Central City advisory board urges narrowing land‑use amendment; staff sets consultant hire for Aug. 18

Members of the Central City Redevelopment Advisory Board told the Fort Lauderdale City Commission on July 2 that the board’s recommendation narrows a proposed land‑use plan amendment to only those areas slated for rezoning, not the entire redevelopment area, and urged faster timelines and more transparent communication.

"The communication is a recommendation to accept proceeding with the land use amendment program as it's presented to you with the reduction in scope to only the rezoned areas," said Nicola Stan, who identified herself as a member of the advisory board. Board members and neighborhood representatives said the narrower scope was what the board had approved and said delays and turnover on the board had made continuity difficult.

Vanessa Martin, the CRA manager, told the commission that procurement has identified a consultant to lead the land‑use plan amendment work and that staff intends to bring hiring of that consultant to the commission on Aug. 18. Martin also said rezoning actions are constrained by Senate Bill 180 and staff is working through the law’s parameters before advancing zoning changes.

Deputy City Manager Chris Cooper said staff will recirculate a previously prepared memo summarizing the bill’s effects on zoning projects so commissioners and neighborhood boards understand which initiatives are affected. Several commissioners pressed staff to include clear contract timelines and notice‑to‑proceed language so consultants are accountable and projects do not languish.

Kimber White, who identified herself as chair of the Central City Redevelopment Advisory Board, said the community has waited months for clearer answers and urged staff to convene working meetings and community forums to maintain momentum. A neighborhood representative identified as Troy also stressed urgency and transparency, saying projects in the area have stalled for years.

Staff did not seek a final policy decision at the conference meeting; instead, it offered a timetable and committed to return with the consultant contract on Aug. 18 and to provide commissioners with the staff summary of Senate Bill 180’s impacts.

The commission gave direction to staff to continue coordinating with the CRA manager and the advisory board and to explore contract language that sets firm deliverable timelines. No formal vote on an item was taken during the afternoon session.