Crossroads Townhomes plan, small-business partnership top agendas as minutes awaited

Haines City’s boards and commissions tackled property violations, budget blueprints, and a potential small-business partnership during the past two weeks, though final decisions on several high-profile items remain unknown as official minutes have not been released. The City Commission was scheduled to hold a first reading on land-use and zoning amendments for the Crossroads Townhomes project, while the Community Redevelopment Agency weighed a partnership with the Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation.

Land use and zoning

The City Commission was set to consider the first reading of two ordinances – 26-2148 and 26-2149 – that would amend future land use and zoning designations for the Crossroads Townhomes development. The agenda did not specify the number of units or the proposed location beyond the project name. A first reading is an introductory step; no final action would occur until a subsequent public hearing.

Code enforcement

The Code Compliance Board met on June 25 with a full docket. In one session, board members certified administrative citations and fines against five properties, including a $405.45 fence violation at 1201 Chester Avenue and a $220.41 penalty for an unlawful structure and pool enclosure at 636 Boardwalk Avenue.

In a separate hearing the same day, the board took up 13 cases. Among them: an administrative cost of $146.40 against El Viejon Bar and Grill at 19 9th St. N. for prohibited hours of sale, with the violation still existing. Other cases involved repeat weed violations, swimming pool and exterior structure violations, and a motor vehicle violation at 713 Stonewall Lane that had been corrected.

Budget workshops

City finance staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2027 operating budgets during two commission workshops. On June 29, commissioners reviewed the General Fund, Water and Wastewater Fund, and Stormwater Fund proposals. A follow-up workshop on June 30 was dedicated to the water, wastewater and stormwater budgets. No votes were taken; the sessions were informational.

The Community Redevelopment Agency also held a workshop June 30 to discuss proposed FY2027 funding for CRA Districts 327 and 328, with Finance Director Omar DeJesus listed as the staff contact.

Community redevelopment

At its July 2 meeting, the CRA Board was scheduled to decide whether to partner with the Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation on a small-business assistance and entrepreneur development program. The board also was to approve an interim attorney agreement with Boswell and Dunlap, make funding determinations on residential rehabilitation grants for properties at 2416 Embry and 800 Citrus Ave., and discuss draft guidelines for the FY2027 Commercial Rehabilitation Grant Program. A presentation by Community Architects on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Corridor rounded out the agenda.

Infrastructure and contracts

The City Commission’s July 2 agenda included a resolution (26-1940) to impose non-ad valorem assessments on nuisance properties, citing sites on Bartley Street and Railroad Avenue, among others. Commissioners also considered an emergency repair of the oxidation ditch gearbox at the wastewater treatment plant, a cooperative purchase agreement with Carahsoft Technology Corp. for Accela/Byrne software, and renewals of maintenance agreements with the Florida Department of Transportation for traffic signals and highway lighting.

Coming up

No public meetings are listed for the next two weeks. Agendas and minutes are posted on the city’s website as they become available.

Generated from official meeting agendas and minutes — every underlying document is linked from the city page. Read the primary source before you rely on a detail.