Enough? Are the keys at capacity?
Roosevelt Blvd. under water during Hurricane Wilma. Will you be able to evacuate if you have to?
Keys Conversations
On Monday, April 15th, Last Stand sat down with expert development and environmental attorney Richard Gross to discuss navigating land development and takings cases in the Florida Keys. Listen to the conversation as we delve into the issues, distinguish facts from myth, and explore alternative approaches to addressing the challenges we encounter. Click below to listen to the complete discussion
Are the Florida Keys at capacity for development?
As Monroe County embarks on a new campaign for additional ROGOs/BPAs (building allocations), we at Last Stand feel that any additional development must be extremely limited and directly tied to improvements in water quality, traffic congestion, infrastructure, “true” affordable workforce housing, and safe hurricane evacuation standards. While this is supposed to be similar to how the original program was structured, little to no enforcement has occurred.
Consider these quality of life issues:
Despite a failing grade for US1, which should prompt a cessation of commercial development, the County ignores these findings.
Ensuring safe hurricane evacuation is becoming more challenging, with the Keys surpassing the 24-hour state statute maximum for evacuation time when most residents are included in the model.
Despite regulations stating that a decline in water quality should halt development, our nearshore waters consistently exhibit excessive nutrients and fail to meet EPA standards. Instead, we have a reef that’s all but dead, significant algae blooms, fish die-offs, aberrant fish behavior, and the presence of more than 30 pharmaceuticals in our fish populations.
Vacation rentals soar in an Area of State Critical Concern with no limitations and new legislation making enforcement ever more difficult while our workforce housing is decimated. New developments are approved that are predominantly “market rate” housing and unaffordable by much of the workforce.
Infrastructure continues to decline with reductions to our fresh water supply and roads and bridges in need of repair.
The bottom line: should the profit-driven interests of a few developers take precedence over the quality of life for tens of thousands of Keys residents?
If you care about the Keys, NOW is the time to get involved. Listen as Last Stand speaks with Richard Grosso, renowned land development and environmental attorney, to hear another perspective and critically examine the information presented at the recent County special ROGO workshop. We delve into the issues, discern facts from myths regarding takings cases, and explore potential remedies. This event was a great opportunity to engage with a distinguished expert, generate ideas, craft an action plan, and rally our fellow community members.
About Richard: In his 36-year career as a litigator, appellate lawyer, advocate, and counselor in the areas of federal and Florida environmental, land use, and related laws, Richard has represented public interest clients and the state of Florida in federal and state proceedings that included protection and restoration of the Everglades and the Florida Keys. He has been extensively involved in litigation, advocacy and implementation of the Keys “carrying capacity” development limits. He frequently represents clients before local, state and federal agencies. In recent years, his work focused on climate and ecosystem sustainability, legal, and policy issues.