Programs for Homeowners
The Planning & Development Department coordinates a variety of programs designed to assist Sunrise homeowners. Whether you're interested in purchasing, maintaining or beautifying a home, please review the information below:
Neighborhood Landscape Restoration Grant Program
The Neighborhood Landscape Restoration Program (NLRP) was designed to help fund the replacement of landscaping - damaged by Hurricane Wilma - along neighborhood entranceways. The program, with $1 million in City funding, will provide grants to qualifying neighborhood associations.
Applications were accepted from organized neighborhood groups - such as incorporated homeowners or condominium associations - with the legal authority to enter into binding agreements on behalf of their residents. The neighborhood association will be responsible for soliciting competitive project proposals and pricing; hiring licensed contractors; obtaining required permits; and project management. The association must also initially fund the project: The City will provide up to 75% of the project cost as a reimbursement after the work has been completed and inspected.
The NLRP is intended for the purchase and installation of hurricane-damaged trees, shrubs, sod/groundcover, soil/dirt, mulch and irrigation along neighborhood entranceways. The program does not cover the cost of irrigation pumps, lighting and electrical systems, walls, fences, planter boxes and permits. Additionally, work contemplated under the NLRP must not have already been awarded or performed. The neighborhood association is responsible for all ongoing maintenance, repairs and replacement of materials and work funded by the program.
For additional information regarding the NLRP, please call (954) 572-2490.
Fair Housing Notice
You have the right to rent or buy housing, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or familial status. If you feel you are a victim of housing discrimination, call the discrimination complaint hotline toll-free at (800) 669-9777 or, if using a Telecommunication Device for the Deaf, (800) 927-9275.
Neighborhood Participation Program
The Sunrise City Commission recently approved a design contract for the third round of the City's Neighborhood Participation Program (NPP). The City is now moving forward on 24 projects in 23 neighborhoods at a total estimated cost of approximately $900,000. In addition, since the program's 1997 inception, 24 other projects - worth approximately $720,000 - have been constructed.
The NPP was designed to give assistance to specific projects - initiated by neighborhood organizations - that build identity and enhance the community. It is intended to fund projects such as: connecting sidewalk installation; improvements to existing public facilities that serve neighborhoods; bike path connections; landscape improvements; installation of play or picnic facilities in neighborhood parks; small drainage improvement projects; entrance identification improvements; renovations that improve access by disabled persons; and irrigation installation.
Criteria for selecting and evaluating the projects include benefit versus cost; health and safety concerns; demonstrated neighborhood support; neighborhood commitments for partial funding or in-kind contributions; and ongoing maintenance considerations.
For additional details regarding the NPP, please call (954) 746-3270.
Neighborhood Street Lighting Participation Program
Under the City's Neighborhood Street Lighting Participation Program (NSLPP), Sunrise neighborhoods - including those without formal homeowners' associations - may apply for funding to enhance lighting on their streets. Grants may cover 100% of the project cost for neighborhoods with public roadways, while matching funds of 50% of the project cost may be provided for enhancements on private streets - in each case, up to the City's maximum per-project allowance of $40,000.
The benefits of the program are numerous: Street lights provide for clear and easy orientation in a neighborhood, give drivers and pedestrians better visibility, and strengthen the character of an area. All applications must identify a Neighborhood Project Coordinator and contain a minimum of twenty signatures (or be signed by a majority of affected property owners). Applications periods vary, and submissions will be evaluated on the basis of benefit, need, cost, current City lighting standards and other factors. For more information regarding the NSLPP, please call (954) 746-3270.
Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program
In January 2006, the City Commission approved the establishment of a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program (NTCP). This progressive program was designed to provide residents with an opportunity to raise neighborhood traffic concerns and to participate in the selection of strategies that promote safe and pleasant conditions for residents, pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists in Sunrise neighborhoods.
The goals of the NTCP include:
Changing the culture of neighborhood street use from "cars first" to "people first"
Balancing the public safety interests of traffic calming and emergency response
Encouraging through traffic to use collector streets and arterial roads
Reducing the average speed of vehicles in residential neighborhoods and the need for traffic safety enforcement
Fostering a collaborative working relationship between City staff and neighborhood residents in the development of traffic calming measures
The NTCP is applicable only for residential City streets, and is not appropriate for arterial or collector streets, or for cul-de-sacs or dead-end roads. Additionally, for a neighborhood street to qualify for NTCP consideration, it must meet speeding and traffic volume criteria as determined by a City evaluation.
Due to the nationwide popularity of traffic calming programs, and the fact that limited funds are available through the NTCP each year, interested neighborhoods must follow a formal application process as established by the City's Planning & Development Department. If it is determined an application identifies a potential problem that's a candidate for traffic calming, City staff will collect and analyze relevant traffic data. Should staff-collected data support the neighborhood's concerns, the City will further evaluate the location and prioritize it among all approved applications.
