Department of Community Affairs, Division of Community Planning

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Division of Community Planning

Division of Community Planning

In re:       MONROE COUNTY LAND

                DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS

                ADOPTED BY MONROE COUNTY

                ORDINANCE NO. 007-2007

____________________________________________/

                                FINAL ORDER

The Department of Community Affairs (the “Department”) hereby issues its Final Order, pursuant to §§ 380.05(6), Fla. Stat., and § 380.0552(9), Fla. Stat. (2006), 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 May 11, 2007, the Department received for review Monroe County Ordinance No. 007-2007 (“Ord. 007-2007”), adopted by Monroe County on April 18, 2007.

3.     The purpose of the Ordinance is to amend Monroe County Code Section 9.5-22(h)(2) in order to change the location of one of the two monthly Planning Commission meetings to a location in the Lower Keys rather than the current location in Marathon. The regularly scheduled (bi-monthly) meetings shall rotate between the lower Keys and the upper Keys sub-areas and provide easier access for the citizenry of the lower Keys to participate in public hearings appropriate to the lower Keys sub area.

4.     Ordinance 007-2007 is consistent with the 2010 Monroe County Comprehensive Plan, Goal 1303.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

5.     The Department is required to approve or reject land development regulations that are enacted, amended, or rescinded by any local government in the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern. § 380.05(6), Fla. Stat., and § 380.0552(9), Fla. Stat. (2006).

6.     Monroe County is a local government within the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern. § 380.0552, Fla. Stat. (2006) and Rule 28-29.002 (superseding Chapter 27F-8), Fla. Admin. Code.

7.     “Land development regulations” include local zoning, subdivision, building, and other regulations controlling the development of land. § 380.031(8), Fla. Stat. (2006). The regulations adopted by Ord. 007-2007 are land development regulations.

8.     All land development regulations enacted, amended, or rescinded within an area of critical state concern must be consistent with the Principles for Guiding Development (the “Principles”) as set forth in § 380.0552(7), Fla. Stat. 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.

9.     Ord. 007-2007 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 Florida resource.

10.   Ord. 007-2007 is consistent with the Principles for Guiding Development as a whole.

WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that Ord. 007-2007 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.

                                /s/___________________________________

                                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 PURSUANT TO SECTION 120.569, FLORIDA STATUTES, REGARDING THE AGENCY’S 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 10th day of July, 2007.

                                                                        /s/______________________________

                                                                        Paula Ford, Agency Clerk

By U.S. Mail:

Honorable Mario Di Gennaro

Mayor of Monroe County

Florida Keys Marathon Airport

9400 Overseas Highway, Suite 210

Key West, Florida 33050

Danny L. Kolhage

Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners

500 Whitehead Street

Key West, Florida 33040

 

Andrew Trivette

Director

Planning and Environmental Resources

2798 Overseas Highway, Suite 400

Marathon, Florida 33050

 

By Hand Delivery or Interagency Mail:

Craig Diamond, Bureau of State Planning, DCA Tallahassee

Clark Turner, ACSC Administrator, DCA Tallahassee

Richard E. Shine, Assistant General Counsel, DCA Tallahassee