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Minutes 03-02-16 MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY WORKSHOP HELD ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016, AT 6:00 P.M. IN CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS, 100 E. BOYNTON BEACH BOULEVARD YTN BEACH, FLORIDA 33435 PRESENT Jerry Taylor, Chair Vivian Brooks, Executive Director Joe Casello, Vice Chair Mike Rumpf, Planning and Zoning Director Michael M. Fitzpatrick Hanna Matras, Senior Development Planner Mack McCray David Merker Call to Order Vivian Brooks, Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) opened the workshop at 6:00 p.m. and introduced the following:, Mike Simon, Assistant Director, CRA; Mike Rumpf, Planning and Zoning Director, City of Boynton Beach; Amanda Parker, Planner II, City of Boynton Beach; Hanna Matras, Senior Planner, City of Boynton Beach; Anthea Gianniotes, Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council (TCRPC) City and CRA consultant; and Dana Little, with the TCRPC. The purpose of the workshop was to talk about the CRA Plan Consolidation Project. Ms. Brooks referenced a book containing all of the CRA plans and explained the CRA District encompassed 1,650 acres. The CRA plans dictate what can and cannot occur as to the form of development. Some areas had overlap and some areas did not have any planning. The purpose was to consolidate the plan and provide clarity to developers, residents, buyers and investors. They want to look at areas that did not yet have a plan and determine what kind of development is wanted so all would know what the vision was for these areas of the City. Ms. Gianniotes reviewed a PowerPoint and a map of the City. The CRA District was outlined which ran along the north and south City limits along the Federal Highway Corridor, to the Intracoastal, to the Heart of Boynton (HOB) and crossed 1 -95 to the Industrial District. She surveyed the attendees by asking what best described the attendees' link to the City and learned 58% either live or live and work in Boynton Beach. The CRA met the Finding of Necessity in 1981 which determined the CRA could help attract redevelopment and improve infrastructure by leveraging public funds. As the tax base increased, a portion of the funds that would go to the County are redirected to the CRA District and overseen by a separate board. The funding is allocated based on the plans and Ms. Brooks and Mr. Simon oversee that effort. Meeting Minutes CRA Workshop Boynton B each, Florida March 2, 2016 Official plans included the HOB, the Federal Highway Corridor Community Redevelopment Plan, the Ocean District Community Redevelopment Plan, and the Downtown Vision and Master Plan. Ms. Gianniotes noted there are some areas with overlap and some areas had no plans. The purpose of the workshop was to consolidate and update the plans. The HOB was included in the CRA District in 1988. A plan for that area was adopted in 2001 and was updated two years ago through public meetings. Seven neighborhoods were identified in the HOB area. In 2014, a plan was implemented to target six major projects. Some of these projects were the Model Block, MLK Boulevard east of Seacrest, establishing a neighborhood commercial area and the expansion of Sara Sims. The HOB is a residential area having a neighborhood scale infill effort. The Federal Highway Corridor Community Plan was instituted in 1983 to create a unique identity for the downtown that was pedestrian friendly, marine focused, oriented to the water, targeting mixed -use development with a hotel and convention space. In 1988, the district was expanded all the way to the north and south City boundaries. The last update was in 2006. The update clarified the entire community strip was not one type of development so it was divided into five different planning areas with recommendations for each segment. It advised a form -based approach to development be implemented with a lesser focus on density. Six projects that were specifically wanted included a convention style hotel in area three by Boynton Beach Boulevard, entry features when entering or exiting the City, public parking in the downtown, addressing issues with outdoor storage and improving pedestrian crossings in major areas of development. The Ocean District Community Redevelopment Plan focused between Seacrest to just west of Federal Highway that mainly had public uses on Ocean Avenue. The Plan was adopted in 2004 to sculpt an area on Boynton Beach Boulevard into a pedestrian friendly area with a plaza and tree -lined streets. There were two plans for the area: one which maintained the Old High School and the other did not. The Plan was revisited 10 years later for the Boynton Beach Town Square. The Downtown Vision and Master Plan was more comprehensive and it included the HOB and the Industrial District. The plan was the first to raise the issue if a Transit Oriented District (TOD) was appropriate next to the Florida East Coast Railroad and it favored a cultural campus studied in the Town Square and Ocean District Redevelopment Plan. It was the first Plan to envision Ocean Avenue as a cultural area. It also identified neighborhood centers would be attractive along MLK Boulevard and HOB, and Federal Highway should be more of a greenway moving forward. The CRA cannot move forward on anything that is not identified as important in the redevelopment plans. In the HOB, Seacrest Boulevard was improved with sidewalks, streetscapes and a median. There was a public investment of $29.1 million from the CRA and $14.5 million 2 Meeting Minutes CRA Workshop Boynton Beach, Florida March 2, 2016 from the City. Galaxy Elementary was improved through land swapping and improved