House and Senate Land Use Bills Amended this Week
CS/SB 1604 (Ingoglia) and CS/CS/CS/HB 439 (McClain) are bills relating to land use and development regulations. This week the League sent a Legislative Alert regarding a bad amendment filed that would have required all cities to create expedited permitting programs. We are happy to report that the permitting amendment filed to the Senate bill was withdrawn and not considered by the committee. A similar amendment was contemplated by the House, but ultimately not filed. Thank you to those who reached out.
It is important to note that both bills were amended with language to cancel an agreement Reedy Creek Improvement District reached with Walt Disney Company to circumvent state oversight of the district.
Despite League opposition, CS/CS/CS/HB 439 was amended in the House State Affairs Committee with two amendments of concern, but this language was not added to the Senate bill. The first amendment allows a developer to expand a project to an adjacent parcel despite local land use restrictions if 25% of dwelling units are reserved for affordable housing at the time of the initial sale or lease. The second amendment further preempts local government oversight over the expansion of electric utility substations. Based on the concerns previously mentioned, the League maintains its opposition to this bill. (Chapman)