Last Stand recently spoke at the April 17th BOCC meeting, expressing opposition to granting 86 early evacuation ("EE") ROGOs to CEMEX Construction Materials, Florida, LLC. Originally, this pool of EE ROGOs was designated for Beneficial Use Only (also known as Takings Cases) or for exchange with other ROGOs. However, the applicant is seeking to acquire all 86 EE ROGOs without providing any affordable allocations in return. This places a burden on Monroe County taxpayers and increases potential liabilities.

Last Stand opposes granting 86 early evacuation ("EE") ROGOs to CEMEX Construction Materials, Florida, LLC. The county's exchange policy, established to maintain hurricane evacuation standards, requires recipients of EE ROGOs to provide affordable ROGOs. However, the applicant seeks to obtain 86 EE ROGOs without returning any affordable allocations, burdening Monroe County taxpayers and increasing potential liabilities. Last Stand urges support for the exchange policy, which has historical backing and potential participants. Amidst concerns over ROGO availability and overdevelopment pressures, Last Stand urges the County to maintain the exchange policy and resist exceptions that endanger residents' financial resources and safety.

FloridaCommerce’s 2023 Hurricane Evacuation Model and local governments’ responses to it have been in the news recently. While hurricane evacuation time is important to consider when thinking about Keys’ capacity, it is far from the only meaningful factor. Let’s also consider waste water and its effect on the environment, fresh water, traffic, and housing; all of which weigh on our quality of life.

Dottie Moses, Last Stand board member, spoke at the Monroe County Commission's ROGO workshop, stressing the need to protect the future of the Florida Keys. She highlighted the Comprehensive Plan's focus on limited growth and environmental preservation. Despite past efforts, overdevelopment threats persist, straining infrastructure and endangering the environment. Moses urged against unsustainable growth, advocating for strategic allocation of remaining ROGOs to address community needs like affordable housing and infrastructure. Each decision must prioritize the well-being of the Keys.

In these remarks, Keys Last Stand emphasizes the importance of policy decisions and their impact on the affordable workforce housing crisis. They express concern that exemptions granted to the Nonresidential Inclusionary Housing Requirement worsen this crisis.

Last Stand Board Member Dottie Moses spoke out against creating the “Tavernier Commercial Overlay District” during the Monroe County Commission Special Meeting on February 15, 2024. This proposed district in Tavernier plans to introduce a 49,000-square-foot supermarket and 86 workforce housing units on a roughly 20-acre lot at Mile Marker 92.5 off U.S. 1. This development ignores County comprehensive plans, especially the community-inspired Livable CommuniKeys plan. It will create increased traffic prompting residents to voice concerns for their safety.