facilities. A series of art installations occurred over time and significant and varied infill housing took place. The Sims Center had a new building, the Carolyn Sims Center, constructed making it a first class amenity. The beginning and ending boundaries of the City had signage The Marina on Federal Highway was improved by the CRA and a current effort would expand public access by the Promenade and open space areas in accordance with plan priorities. Parking improvements in the downtown core were made. Part of the effort is to attract private investment and establish a tax base to maintain the City. Over the last 15 years, 3,500 housing units were constructed in the CRA District and over 140,000 square feet of commercial, either retail or office, was added including Casa Costa, 500 Ocean and Marina Village which were higher density projects. The City Planning and CRA staff conducted a conditions analysis to determine current needs and looked at socio- economic trends, future land uses and zoning, evaluating current building conditions and the condition of infrastructure. A demographic analysis was done and the plans are online. Key findings showed 60% of homes in the CRA District were built prior to 1971, the median value of the homes in all categories were low, so despite all the new investment in the area, almost half of the taxable values of new townhomes was less than $100,000 warranting further study. Built inventory included cultural resources such as historical buildings and how the buildings are being used. The CRA District has a significant number of parks and the analysis identified the park locations, what type of park it was and its condition. It was noted the Barton Memorial Park picnic equipment was good, but the condition of Kids Kingdom , which is heavily used, was declining. Utility improvements were to determine where sidewalks end and where to establish links to other areas. Other efforts included evaluation of the State's TOD policies, and when commuter rail, which is currently on Tri -Rail, expands to the FEC rail lines. There are opportunities to maximize on service, which will bring a premium return on investment if implemented correctly. The State was aware of this and issued a guidebook for municipalities. Boynton Beach is better prepared than most other cities and had already put policies in place. Boynton Beach Boulevard was the main entrance to the City and Ms. Gianniotes reviewed the various districts. The first step to take is to define single districts that are not guided by more than one plan. There would be a Downtown District, Cultural District. Boynton Beach Boulevard, the HOB, the Industrial /Craft District, and Federal Highway north and south changed from four plans to six districts. The least amount of focus was in the Industrial /Craft District. There is a potential need to protect the district as there is not a lot of industrial space for local industry. Staff needs to know how to make the area thrive and make it attractive for industry and other 3 Meeting Minutes CRA Workshop Boynton Beach, Florida March 2, 2016 businesses. There is an emerging art scene there and a visual of Industrial Way was viewed which showed people parking on unimproved shoulders and there was nowhere to walk when Art Walks are held. The north end of Industrial Way has drainage, but other areas had less infrastructure and it transitioned directly to a residential neighborhood. Ms. Gianniotes surveyed the 43 attendees on the following questions: Is this type of transition between industrial and residential uses appropriate for this portion of the Industrial /Craft district: 78% said yes, 16% said no and 6% were not sure. Do you support the CRA taking a role for drainage, parking and sidewalks in the Industrial Craft District: 85% said yes, 6% said no and 9% were not sure. Regarding the emerging arts scene, do you support the CRA encouraging art uses in the Industrial /Craft District: 74% said yes, 12% said no and 14% were not sure. Boynton Beach Boulevard is the entry into the City from the Industrial District and there had not been much discussion regarding the western section of Boynton Beach Boulevard. Images of Boynton Beach Boulevard driving east into the City were viewed. If the area had one -story retail lining the street with improved landscaping and lighting, the question was posed if this was the proper direction for the western portion of Boynton Beach Boulevard (west of Seacrest looking east) and is the scale and type of redevelopment appropriate: 70% said yes, 17% said no and 13% were not sure. The area on the south side of Boynton Beach Boulevard, by NW First Street moves quickly to residential homes. The question was, how, as the district develops, do they improve the street, keeping in mind commercial business would be there. Visuals of the street showing a wall on the commercial side were viewed. Attendees were surveyed if the visuals were a desirable transition between commercial and residential uses : 78% said yes, 17% said no, and 6% were not sure. The area towards Seacrest by KFC on Boynton Beach Boulevard was viewed as to improving the streetscape on Boynton Beach Boulevard and the question posed if this type of streetscape was desirable for this portion of Boynton Beach Boulevard. It was noted this would involve the Department of Transportation: 80% said yes, 11 % said no, and 9% were not sure. The Town Square initiative was not a formal update, but it illustrated characteristics of both the Ocean District and the Downtown Master Plan which had buildings and trees lining the streets, establishing a pedestrian - friendly environment . Is the scale and type of redevelopment appropriate for this portion of Boynton