Miscellaneous

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Division of Community Planning
DCA Final Order No.: DCA09-OR-119

STATE OF FLORIDA

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

In Re:     MONROE COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT

                REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY MONROE COUNTY

                ORDINANCE NO. 008-2009

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                                FINAL ORDER

The Department of Community Affairs (the “Department”) hereby issues its Final Order, pursuant to Section 380.05(6), Florida Statutes, and Section 380.0552(9), Florida Statutes (2008), approving a land development regulation adopted by a local government within the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern as set forth below.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1.     The Florida Keys Area is a statutorily designated area of critical state concern, and Monroe County is a local government within the Florida Keys Area.

2.     On April 9, 2009, the Department received for review Monroe County Ordinance No. 008-2009 (“Ord. 008-2009”), adopted by Monroe County on March 18, 2009.

Ord. No. 008-2009 amends Section 102-158, Monroe County Code, concerning Amendments to the Land Development Regulations, Land Use District Map and Future Land Use Map.

3.     The purpose of Ord. No. 008-2009 is to provide a procedure for the public to provide written protests to land use district map changes and future land use map (FLUM) amendments at the transmittal hearing. The opportunity to provide public testimony, the submittal of evidence, and the right to challenge the FLUM amendment remains unchanged through the adoption hearing.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

4.     The Department is required to approve or reject land development regulations that are enacted, amended, or rescinded by any local government in the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern. Section 380.05(6), Florida Statutes, and Section 380.0552(9), Florida Statutes (2008).

5.     Monroe County is a local government within the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern. Section 380.0552, Florida Statutes (2008) and Rule 28-29.002 (superseding Chapter 27F-8), Florida Administrative Code.

6.     “Land development regulations” include local zoning, subdivision, building, and other regulations controlling the development of land. Section 380.031(8), Florida Statutes (2008). The regulations adopted by Ord. 008-2009 are land development regulations.

7.     All land development regulations enacted, amended, or rescinded within an area of critical state concern must be consistent with the Principles for Guiding Development (the “Principles”) as set forth in Section 380.0552(7), Florida Statutes. See Rathkamp v. Department of Community Affairs, 21 F.A.L.R. 1902 (Dec. 4, 1998), aff’d, 740 So. 2d 1209 (Fla. 3d DCA 1999). The Principles are construed as a whole and no specific provision is construed or applied in isolation from the other provisions.

8.     Ord. 008-2009 promotes and furthers the following Principles:

        (a) To strengthen local government capabilities for managing land use and development so that local government is able to achieve these objectives without the continuation of the area of critical state concern designation.

        (l) To protect the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Florida Keys and maintain the Florida Keys as a unique resource.

9.     Ord. 008-2009 is consistent with the Principles for Guiding Development as a whole.

10.  Ord. 008-2009 furthers Monroe County Comprehensive Plan Policy 1302.1.2 requiring the Monroe County Growth Management Division to establish written standards operating procedures to expedite all proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations; furthers Comprehensive Plan Goal 1303 to increase the involvement of the citizens of the County and government related entities that operate within the County in the comprehensive planning and growth management process; and Objective 1303.1 requiring that Monroe County shall provide for and facilitate public participation and awareness in the comprehensive planning process.

WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that Ord. 008-2009 is found to be consistent with the Principles for Guiding Development of the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern, and is hereby APPROVED.

This Order becomes effective 21 days after publication in the Florida Administrative Weekly unless a petition is filed as described below.

DONE AND ORDERED in Tallahassee, Florida.

                                                                                                                                _________________________________

                                                                                                                                CHARLES GAUTHIER, AICP

                                                                                                                                Director, Division of Community Planning

                                                                                                                                Department of Community Affairs

                                                                                                                                2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard

                                                                                                                                Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE RIGHTS

ANY PERSON WHOSE SUBSTANTIAL INTERESTS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS ORDER HAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING ACTION. DEPENDING UPON WHETHER YOU ALLEGE ANY DISPUTED ISSUE OF MATERIAL FACT IN YOUR PETITION REQUESTING AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO EITHER AN INFORMAL PROCEEDING OR A FORMAL HEARING.

