Steven Tinsley, PhD
Assistant Director of Community & Economic Development

Peter Schwarz, AICP
Director of Community & Economic Development

Cesar Gonzalez

External Relations & Communications Specialist 

Community & Economic Development

Issue Statement: The Oakland Park Community Redevelopment Agency (OPCRA) 5-year Strategic Plan must be updated for the period of 2023-2028 and presented to the OPCRA Board of Directors for adoption.

Recommended Action: The Local Planning Agency approve the proposed OPCRA 5- year Strategic Plan Update for the period 2023-2028.

Background:  The Oakland Park Community Redevelopment Plan was approved by the Broward County Commission in December 2005. The Plan includes recommended Capital Improvement Projects, Public/Private Partnerships. Policies and Programs.

In 2011, the OPCRA Board engaged Redevelopment Management Associates to develop a Five-Year Strategic Plan. The 2012-2017 Strategic Plan was adopted by the OPCRA Board in December 2011.

In 2016, the OPCRA Board engaged R. Miller Consulting Group (RMCG) to complete an update to the OPCRA Strategic Plan for the period 2017-2022. The 2017-2022 Strategic Plan was adopted by the OPCRA Board in April 2017.

In 2021, the OPCRA Board approved a work authorization for RMCG to complete an update to the OPCRA Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2028. RMCG worked with the staff, community, and business stakeholders to develop the proposed 2023-2028 CRA Strategic Plan Update.

Status of Plan Initiatives: OPCRA activities are broken into three (3) categories: Capital Improvement Projects, Public Private Partnerships, and Policies and Programs.

Capital Improvement Projects - The 2017 Strategic Plan project list included eight (8) major capital projects, of which seven (7) have been completed or are currently underway, and one (1) is on hold.

Public Private Partnerships - The 2017 Strategic Plan included four (4) major public private partnership redevelopment projects in the Downtown, two (2) of which are under construction or in planning/design phase, one (1) that is underway, and one (1) that is on hold.

Policies and Programs - The 2017 Strategic Plan included the completion of seven (7) separate land use policy changes in the Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. The 2017 Strategic Plan was the catalyst for the large scale re-write of the Downtown Mixed Use District regulations in the current OP3D land use codes. The NE 12^th Terrace Land Use Change was also completed as a part of the OP3D process. Due to resources required to provide a proper COVID response and recovery, and to complete the land use changes already underway, the other six (6) land use policy projects were placed on hold and are being recommended to be carried forward into the proposed 2023-2028 Plan Update.

Incentive Programs - The OPCRA conducted a comprehensive review of the Commercial Façade, Relocation Assistance, and Strategic Investment Programs, to streamline and improve the Business Assistance Grants. In 2021 the OPCRA restructured the program, combined all the programs under one umbrella, automated the application process and rebranded the program as the Business Incentive Program (BIP).

Land Acquisition Program - The 2017 Strategic Plan focused on Downtown property acquisition for mixed-use development, parking, and the Jaco Pastorius Park Culinary Market Place. Since 2017, valuable parcels including Omega Church and the NE 35^th Street Lots have been acquired to support redevelopment.

Future Plan Recommendations: The 2023-2028 Strategic Plan Update recommends carrying forward the programs and projects currently underway in the three (3) Plan categories of Capital Improvement Projects, Public Private Partnerships, and Policies and Programs.

It is recommended that the established mobility-related projects including reconstruction of intersection of Oakland Park Blvd., Oakland Park Blvd./Dixie Highway/NE 12th Terrace Extension and traffic improvements to Kimberly Lakes Neighborhood be expanded into a comprehensive Downtown Mobility project broken into three (3) focus areas: (1) Infrastructure Improvement, (2) Pedestrian Connectivity, (3) Muti-modal Strategies.

It is also recommended that goals for Public/Private Partnerships be further defined to include specific projects including redevelopment of the US Post Office site and development of the Coastal Link Train Station.