Florida's Building Proposals On Rise

[thelakelander]

Even with the downturn in the economy, the state is processing an unprecedented number of proposals for new homes and commercial development.

By KRIS HUNDLEY
St. Petersburg Times


Published: Sunday, April 19, 2009 at 12:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, April 20, 2009 at 5:49 a.m.
TALLAHASSEE | A development boom is brewing under the radar of Floridians distracted by deteriorating real estate values and record foreclosures.

The state is processing an unprecedented number of proposals for new homes and commercial development. If approved, these projects could pump more than 600,000 rooftops onto a market suffering from a surplus of product and slowdown in population growth.

Also on developers' wish lists: the right to build a half-billion square feet of nonresidential space.

Such pipe dreams might seem laughable in today's depressed economy and moribund housing market. But property owners with an eye on the future are spinning plans that have the potential to unlock hundreds of thousands of agricultural and environmentally sensitive acres to residential and retail development over the coming decades.

Mike McDaniel, a planner at the state's Department of Community Affairs

, finds the surge stunning.

'Instinctively, most people would think there would be a slowdown,' he said. 'And it may be true at the other end, where the developers apply for the permit (to build). But there's been no letup here. It's a gold rush.''

McDaniel said landowners are behind the push for a record number of new planned communities. Regardless of whether these mega­projects become reality, the owners stand to win.

'They want to get the land use change, strike it rich, then move off to where there are not a lot of people,' he said.

But where will that leave Florida?

McDaniel, 57, rides herd over the hundreds of projects submitted for state review.

Among the proposals on deck for review at DCA on just a single recent morning:

Plans for the town of Edgewater, south of New Smyrna Beach, to double in size by jumping Interstate 95 and annexing 5,181 acres. The project, 'Restoration,' would put 8,500 housing units on land that includes wetlands, agriculture and bear habitat.

Fellsmere, a crossroads of about 4,000 in Indian River Count has annexed about 22,000 acres of farmland for 42,000 homes.

Wildwood, known for the clogged junction of I-75 and the Florida Turnpike, has stretched its north-south boundaries 15 miles, snapping up empty parcels with plans for up to about 87,000 new homes.

McDaniel points to a satellite map of Flagler and St. Johns counties that shows plans for four projects totaling more than 20,000 homes and 7-million square feet of nonresidential space. 'My jaw dropped when I saw this,' he said.

'Can there possibly be this much need? And is this area really suitable for this intensity of development?''

There is a sense inside the department that the sentries are being stormed at the gate. Florida's legislators, eager to jump-start the economy, have proposed everything from eliminating the oversight agency to carving out exemptions for bigger and bigger sections of the state.

Landowners and developers, meanwhile, are taking advantage of the lull to push ahead with approvals so they'll be ready to move at the slightest sign of an uptick. It's not cheap to change an orange grove's potential use from agricultural to residential, but it's a great investment.

'Your property value goes way up,' said Charles Gauthier, DCA's director of community planning. 'Land with an urban designation is going to sell for a higher amount than land with a rural designation.'

article: http://www.theledger.com/article/20090419/NEWS/904209959/1374?Title=Florida-s-Building-Proposals-On-Rise

[reednavy]

This has bad news written all over it.

[Jason]

Just curious, what is bad about it?

[tufsu1]

this article is just ridiculous....sure there are people submitting for comprehensive plan amendments and DRIs....but its not like they will be building anytime soon.

Most of the DRIs have buildout dates that are 10-20 years out...and the comp. plans are the same...so all this means is that people are getting ready if/when the market turns back around.

And as the article intimates, a good bit of the problem is Hometown Democracy...this will be on the 2010 ballot and will likely pass....so smart people are making sure they get in the pipeline before it can take effect.

On a side note, I think it is almost comical listening to Mike McDaniel @ DCA whine about his workload....the man does it to himself!

[reednavy]

Just curious, what is bad about it?

Building on wetlands and such, when this state needs to concentrate more on infill within urbanized areas. If one area is going to grow smartly, it will be the West Bay Sector near Panama City, around it's new int'l airport.

