The Florida Senate

¹376.84  Brownfield redevelopment economic incentives.--It is the intent of the Legislature that brownfield redevelopment activities be viewed as opportunities to significantly improve the utilization, general condition, and appearance of these sites. Different standards than those in place for new development, as allowed under current state and local laws, should be used to the fullest extent to encourage the redevelopment of a brownfield. State and local governments are encouraged to offer redevelopment incentives for this purpose, as an ongoing public investment in infrastructure and services, to help eliminate the public health and environmental hazards, and to promote the creation of jobs in these areas. Such incentives may include financial, regulatory, and technical assistance to persons and businesses involved in the redevelopment of the brownfield pursuant to this act.

(1)  Financial incentives and local incentives for redevelopment may include, but not be limited to:

(a)  Tax increment financing through community redevelopment agencies pursuant to part III of chapter 163.

(b)  Enterprise zone tax exemptions for businesses pursuant to chapters 196 and 290.

(c)  Safe neighborhood improvement districts as provided in ss. 163.501-163.523.

(d)  Waiver, reduction, or limitation by line of business with respect to occupational license taxes pursuant to chapter 205.

(e)  Tax exemption for historic properties as provided in s. 196.1997.

(f)  Residential electricity exemption of up to the first 500 kilowatts of use may be exempted from the municipal public service tax pursuant to s. 166.231.

(g)  Minority business enterprise programs as provided in s. 287.0943.

(h)  Electric and gas tax exemption as provided in s. 166.231(6).

(i)  Economic development tax abatement as provided in s. 196.1995.

(j)  Grants, including community development block grants.

(k)  Pledging of revenues to secure bonds.

(l)  Low-interest revolving loans and zero-interest loan pools.

(m)  Local grant programs for facade, storefront, signage, and other business improvements.

(n)  Governmental coordination of loan programs with lenders, such as microloans, business reserve fund loans, letter of credit enhancements, gap financing, land lease and sublease loans, and private equity.

(o)  Payment schedules over time for payment of fees, within criteria, and marginal cost pricing.

(2)  Regulatory incentives may include, but not be limited to:

(a)  Cities' absorption of developers' concurrency needs.

(b)  Developers' performance of certain analyses.

(c)  Exemptions and lessening of state and local review requirements.

(d)  Water and sewer regulatory incentives.

(e)  Waiver of transportation impact fees and permit fees.

(f)  Zoning incentives to reduce review requirements for redevelopment changes in use and occupancy; establishment of code criteria for specific uses; and institution of credits for previous use within the area.

(g)  Flexibility in parking standards and buffer zone standards.

(h)  Environmental management through specific code criteria and conditions allowed by current law.

(i)  Maintenance standards and activities by ordinance and otherwise, and increased security and crime prevention measures available through special assessments.

(j)  Traffic-calming measures.

(k)  Historic preservation ordinances, loan programs, and review and permitting procedures.

(l)  One-stop permitting and streamlined development and permitting process.

(3)  Technical assistance incentives may include, but not be limited to:

(a)  Expedited development applications.

(b)  Formal and informal information on business incentives and financial programs.

(c)  Site design assistance.

(d)  Marketing and promotion of projects or areas.

History.--s. 8, ch. 97-277.

¹Note.--

A.  Section 9, ch. 97-277, provides that:

"(1)  The Legislature recognizes that the United States Environmental Protection Agency has created several pilot projects for redevelopment of brownfield areas to gather information on the best ways to return old industrial and commercial sites to productive use in situations where redevelopment is complicated by potential environmental contamination. These pilot project areas will perform initial work to seek developers to restore the sites, and will also incorporate the efforts of lenders, regulators, and other groups. The Environmental Protection Agency initiative is flexible, allowing local governments to use a variety of approaches to rehabilitate abandoned or underutilized sites, neighborhoods, and small regional areas.

"(2)  The Legislature has determined that it would be beneficial to provide similar incentives in this state for the rehabilitation and redevelopment of brownfields. Accordingly, the department shall, contingent upon funds being available in the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 1997-1998, award grants to each United States Environmental Protection national or regional brownfield pilot project."

B.  Section 12, ch. 97-277, provides that "[f]rom funds available in the 1997-1998 General Appropriations Act for Brownfields Redevelopment grants shall be made as follows:

"(a)  For United States Environmental Protection Agency brownfield pilot projects designated as of May 1, 1997, grants shall be issued in the amount of $500,000 per pilot.

"(b)  For United States Environmental Protection Agency brownfield pilot projects designated by the effective date of this act grants shall be issued in the amount of $200,000 per pilot. Should funds be insufficient to meet this provision than a pro-rata distribution shall be made among eligible pilot projects.

"(c)  Remaining funds shall be split on a pro-rata basis to those pilot projects that applied but did not receive the United States Environmental Protection Agency designation. Such grants shall not exceed $200,000.

"(d)  Should the United States Environmental Protection Agency fail to designate pilot projects by the effective date of this act then remaining funds shall be distributed on a pro-rata share to those pilot projects that applied.

"(e)  Should funds remain after satisfying the provisions of (a), (b), (c), and (d) then distribution shall be done on a pro-rata basis to sites that applied or have been designated on or before May 1, 1997.

"(f)  Grant funds awarded pursuant to this section shall be used by local governments to set up and implement a program which promotes brownfield redevelopment."