IF YOUR PETITION FOR HEARING DOES NOT ALLEGE ANY DISPUTED ISSUE OF MATERIAL FACT CONTAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT’S ACTION, THEN THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING WILL BE AN INFORMAL ONE, CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 120.569 AND 120.57(2), FLORIDA STATUTES, AND CHAPTER 28-106, PARTS I AND III, FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. IN AN INFORMAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING, YOU MAY BE REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL OR BY A QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVE, AND YOU MAY PRESENT WRITTEN OR ORAL EVIDENCE IN OPPOSITION TO THE DEPARTMENT’S ACTION OR REFUSAL TO ACT; OR YOU MAY EXERCISE THE OPTION TO PRESENT A WRITTEN STATEMENT CHALLENGING THE GROUNDS UPON WHICH THE DEPARTMENT HAS CHOSEN TO JUSTIFY ITS ACTION OR INACTION.

IF YOU DISPUTE ANY ISSUE OF MATERIAL FACT STATED IN THE AGENCY ACTION, THEN YOU MAY FILE A PETITION REQUESTING A FORMAL ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING BEFORE AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE OF THE DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS, PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 120.569 AND 120.57(1), FLORIDA STATUTES, AND CHAPTER 28-106, PARTS I AND II, FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. AT A FORMAL ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING, YOU MAY BE REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL OR OTHER QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVE, AND YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT EVIDENCE AND ARGUMENT ON ALL THE ISSUES INVOLVED, TO CONDUCT CROSS-EXAMINATION AND SUBMIT REBUTTAL EVIDENCE, TO SUBMIT PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACT AND ORDERS, AND TO FILE EXCEPTIONS TO ANY RECOMMENDED ORDER.

IF YOU DESIRE EITHER AN INFORMAL PROCEEDING OR A FORMAL HEARING, YOU MUST FILE WITH THE AGENCY CLERK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS A WRITTEN PLEADING ENTITLED, “PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS” WITHIN 21 CALENDAR DAYS OF PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. A PETITION IS FILED WHEN IT IS RECEIVED BY THE AGENCY CLERK, IN THE DEPARTMENT’S OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL, 2555 SHUMARD OAK BOULEVARD, TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-2100.

THE PETITION MUST MEET THE FILING REQUIREMENTS IN SUBSECTION 28-106.104(2), FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. IF AN INFORMAL PROCEEDING IS REQUESTED, THEN THE PETITION SHALL BE SUBMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 28-106.301, FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. IF A FORMAL HEARING IS REQUESTED, THEN THE PETITION SHALL BE SUBMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION 28-106.201(2), FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.

A PERSON WHO HAS FILED A PETITION MAY REQUEST MEDIATION. A REQUEST FOR MEDIATION MUST INCLUDE THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY RULE 28-106.402, FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. CHOOSING MEDIATION DOES NOT AFFECT THE RIGHT TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING.

YOU WAIVE THE RIGHT TO AN INFORMAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING OR A FORMAL HEARING IF YOU DO NOT FILE A PETITION WITH THE AGENCY CLERK WITHIN 21 DAYS OF PUBLICATION OF THIS FINAL ORDER.

CERTIFICATE OF FILING AND SERVICE

I HEREBY CERTIFY that the original of the foregoing Final Order has been filed with the undersigned designated Agency Clerk, and that true and correct copies have been furnished to the persons listed below by the method indicated this 22nd day of April, 2009.

                                                                                                                                _____________________________

                                                                                                                                Paula Ford, Agency Clerk

By U.S. Mail:

Honorable George Neugent

Mayor of Monroe County

25 Ships Way

Big Pine Key, Florida 33043

 

Danny L. Kolhage

Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners

500 Whitehead Street

Key West, Florida 33040

 

Andrew Trivette

Growth Management Director

2798 Overseas Highway, Suite 400

Marathon, Florida 33050