For each high priority project selected, City staff will consult emergency responders (Fire-Rescue and Police), as well as other entities - such as schools - that may be impacted by traffic calming. Staff will then meet with the applicants and help establish a Working Group of five to ten residents to work with City staff on the neighborhood's traffic calming efforts.
All proposed traffic calming measures should:
Be consistent with Florida law and with established transportation construction standards
Address problems in an efficient and cost effective manner
Accommodate the geometrics of the street (e.g., a traffic circle may only be built in an intersection that is large enough for it)
Be compatible with the needs of the Fire Rescue and Police departments; and
Take into account the needs of nearby schools
Once staff-approved preliminary designs have been developed, community support must be gained via petitioning. Plans will then be presented to the City Commission for review, approval and funding. Once a project has been approved for funding, City staff will develop detailed construction drawings, acquire any necessary rights-of-way/easements, and schedule and oversee construction. City staff will also evaluate all traffic calming measures one year after installation, and will recommend any corrective action, if appropriate.
The program's application packet is available for download below:
NTCP Application Packet
All project applications must be submitted by January 1, 2008, to be considered. For additional information regarding the NTCP, please contact the Planning & Development Department at (954) 746-3270.
Home Recognition Program
The City's Home Recognition Program rewards homeowners for upgrading and maintaining their property. Each winner receives $100 from program sponsor Trust Mortgage Capital; a certificate from the Sunrise City Commission, presented at a Commission meeting; and a Home Recognition Program yard sign.
The City's Economic Development Advisory Board selects the Home Recognition Program winner from all eligible nominees. Homes are judged on overall appearance including, but not limited to, such enhancements as landscaping, painting, decorative driveways, accent lighting, pool and patio features, architectural improvements and structural expansions.
Please complete our nomination form if you would like to submit your home for award consideration. In addition to this form, each applicant must provide at least one "before" and one "after" photo of the improvement project. Proof that all applicable permits were issued may be requested during the City's review process.
Send your completed application packet to: Redevelopment Manager, City of Sunrise, 10770 West Oakland Park Boulevard. Sunrise, FL 33351. For more information, please call (954) 746-3270.
Grants Administration Programs
The City's Grants Administration team administers a variety of programs that enhance the City's appearance, safety and overall quality of life - often by assisting low- and moderate-income households. All of the social services programs, and many of the housing programs, are Federally funded by U.S. Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). Additional housing programs are supported by the Florida State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP). For more information regarding these programs, please call (954) 572-2315. Offerings include:
Housing Rehabilitation Program
This program provides a five-year deferred payment loan to eligible owner-occupied households for assistance with critical renovations. These renovations are limited to verifiable repairs of, or replacements to, deteriorated building systems, as well as identified health hazards to the household.
The Housing Rehabilitation Program operates on a "first come, first qualified, first served" basis. To qualify, homeowners must provide the following: tax returns (with W-2 forms) for the past two years; their three most recent pay stubs (if employed); benefit award letters (Social Security, pension, disability, etc.); their six most recent bank statements; divorce, alimony or child support documents; and a completed program application. Proof of home ownership - including a Warranty Deed, proof of paid property taxes, proof of paid hazard insurance, and proof of paid flood insurance - is also required. The City currently has a waiting list for this program, which is updated each year in May.
Purchase Assistance Program
This program helps eligible low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers by providing a deferred payment loan that may be applied toward a down payment, closing costs and/or principal reduction. The single-family dwelling purchased must be located in Sunrise, and the maximum sale price must not exceed $280,000 for a new or existing home.
The Purchase Assistance program operates on a "first come, first qualified, first served" basis. The program has liberal qualifying ratios, and mortgage insurance is not required. Prospective participants must attend a first-time homebuyers workshop, demonstrate stable employment, and verify cash to close. Credit problems will be reviewed individually.
Removal of Architectural Barriers Program
This program provides five-year deferred loans to owner-occupied special needs households that include a disabled individual. The program is designed to facilitate the removal or modification of barriers that restrict accessibility by persons with disabilities as determined by a medical authority. Assistance is provided on a "first come, first qualified, first served" basis to households with qualifying incomes.
Roof Replacement Program
This program provides grants to eligible low-income, owner-occupied households to assist with emergency roof repair. Assistance is provided on a "first come, first qualified, first served" basis.
Disaster Mitigation Program
Funds may be used for exterior doors (including garage doors), opening protection, and bracing gable ends (roof reinforcement).
The City encourages interested Sunrise residents to call (954) 746-3296 and leave their name, address and phone number to receive program details. Residents may also leave this information with the Redevelopment and Grants Division of the Planning and Development Department, located at 4747 Nob Hill Road, Suite 9. Hearing-impaired residents may call the Florida Relay Telephone number at (800) 955-8770.
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10770 WEST OAKLAND PARK BOULEVARD