Florida developers "dancing in the streets" over House bill that gives them more power.

[madfloridian]

Hat tip to the FLA Politics blog for this item today. We had heard it was happening, but most of us didn't really believe they would do it.

Developers dancing in the streets

"After Republican lawmakers openly chastised the governor's growth management chief Wednesday, the House passed a bill that weakens the state's growth regulations in return for encouraging tighter development in urban areas."

More about the bill:

The vote, 76-41 along mostly party lines, came after Department of Community Affairs Secretary Tom Pelham warned that House changes to the Senate growth management bill ``will substantially undermine Florida's growth management laws."

In a press release on Tuesday, Pelham warned that provisions in the House bill ''open up the state's major rural areas to unchecked development,'' eliminate the requirement that developers have roads in place to serve development, and abolish the state review process for large developments ``in major portions of the state."

This kind of bill is what you get when Republicans who are ideologues first and sensible second take over your state. In the pockets of the developers. Carl Hiaasen should have fun with this bill if he hasn't already.

Columnist Howard Troxler of the St. Pete Times is right on top of this issue.

Florida without growth management

If you think Florida's best answer to the economy is to open our state to developers wider than we have in decades …Then you're in luck, because a growth bill passed by the state House on Wednesday does those things. This is probably the biggest thing the Legislature will pass in 2009.

If, on the other hand, you remember that Florida choked on wild, sprawling construction from World War II until the 1980s … That it wasn't until the Growth Management Act of 1985 that we finally lifted a finger to require the roads, schools, water and other services to build a decent state …Then you should be horrified.

What the state House did Wednesday was essentially to gut the Growth Management Act for big chunks of the state.

Big cities and counties could allow growth without worrying about whether roads and other services can handle it. Small counties would be laid open to entire "new towns" of big development without the usual review.

The name of this bill, the House's revised version of Senate Bill 360, is ironically titled the "Community Renewal Act." It would be better titled the "Katie Bar the Door and Strip Mall Act of 2009."

Howard Troxler and my old favorite from Tampa Tribune (recently laid off from there)...Daniel Ruth..discuss it in the video at the link.

[eleny]

1. Sounds like there will be renewed interest in vacant lots

Not the best for Florida but good for land owners and developers. Prepare for the flurry of the wrong kind of growth - housing built cheek by jowl.

[depakid]

2. Florida never seems to get any smarter, does it?

It's almost like the state's politicians just invite bad results- like they've somehow got self-destructive urges.

[imdjh]

3. Aw, Jesus, is this the Mormons at work?

I read something about them wanted to build a whole new city in a piece of Deseret Ranch. They are fucking menace.

[jsamuel]

4. FL is caught in the Republican death spiral

[Laelth]

5. Stupid Republicans! n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[Dappleganger]

6. Holy shit, how the hell did this get through?

I cannot wait to leave this disgusting state!

[madfloridian]

8. Maybe the senate will hold it up.

Fingers crossed.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Consider this..

mean elevation in Fla is 100 feet above sea level, ranking Louisiana as the lowest state.

Give it a few years and few hurricanes.

And the continuation of this economy.

Developers won't be dancing for long.

[onethatcares]

9. there are so many replies on this one I agree with

they want to build in areas that should not ever be built on, we're in a historic drought, and that's a fact. The developers will not have to do any studies or just do their own telling us they don't need to improve the roads, schools, or anything else. Then the crap gets built and the taxpayer gets hit with the bill.

I too, am thinking about leaving, but where to go?

[JCMach1]

10. How much more of the state do they intend to pave over?

:(

[quaker bill]

11. Developers

have been working to get rid of the Regional Planning Councils and the Department of Community Affairs since before Jeb Bush took office. Since Bush took over they have steadily gutted the budget, staff, and regulatory authority of these agencies one step at a time over the last 12 years. On top of this, Republicans have altered the rules under "government in the sunshine" to limit the number of potential people or groups that have "standing" to challenge any decision these agencies make in court. This is only the final step in a long process to take the teeth out of "concurrency" laws, which truly have very little impact on growth any more as it is.

Of course there have been tons of bills that did not make it, most of them premised on the false notion that planning and environmental laws are the reason that the development industry has collapsed. The development industry boomed and busted just fine in Florida before the first planning or environmental laws were passed. It is a cycle that follows the same ponzi-like pattern each time out. At the peak of the cycle, stupid projects are proposed that are way to far out of town, located in the middle of some swamp, priced absurdly high, and sold to folks out of the State, or as this time, even to foriegn investors and sub-prime mortgage holders. The threshold for a flooded market is reached and the whole thing collapses. There are then numerous bankruptcies and lawsuits. The entire industry is structured around and run through shell corporations with exactly this outcome in mind.

I have a stack of bankrupt projects and two subpoenas on my desk right now. I get calls from "receivers" (folks who get the assets of the failed business) or their attorneys every day. There is nothing new here and removing our regulations will not change the result. Fortunately some of the really bad bills, (far worse than this one) died in committee, as they often do.

I signed the "Florida Hometown Democracy" petition and would commend it for your consideration.

[Dappleganger]

12. Great info

The over-development is staggering, and yet devs continue to push for it. In our little area of NE FL we hear the constant whining, but if some of those laws were not enforced this area would be a giant parking lot with no trees over 10 ft. tall to speak of.

We have an ongoing issue with a church from the county just north of us who was sold some land by a nasty owner (with multiple ILLEGAL changing of wetlands violations), who is trying to get zoning changed so they can build a Walmart-sized church on a residential street which is already 180% over what it should be. It's a terrible location, completely unsafe for our children who ride or walk to school past the lot and the church--get this--wants to put in a shopping center to help support their ministries. NOBODY FROM THIS AREA even goes to that church! The only reason they are doing it is because the land was dirt cheap and the previous owner is screwing with the county. We've had widespread community backing our efforts to shut them down, hired an attorney, attended all of the meetings, written letters and started a website to keep them from building. So far the zoning committee has voted against them, but we know things can change quickly. It's amazing what can be done at the grass roots level when people get really pissed off.

[madfloridian]

13. Thanks for the post.

It is almost impossible for the average person to have a clue about all of it until it affects them.

I also signed the petition you mention.

[blindpig]

14. Too sad.

More, more, more.

Where's the Skink when ya need him? He'd know exactly what to do, and I'd help.

I guess people are clamoring for a home with an oil rig view.

This does nothing but enrich those bastards and further erode the quality of life in a place I once considered paradise.

[madfloridian]

15. Haven't heard what the Senate did.

Session ended, but overtime next week. Let's see how much more harm they can do.