DRI (Development of Regional Impact) Is No More in Florida

In the past 40 years, a Development of Regional Impact (DRI), a major project of residential, commercial or industrial nature, required consideration of many effects on traffic, utilities, air quality, schools, etc. before dirt could be moved. The Legislature, in its wisdom, in the 2015 session passed SB 1216 that ended the process.  A faster, and probably less expensive, state led review will now be needed before the shovel hits the ground. 

Over the years, exemptions and exclusive modifications have been enacted.  In 2011, a law exempted large urban areas from DRIs.  Eight counties and more than 240 cities could make large developments without going through the DRI.  This new law will be easier to follow with the Dept. of Economic Opportunity doing the overview.  Its primary job is economic development.

A "Sector Plan", over 15,000 acres, such as Nocatee in Duval and St. Johns Counties, will be under softer requirements, such as developers are able to use aerial photography for easements, rather than detailed land surveys.  Deseret Ranch, part of the biggest owner of private land in the state, pushed that so it would not have to spend more than a million dollars for plans on 133,000 acres mostly in Osceola County. 

Foley Timber & Land got water rights for part of the 560,000 acres it owns in Taylor County.  Florida is in trouble supplying all of the water wanted by the multitude of users - cities, agriculture, recreation, conservation and industry.  As the population grows, having water rights will become more critical.  In the Hastings farm area, artesian wells supplied high pressure irrigation 40 years ago. Now, all of those wells have pumps with the water level about 30 feet down and continuing to sink. West of the Mississippi River, water rights have caused heated battles, and Florida is wise to start managing it now.

Another provision of SB 1216 lets small towns that do not have their own water system, such as Miami Lakes, avoid updating a water supply plan every few years. Such updates are expensive and time consuming for the towns, but have little utility.  The law has many other modifications concerning development.  See the article in Florida Trend, July 2015.

As a long time political animal, I am delighted to see the Florida Legislature reduce the red tape. I urge you to suggest the same to Washington.

Henry Rogers, CCIM, ALC
Florida Land Realtor of the Year 2014