population. Appropriate housing will include a range of housing types to meet the needs of elderly and special needs residents. The area should include shopping to meet daily and weekly needs and a range of services, such as medical clinics, doctors, dentists, and other medical services. Housing Page 33 of41 2012 Community Redevelopment Plan Packet Pg. 47  B. La areas must have appropriate infrastructure, such as safe and well -lighted sidewalks for pedestrian access to nearby shopping and services. 1. Continue to work with various CDBG and housing programs throughout the area that help meet the needs of elderly and special needs populations. 2. Ensure multi -modal ( sidewalk) projects and new developments are compliant with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act. Z,man acN Mixed income housing helps meet the needs of people of all income levels. The area becomes a marketable to a wider range of buyers and meets the housing goal to improve the quality, quantity, and options for housing in the CPA. Incentives to reach this goal may include density bonuses, financial subsidies, development fee waivers / subsidies / reductions, options to produce UNON inclusionary units off -site, and donations of land or fees in -lieu of providing affordable units. The objective can also be met through the construction of accessory dwelling units. Such units, smaller than the principle dwelling unit, are excellent means of providing affordable housing within specified neighborhoods. As rentals, these units can also provide an important source of income to existing households. Although the addition of accessory units in specified zoning districts will result in a modest increase in density, the units are small and ancillary to the principle structure and have only a modest impact on the neighborhood while providing and important benefit. 1. Encourage developers to designate a portion of development as workforce units meeting requirements of an inclusionary housing program. 2. Provide the development framework to allow assimilation of new attainable and workforce housing into the community. 3. Develop public -private partnerships that meet the CRA housing goals and objectives. Scattered vacant lots are already served with streets, public safety services, water, sewer, and a range of other government services. Development of these vacant lots improves the Page 34 of 41 2012 Community Redevelopment Plan Packet Pg. 4a  8. 1. a neighborhood through adding housing, shopping, or services; adding to the tax base through development; and, in many cases, reducing an eyesore when lots are not well maintained. These scattered lots could be improved utilizing a number of different programs. Targeted infill strategies should be implemented to improve the likelihood that such lots will be developed. infill of scattered vacant lots may require adjustments to development standards where vacant lots were platted under previous standards that require varying lot sizes and site design features. Also, infill objectives should target underutilized buildings, such as buildings with significant vacant areas or buildings designed for a more intense purpose than the current use. 1. Maintain the inventory of vacant lots for use in providing information to prospective dN developers. a 2. If funded provide financial incentives through the CRA to target prime infill locations and a redevelopment of underutilized or vacant buildings. The CRA will determine what types of incentives can be offered and develop a marketing program to make information available to rc U potential developers. N 0N bnto Page 35 or41 2012 Community Redevelopment Plan Packet Pg, 49  F-8 .1. a COMPONENT 5 - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOAL.: ACHIEVE ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH NEW AND EXPANDED BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYMENT TIIROUGHOUT THIE CRA Objectives: Attract New Businesses to the CRA, both Anchor Tenants and Small Businesses an Promote Business Expansion in the CRA Promote Business Retention in the CRA acN Introduction The overall goal of any CRA is to foster sustainable redevelopment. To do this, the CRA must UNON implement programs and projects that leverage private investment. Economic development is the er comerstone of success in the CRA. Businesses provide services and jobs, both necessary to a vibrant community. Residents need shopping and other services close to their homes, as well as jobs for sustainability. Through programs to attract business and industry, jobs are created, the economy grows and is maintained, and Fort Walton Beach continues to be a healthy, vibrant, and desirable community. The City of Fort Walton Beach has natural strengths that are important to economic success. These include its accessibility, weather, and lifestyle, proximity to the water, existing infrastructure, and business support. Fort Walton Beach is near a regional airport, is near the interstate system, and is served by major State highways. The region, the City, and the CRA are all supportive of existing business, expanding business, and new business. The next step is to implement aspects of redevelopment planning though increased information sharing and by creating new incentives to attract and retain businesses. This chapter is organized into three main objectives: promoting new businesses to locate in the CRA, retaining existing businesses in the CRA, and promoting business expansion within the CRA. By focusing in on these three main objectives, other important objectives are achieved, such as job creation and infill development, through strategies that support the overall goal of the CRA. Page 36 of 41 2012 Community Redevelopment Plan Padtet Pg. 50