Commission finds South Brooksville CRA plan consistent with comprehensive plan and recommends council review

Consultants from Inspire Placemaking Collaborative presented a draft South Brooksville Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) plan and the Brooksville Planning Commission voted to recommend a finding of consistency with the city’s comprehensive plan.

Eric Breadfelt and Julia Clark described the plan-building process, including a finding of necessity completed in 2024 and public engagement activities (three workshops at the South Brooksville Community Center, 255 website visitors, 39 contributors to the survey/interactive map and 155 document downloads). The consultants said the plan area is just under 700 acres and laid out five primary priorities: housing (including clearing heirs’ title and lot-line conflicts, rehabilitating housing, and supporting diverse and affordable housing types); flooding and stormwater (seek external funding and targeted drainage investments); community building and neighborhood improvements (heritage preservation, recreation, and safety); economic development (supporting local businesses and workforce pipelines); and mobility and connectivity (pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, ADA improvements at transit stops, and Good Neighbor Trail linkages).

Commissioners asked how the plan addresses heirs’ property and title issues; consultants recommended using mapping, surveyors, legal clinics, pro bono legal assistance, and partnerships with entities experienced in title-clearing efforts. Staff and consultants noted the CRA’s powers depend on what powers are delegated when the CRA is created; under Chapter 163 a CRA can be authorized to buy and sell land and, in some configurations, exercise eminent-domain-related powers. Staff emphasized a preference for voluntary compliance and enhanced code enforcement, while acknowledging the CRA could be given broader powers if the creating entities so decide.

A motion to find the plan consistent with the comprehensive plan and to recommend it to City Council (and the county where applicable) carried with no objections recorded in the transcript. The recommendation is advisory; the CRA formation details, board composition and final powers remain subject to interlocal agreement and further legal steps.