High Springs CRA Looks to Expand, County Approval Required

HIGH SPRINGS – The High Springs Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) recommend approval of expanding the city’s CRA district to City Commissioners.

At the May 26 board meeting, CRA Coordinator David Sutton presented two maps for comparison showing the original proposed expansion area and also an expansion area that included two more parcels of land. Staff had requested that the Board consider the two properties in the CRA district expansion. The properties are located to the west of the peanut mill property, which was included in the original expansion map and are identified as 00726-000-000 and 00726-001- 000.

The CRA works to assist in economic revitalization in the core of downtown High Springs and to secure funding for infrastructure improvements. The parcels are undeveloped industrial properties and adjoin the mill property. “The addition of these two properties will provide the CRA with the opportunity to assist in the development of these parcels,” said CRA member Ross Ambrose.

Sutton has spoken with CRA’s consultants regarding the required “Finding of Necessity” and was told there would be no additional cost if the City were to add the two parcels.

CRA Board members approved the addition of the two parcels to the proposed district expansion.

During the following City Commission meeting, Commissioners unanimously approved expansion of the CRA district along with property located on either side of West U.S. Highway 27 from Northwest 239^th Street (currently the west boundary) west to Northwest 246^th Street.

This proposed extension from Northwest 239^th Street to Northwest 246^th Street would have a northern boundary of Northwest 187^th Avenue and a southern boundary of the CSX property (future Rails to Trails).

GAI has been engaged to complete the “Finding of Necessity” at a cost of $15,000. Once completed, the matter will go back for adoption by the CRA Board and then by the Commission. Following that, the proposed expansion will be submitted to the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners for approval.

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