Item K1
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date:_October 21, 2105_Department:_Planning & Environmental Resources_
Bulk Item: Yes_No X_Staff Contact /Phone #:_Christine Hurley 289-2517.
Mayté Santamaria 289-2562___
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Discussion of2014 Florida Keys Areas of Critical State Concern
(ACSC) Annual Reportby the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to the
Administration Commission; including the proposed “Vacant Lot Retirement and Hotel Unit
Allocation Rule.”
ITEM BACKGROUND:
The 2014 ACSC Annual Report (attached)demonstrates the progress the
County and citieshave made meeting the Rule Work Program requirements. The report also discusses
the hurricane evacuation time limitand the fact that the number of allocations awarded County wide
through the year 2023 are not enough to providebuilding permitsforthe vacant parcels in the Florida
Keys. The report demonstrates almost 8,000 parcels will remain Keys wide with 6,198 remaining in
unincorporated Monroe County. The DEO recognizes this is a challenge in the annual report. DEO
encourage eachjurisdictionto work with Department of Environmental Protection through the Florida
Forever program for land acquisition.
The DEO is also requesting the Administrative Commission authorize rulemaking for their proposed
“Vacant Lot Retirement and Hotel Unit Allocation Rule”. This proposed rule is discussed beginning
on page 16 of the attached 2014 Florida Keys Annual Report. In general, this rule provides:
300 hotel units (this does not increase evacuation time in the model) be granted to up to 3 Keys
communities who:
Establish a hotel Unit Allocation Program that requires:
o
an application for the units;
award;
tracking/record keeping for distribution to developers;
development of affordable housing units or a fee in lieu of contribution for affordable
housing in exchange for the hotel units; and
the extinguishment of residential development rights in Marathon, Islamorada, or
unincorporated Monroe County at a 3:1 ratio (meaning for every hotel unit awarded, 3
private developable platted lots that are either:
Tier I or II; or
Targeted for acquisition by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); or
Scored between 4-5 under the Florida Keys Wetland Identification Program (KWEP)
an approval of a conditional use for the development (with a condition that the
extinguished residential development rights be completed within 2 years of approval of
the conditional use);
no building permit for hotel units be issued prior to residential development rights being
extinguished
the local government rezone the lots with extinguished development rights as
“Conservation”
reporting to DEO annually by July 30 of each year
Assuming this Rule is adopted and goes into effect, it is important to note,that the County currently
prohibits new transient residential units (hotel/motelunits) and if the BOCC wishes to participate in the
“Vacant Lot Retirement and Hotel Unit Allocation Program” the County would need to amend the
Comprehensive Plan. See existing policy below in double underline.