HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibit Provided for item #10.1 and #12.1)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
LxhrV\f fn*c(.^cdkr r\<m+\o'l
srz. I
St. Ruth Missionary Baptist Church
Vacationing of Right-of-Way Presentation to the
Dania Beach Board of City Commissioners
October28,2o25
Jo.qzb/,
Who are we?
St. Ruth Missionary Baptist Church ("St. Ruth") is one of the
otdest churches in Broward County with a history dating back
to 1908
St. Ruth has a tegacy of hetping the community at large
inc[uding:. Housing the first pubtic schoot for "colored" students in Dania
Beach (Modetto). Hosting graduation ceremonies for the Peterman Schoot which
provided affordabte chitdcare for many working-ctass residents
of Dania Beach. For the past 20 years, operating a food bank and providing hot
mea[s to the community. During COVID, providing a 2x per week food service to the
community. Facititating hotiday giveaways forthe youth (bicyctes, ctothing,
food). Partneringwith Cottins E[ementary through financiaI donations
and providing votunteers to the school. Uniform purchases for the football team at Modetto / CW
Thomas Park. Duringthe current FederaI Government shutdown, we are
addressing food insecurity through targeted food programs
"ft..r-! A#.r er.d
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )) ) ) ) ) ) )
G
II
I
D
r I
We have been focusecl on helping working ctass tamilies for generations
))))))) )))) )) )))) )))) ))))))))))) ))) )) )) )) ))
@***
Why are we here today?
St. Ruth opposes the proposed vacation of right-of-way for reasons expressed on record during the
September 25,2025 meeting and other concerns detaited herein
St. Ruth's opposition to the vacation of right-of-way is based on:
. A tack of focus on Policing and Pubtic Safety: The City shoutd activety address the root causes of safety issues.
. The present Affordable Housing Crisis: A new taw (SB 1730) has been passed which witt be impactful'
. Concerns about proper apptication of Public Easement Laws: Unnecessary timitations to future devetopment.
. Broader concerns about lmpact to the City: The forward vatue of devetoped parcets (inctuding a potentiat negative
impact to tax rotts).
The Church's opposition to the vacation of right-of-way is NOT:
. Adetiberate infringement upon any resident's rightto tive in a safe and secure environment
. A lack of concern about broader pubtic safety issues
. A speciat request askingfor in-kind consideration
St. Ruth yalues a ll residents and would tike to work in partnership with the City to find a workable solution that benefits all
constituents and stakeholders
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
o Jaqrrtb
Pol.icing and PubLic Safety...
Law enforcement is criticatto the success of a community, and the City of Dania Beach has
demonstrated this through appropriations
The City of Dania Beach FY 2026 proposed budget catts for approximatety $23.5 mitLion in potice spending (a
6.8% y-o-y increase)
A totat of 1 O0 FTE'S (92 sworn) are dedicated to poticing inctuding patrot deputies (63), a Crime Suppression
Team (6), and a Neighborhood Support Team (3)
Dania Beach has the fottowing additionaI resources avaitabte:. 2 Mobite eye-in-the-sky towers. Access to the BSO ReatTime Crime Center. Drones. Access to state-of-the-art technotogy to track and reduce criminal behavior
We would tike the City to exptain how any of these resources have been used to proactively
address the pubtic safety issues experienced by the Appticant
The City has the resources, but ACTION is required to address the issues expressed in the apptication
As stakehotders in this community, we woul.d not want the City to turn its back on pubtic safety by granting the
vacation of right-of-way which then puts the onus of pubtic safety on property owners
This application does not address " root causes" and will only shift crime from one location to another
t fi
I ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
o &,.qrrt/r,
Affordabte Housing Crisis...
We have an affordabte housing crisis in South Ftorida and the City is taking action
which may conflict with SB 1730 (Live Local Act)
SB 1730 authorizes the governing board of a municipatity "...to approve the
devetopment of housing that is affordabte, inctuding mixed-use residential, on any
parceI owned by retigious institutions...."
