Council adopts amendment to Downtown Redevelopment Plan, adds Holmes Park Plaza and other projects

The Melbourne City Council on Aug. 12 adopted Ordinance 2025‑39, amending the City’s Downtown Redevelopment (CRA) Plan to restate projects and programs that the CRA may fund through its sunset year. The update adds several items to the CRA project list and consolidates or removes others.

Planning staff said the update mainly repackages existing projects into broader categories and adds a few newly prioritized items, including Holmes Park Plaza (an event/place enhancement), electric vehicle chargers, downtown lighting improvements, and Front Street park improvements. Staff said the change also clarifies programs such as facade improvement, parking management, public‑private development incentives and the Main Street program.

Staff removed the long‑unbuilt Riverview Village streetscape from the CRA list and noted the Melbourne Avenue multi‑use Pedway project is under design outside CRA funding. The proposed change would leave the CRA to operate through its currently established sunset year (2042), and staff said the amendment simply aligns the CRA project list with current priorities and legislative realities.

The CRA Advisory Committee and the Planning & Zoning Board reviewed the amendment and recommended approval; Council Member LaRusso moved approval and the ordinance passed on council vote. Councilmembers said the change creates clearer project categories and allows the city and CRA to pursue grant funding and implementation steps for prioritized items.

Mark Herondine and a representative from a local revitalization group urged council to continue to prioritize West Crane Creek bridge connectivity and South Expansion anti‑blight work as part of the CRA effort. Staff said the CRA remains committed to outreach and to working with neighborhood groups on redevelopment opportunities in the South Expansion area.