Beach Boulevard starting with Seacrest and City Hall going towards the water: 55% said yes, 29% said no, and 16% were not sure. 4 Meeting Minutes CRA Workshop B oynton Beach, Florida March 2, 2016 In the HOB, there was one area on MLK looking east from Seacrest where the intersection is to be commercial, but the Downtown Master Plan and the HOB Plan discussed transitioning to multi - family along the street. Visuals of what the road could look like were viewed with two to three -story homes. The homes would be 45 feet in height. The question was asked if the scale and type of infill was appropriate: 72% said yes, 25% said no, and 3% were not sure. The Cultural District had much focus over the years as it linked to the Downtown and Town Square areas. Visuals of Ocean Avenue looking west were viewed outside of the cultural campus showing three and four -story buildings lining the street. Ms. Gianniotes asked if the scale and type of infill was appropriate: 24% said yes, 68% said no, and 8% were not sure. The Downtown area was the most historic part of the City and would have the most intense development, where the Transit Oriented Development was contemplated. The CRA would focus growth away from single - family neighborhoods and toward mixed -use districts and 4 th Street. There was concern that as development faces Federal Highway, it would back onto 4 th Street and there be design guidelines to ensure there is some type of buffer. When asked whether ensuring a superior environment on 4 th Street and Pence Park was important: 61 % said yes, 19% said no, and 18% were not sure. Federal Highway was the City's historic commercial corridor. There was significant redevelopment occurring since 2000 and over time, there had been fewer opportunities for development. Development will gravitate towards existing commercial properties which are becoming outdated and an analysis of where potential redevelopment would occur to ensure compatibility was needed. Ms. Gianniotes explained this was the first time the districts were presented to the public and the feedback will provide direction for the CRA and City. There will be a developer's forum in the future and they will have another public workshop to review and refine the information. In order for the document to become final, the CRA Advisory Board, CRA Board and the City Commission will have to adopt the document. A comment was made that some of the visuals in the presentation had a Key West feel, but other portions of other corridors were not in the same style. Ms. Brooks explained the visuals were a mock up to layover the street and it is only to show scale and not style. It was hoped that a style would continue throughout. Ms. Brooks explained they tried to institute an acceptable color palette for developers to use and adopt architectural styles, but they were unsuccessful incorporating it into the Code. Mike Wilson, 1224 Isle Court, commented while the CRA provided examples of streetscapes, attendees may have voted based on the style. He asked if there was anything going forward that could be discussed regarding a potential Guy Harvey project. Ms. Brooks explained the plans always included having a hotel in the 5 Meeting Minutes CRA Workshop Boynton Beach, Florida March 2, 2016 downtown. Staff reached out to developers and will continue to reach out, hoping for a response. Harry Woodworth, 685 NE 15 Place, appreciated the workshop, but noted they did not discuss height. He commented at a City Commission meeting he was told a developer could show up with what they want, but thought if they keep approving what they show up with regardless of height, the rules were not being followed. The City had a referendum for a height limit of four stories. He tried to reinstitute a referendum and was advised State law prohibits the referendum. Mr. Woodworth went on record that lower height is better, and thought greater heights might be appropriate for the central core, but not other areas. Audrey Gerger, 331 NW 1 St Avenue, requested clarification about the Town Square as it related to the Old High School. She commented when the study was done, there was consideration of the existing amenities being replaced or not and an earlier study considered the same thing. She learned City Hall would be rebuilt in the campus. Barbara Ready, 329 SW 13 Avenue, was concerned about too much density. Those who live east of 95 in the Forest Park area have a concern about parking and parallel parking on Seacrest as her community likes green space. She sat on the Downtown Development Master Plan Steering Committee and was also concerned they were voting on the HOB, MLK and TOD District. There were no representatives from those areas present. She thought the CRA should ask the people who live in that neighborhood to vote. Latonya Johnson, 1820 New Palm Way, was impressed with the work and noted there were existing buildings on Federal Highway that were in terrible condition. She asked if the CRA helped. Ms. Brooks explained the CRA has grants for interior and exterior improvements, rent subsidies and permit fees. They let people know each year the funds are available and they fund the programs heavily. It requires a match, but while many people have availed themselves, others were not interested. Some buildings will either be torn down or rebuilt. Laura Williams, 1890 NE 2 nd Court, thought something should be done in the HOB as the area is in bad shape. Most people in the HOB do not own anything and she thought the City should invest and clean up the area. Ms. Brooks agreed. No one else coming forward, Ms. Brooks thanked all for participating and concluded the workshop at 7:02 p.m. Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 030416 6