LYNN HAVEN — Residents could soon see a program encouraging residential development of lots in the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) boundaries.
To gauge public opinion of a Lynn Haven CRA residential development incentive program, city commissioners acting as the CRA board last week agreed to send out letters to about 100 qualifying property owners. If the program is approved, those who meet CRA guidelines could be eligible for up to $5,000.
“This would be a cash incentive for vacant-property owners who build a new, detached, single-family home on their vacant properties,” said Ben Janke, CRA director. “Of course there are rules and requirements involved in this program.”
Incentives would depend on the size of homes built on the 100 identified vacant or partially vacant properties in the CRA district — 32 of which could be split to develop two homes.
The program would be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Houses with 1,500- to 1,799-square-feet of heated and cooled areas could be approved for a $2,500 grant and larger homes could receive a $5,000 grant if approved by commissioners. Qualifying properties are either vacant or partially vacant and adding on to existing structures would not count.
Building permits for the project have to be issued this year and a certificate of occupancy must be issued before the year’s end. No more than there applications would be allowed for an individual property owner per year.
Homes would have to be in compliance with the city’s Unified Land Development Code and the 2010 Florida Building Code to receive the reimbursed funds.
Janke, who proposed the program to commissioners during Tuesday’s CRA meeting, noted that the guidelines could change as commissioners desire. The budget for the program would be $50,000 for this fiscal year. The program would allow between 10 and 20 participants depending on the size of the buildings and the program would last for one year.
“It’s going to upgrade the area that these new homes will be built in and make everybody’s properties worth more,” said Mayor Walter Kelley. “It’s an upgrade for the city plus we have the services we can provide, so it’s a go, go, go.”
The program is intended to not only promote residential development and use the city’s existing infrastructure of services like water, sewer and garbage. It also benefits the CRA by contributing to the district’s tax base, “and it would encourage neighbors to improve their properties,” Janke added.
Commissioners were receptive to the idea of getting a feel for public interest in the program.
“Regardless of the success we see through it, I think it is outstanding work to reach out and try to be thinking of what (the CRA) can do,” said Commissioner Rodney Friend.