Additionatty, this [aw states:
"Nowvithstanding any other law or [oca[ ordinance or regutation to the
contrary a county may attow an adjacent parcel of Land to be inctuded within
a proposed muttifamity deve[opment..." (under certain provisions)
St. Ruth has stated its intent to deve[op this tand for affordabte housing
St. Ruth may in fact need the public easement to facilitate a successfuI project
and may need to access this pubtic tand pursuant to SB 1730
Actions taken now may restrict St. Ruth's abitity to f utty appty this new law and may
run counter to the spirit and the letter of this legistation
St. RutF) is currently evatuatingthis taw which became etfective on July 1, 2025 and plans to leverage its provlslons
1
lIll,,u9;
) ) ) ) ) ) ) )) ) ) ))) ) )) ) ))) ) ) ) ) ))) ) ) ) ) )) ) )) ) ) ) ) ) )
o Jo.qu/z,
Pubtic Easement Concerns...
Permanentty removes access to an adjacent pubtic sidewatk
PermanentLy removes accessto a roadwaywhich would be utitized in a future
devetopment
Permanentty restricts future extension of NW 12th Ave northward
Permanently restricts future development of parcets and tand north of the dead
end for future owners
It is unctear if the existing property at 355 NW gth Ave woutd have adequate ingress
and egress to support att density options avaitabte pursuant to SB 1730
Arbitrarity impacts transportation infrastructure when other tools are at the City's
disposaI to address the necessary improvements in pubtic safety
The City needs to be fotward thinking and not lose sight of the brcader goals of Pubtic Easement Laws
Approval of this vacation of right-of-way does the fo[towing:fliffi rilsh*
f$t'{Pt[ *#m8 IF*Sfl
rt
)) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
@***
lmpact to the City...
St. Ruth has concerns about the City's near-term thinking and its inherent discounting of the future
vatue of our vision...
For many years Grand Prix Race-o-Rama, dirt biking, and the Dania rock pit were tocat attractions and accepted usages of land at
what is now Dania Pointe
Dania Pointe was devetoped by a New York based firm that benefitted from robust support from the Commission and CRA-ted
redevetopment etfo rts
Other zoning decisions and ordinance amendments atlowed the devetoper to achieve success
Dania Pointe witt, over time, continue to add vatue to the City in the form of increased tax revenues, foot traftic, hotet nights, jobs,
entertainment, consumption, and other tangentiaI impacts
This current vacation request before the Commission witt limi! affordabte housing project ftexibitity and restrict property access
unnecessarity
This witt tikety reduce the vatue of a future project and / or require additional remediation costs
Actions taken today witt NOT increase the vatue of St. Ruth's property and its ofiicers have a duty of prudence to manage church
assets with care, skitl, and caution pursuant to FS 617.0830
St. Ruth is a Locat institution seeking to contribute to the [oca] economy and locaI tax rolts
St. Rutl, asks the City to provide a community stalwart with equal levets of suppoft and vision
))))))))) ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) )))
@*w
Why Now?
We have been addressing several chattenges that have acutety impacted our abitity to move ,orward with our plan for
affordabte housing, such as:
lnsurance spikes: Recent increases in property insurance premiums severely impacted the church
Status: Resotved through proactive and creative actions taken by the Trustee Board which reduced costs by over 600/0.
Church financing: COVID acutely impacted attendance and participation at many churches
Status: St. Ruth has recovered and has significantty de-levered its batance sheet to add financial wherewithal to fund
certain exptoratory costs.
Church capabitities: lnabitity to find the right partner
Status: St. Ruth has begun discussions with a new slate ot devetopers, and we witt be estabtishing a speciat
committee to manage this project going forward.
Church direction: The successive departures of prior teaders slowed our progress
Statust For the past year St. Ruth has been under the leadership of Pastor Anthony Manuet who is from this
community, is a tocaI business owner, and is committed to its success.
Legistative shifts: The path is now more ctear
Status: The passage of SB 1730 and its tegistative anducements is on our radar and we ptan to teverage the ftexibitity
provided by this taw.
St. Ruth has every intention to move forward with an approved project and will do so in pa.d,Delshipwith the City of Danis Beach from
inception to completion