Look at where the developers are from. Here in St. Pete, they are literally ALL from South Florida. Gee, I wonder what kind of (uninspired) plans they have for our city? Miami 2.0. . . Yea!
Either way, Citizen's isn't there for "regular people", it's there to keep the market strong for the developers and real estate hacks (i.e. the people who've driven policy in FL for over 100 years). . . and that's why it will stay in place, not because they care about regular citizens.
In certain areas for sure. If you are a developer or realtor outside of South Florida or coastal areas, affordable insurance isnt going to be a problem for buyers in brand new homes.
the local codes determine what happens in your city. I work across multiple municipalities, and they all differ as to what can be done and how it must be done. i think you will find that most developers are national in nature, maybe offices in south florida, but national companies.
The problem is the developers buy land then get lawyers to try and change the code to fit what they want to do. It has been a constant battle in NW Marion county where they are buying farm land and then trying to build large developments on farm land that has been zoned to 1 house per 10 acres to prevent the rural farm land and from being developed. They have been doing their best to get code changes and build at the I-75 and hwy 318 exchange. This area is zoned as a Farm preservation area. No water or sewer, no shopping centers and only rural two lane roads. Twenty miles to Ocala or Gainesville. There is a group made up of locals that does battle with the developers called SORA "Save Our Rural Areas" in Marion County that has been successful in holding some of the development off but the developers will not give up and will try and sneak it through again hoping no one notices. Marion County approved over 64000. new homes , townhomes and apartments in 2024.
what does the comprehensive plan allow? Zoning is set up to be changed at the local level provided conditions are met and the new use is consistent with the comp plan. The comp plan is much harder to change and where one should focus efforts. it has to go to the state level and is a more difficult nut to crack a sone must document sufficient net public benefit
and even with all those new approvals, there is a housing shortage....if we want housing to become more affordable, we have to build more, or put more people in each house
True, but it is pretty amazing seeing all the apartment and housing construction going on in central Florida often in the middle of nowhere. We either have a ton of retirees or a ton of folks working from home who don't need to commute because in many cases there are no businesses/industries nearby.
They can build more if they are needed but build in the city not out in the rural areas where there is no infrastructure already in place.
As bad as I hate the tall apartment buildings in Gainesville that have forever changed the city I was born in 66 years ago it is a lot better than what has happened to Jonesville and Newberry. The same things are happening in rural small towns like Willistron in Levy county. The traffic on the two lane roads has become very dangerous as people commute from Williston to Gainesville on 121. Passing in no passing ones making head on fatalities a weekly thing.
Yes, they are trying to strike a delicate balance between bringing in the fees without stifling the development since they would just go to the county next door with their money. The counties and cities want the revenue but it's not bringing in enough to pay for the infrastructure. Schools, hospitals and fire stations too.
Because when you pay a million plus for the dirt, it doesn't make financial sense to only put a 1,500 sf house on it. Not saying that they couldn't do that and save some trees but they choose to think with their wallet instead of the land/environment.
Even the LGBTQQIP2SAA….ok, so didn’t actually know what LGBTQP was since I hadn’t seen the “P” before so googled it and found an even longer acronym…do people just make these up on the fly?
You responded to a typical Democrat. More taxes is always their solution. Cutting spending is never even considered by them. But same here. If that happens I go to East Tennessee where there's no income tax or to the Mississippi Gulf Coast where they are gradually (but doing a good job) of phasing out the income tax. Sales Taxes I'm largely okay with since it's based off consumption. No one is forcing you to purchase most items. I'm also okay with exemptions to the Sales Tax like groceries and some essential items. I don't like Property Taxes as I don't like the idea of paying taxes on something I own. To me it's just a reminder that ownership is largely a myth. With that said, at least with Property Taxes it stays in your local county instead of just some big State Government fund. To me that's why the way Florida, Texas, Nevada, Tennessee, Mississippi and even Washington State do it are superior. Property Taxes in lieu of Income Taxes and the money stays local instead of just to the State Capital where you will never know how it's truly spent or see it in your local community again. Scr*w anyone who tries to bring an Income Tax to Florida. To me Income Taxes are one of the most evil things that mankind has ever created. I earned that money, not the government. As far as I'm concerned they are entitled to NONE of it. Federally I would even support a Federal Sales Tax if it meant the elimination of Federal Income Taxes. But of course we know that won't happen.