I just don't understand this need to continue endless sprawl in Central Florida, do they not get it already?

[samiam]

Amen reednavy
The time for endless sprawl is past. The state has the opportunity with the housing market downturn to sit back, take there time and look at what the state of Florida has and what we need. The powers that be can look at areas that already have the infrastructure in place build them out and save the taxpayer some money. The old status Que no longer apples, restore, renovate, reuse, infill, and then if needed build new and connect close to existing investiture.

[Jason]

I agree with you guys 100%, I was jus looking for your input . 

Now is the time for the cities and the state to increase the restrictions on sprawl and promote smarter growth within the existing developed boundaries.  There is a good bit of undeveloped land left (suprisingly) and it would be a travesty for it all to get gobbled up.

[tufsu1]

FYI...the Destiny project is being planned in a similar manner to the West Bay Sector Plan....as such, some might argue that its not sprawl.

[Jason]

^ those that are banking on it would argue... 

[reednavy]

I think another part of C. Florida's problem is the large amount of sprawl and growth occuring outside of incoporated cities, i.e. Orange, Osceola, and Lake counties.

[fatcat]

some people just don't get the "endless sprawl is BAD". and hurricane after hurricane they still do not know trees and forests are our best protection.

[Ocklawaha]

I think another part of C. Florida's problem is the large amount of sprawl and growth occurring outside of Incorporated cities, i.e. Orange, Osceola, and Lake counties.

The other biggie in Central Florida is the dictatorship given to the Walt Disney Corporation. AKA: "The Peoples Republic of Disney."

Fun little things like, "If you build Mag-Lev that serves I-Drive or Universal or Sea World, then we WON'T let you build it through Disney..."
or
"If you build Central Florida High Speed Rail, and stop at any tourist destination besides Disney World, we won't allow right-of-way to our park.
of
Children Molested at Disney, Rape at the Disney Parking Lot, Drug Dealers at Disney, They went to Disney and got mugged... etc...etc... These are headlines that we should see but NEVER WILL. We gave WDW Corporation the powers of a Florida City Government and it turns out to be the only such government in the USA without freedom of speech. Talk about Mayberry or the Dukes of Hazard, these corrupt executives/city officials, will do ANYTHING to keep a lid on the news, nothing comes in or out without official clearance. Fat chance of that happening.

The whole FOX High Speed Rail thing in Central Florida is a "Disney Project".

What else has Disney done for Central Florida besides burst the numbers of Americans looking for a fantasy escape? So they move the whole family down to partake in the benefits of a Mickey Mouse World. If it weren't for Walt, nobody in the world would even know where Orlando is. So one would expect them to be a beloved great citizen and employer. NOT!

The number of people I know that have been brutalized by Disney, is amazing. Get hurt on the Job and they are coming after you. Be prepared to pay for the rest of your life. When you rehab enough to go back to work, you best not say where you worked previous to your disability, because Disney has you blacklisted.

Of course you could always get a "Disney related job" in the fantastic economic engine of Central Florida.

You get 6 choices:
Wait Tables
Pump Gas
Make Beds
or
Make Beds
Pump Gas
Wait Tables

Bravo WDW, not even Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow could have thought up such a robbery.

OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

Ock....Disney has not refused to allow HSR to go through their parks....the plan is for it to go along I-4 with a station at Disney.

Disney has said that they will put all of their guests who currently use bus transportation from OIA onto HSR if they choose the route that avoids I-Drive and the other theme parks

[thelakelander]

So, if the route goes from the airport to I-4, via the Bee line, a stop at I-Drive would not be included?

[reednavy]

some people just don't get the "endless sprawl is BAD". and hurricane after hurricane they still do not know trees and forests are our best protection.

In most areas, our urban forests and woodlands are the weak point here, and that has been noted many times before.

Back on topic, many fields in Metro Orlando are surrounded by development, yet hey want to go further out, rather than fill those spots in.

I'm definetly pro growth, but in a smart and enviro. friendly way on urban areas, but leave the small towns alone please.