House Bill 4107c1

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998             CS/HB 4107

        By the Committee on Community Affairs and Representatives
    Wiles, Lynn, Ziebarth, Bainter and Feeney





  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to coastal redevelopment;

  3         amending s. 163.335, F.S.; providing

  4         legislative intent for the scope of activities

  5         included in community redevelopment; amending

  6         s. 163.340, F.S.; redefining the terms

  7         "blighted area," "community redevelopment," and

  8         "community redevelopment area"; amending s.

  9         163.360, F.S.; providing additional criteria

10         for approval of a community redevelopment;

11         creating s. 163.336, F.S.; providing

12         legislative intent; providing for the

13         geographical locations of coastal resort area

14         redevelopment pilot projects; providing for

15         administration of the pilot projects; providing

16         exemptions to certain coastal construction

17         requirements; providing for the scheduled

18         expiration of these provisions; providing an

19         effective date.

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21  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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23         Section 1.  Section 163.335, Florida Statutes, is

24  amended to read:

25         163.335  Findings and declarations of necessity.--

26         (1)  It is hereby found and declared that there exist

27  in counties and municipalities of the state slum and blighted

28  areas which constitute a serious and growing menace, injurious

29  to the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the

30  residents of the state; that the existence of such areas

31  contributes substantially and increasingly to the spread of

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  1  disease and crime, constitutes an economic and social

  2  liability imposing onerous burdens which decrease the tax base

  3  and reduce tax revenues, substantially impairs or arrests

  4  sound growth, retards the provision of housing accommodations,

  5  aggravates traffic problems, and substantially hampers the

  6  elimination of traffic hazards and the improvement of traffic

  7  facilities; and that the prevention and elimination of slums

  8  and blight is a matter of state policy and state concern in

  9  order that the state and its counties and municipalities shall

10  not continue to be endangered by areas which are focal centers

11  of disease, promote juvenile delinquency, and consume an

12  excessive proportion of its revenues because of the extra

13  services required for police, fire, accident, hospitalization,

14  and other forms of public protection, services, and

15  facilities.

16         (2)  It is further found and declared that certain slum

17  or blighted areas, or portions thereof, may require

18  acquisition, clearance, and disposition subject to use

19  restrictions, as provided in this part, since the prevailing

20  condition of decay may make impracticable the reclamation of

21  the area by conservation or rehabilitation; that other areas

22  or portions thereof may, through the means provided in this

23  part, be susceptible of conservation or rehabilitation in such

24  a manner that the conditions and evils enumerated may be

25  eliminated, remedied, or prevented; and that salvageable slum

26  and blighted areas can be conserved and rehabilitated through

27  appropriate public action as herein authorized and the

28  cooperation and voluntary action of the owners and tenants of

29  property in such areas.

30         (3)  It is further found and declared that the powers

31  conferred by this part are for public uses and purposes for

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  1  which public money may be expended and the power of eminent

  2  domain and police power exercised, and the necessity in the

  3  public interest for the provisions herein enacted is hereby

  4  declared as a matter of legislative determination.

  5         (4)  It is further found that coastal resort and

  6  tourist areas or portions thereof which are deteriorating and

  7  economically distressed due to building density patterns,

  8  inadequate transportation and parking facilities, faulty lot

  9  layout, or inadequate street layout could, through the means

10  provided in this part, be revitalized and redeveloped in a

11  manner that would vastly improve the economic and social

12  conditions of the community.

13         (5)(4)  It is further found and declared that the

14  preservation or enhancement of the tax base from which a

15  taxing authority realizes tax revenues is essential to its

16  existence and financial health; that the preservation and

17  enhancement of such tax base is implicit in the purposes for

18  which a taxing authority is established; that tax increment

19  financing is an effective method of achieving such

20  preservation and enhancement in areas in which such tax base

21  is declining; that community redevelopment in such areas, when

22  complete, will enhance such tax base and provide increased tax

23  revenues to all affected taxing authorities, increasing their

24  ability to accomplish their other respective purposes; and

25  that the preservation and enhancement of the tax base in such

26  areas through tax increment financing and the levying of taxes

27  by such taxing authorities therefor and the appropriation of

28  funds to a redevelopment trust fund bears a substantial

29  relation to the purposes of such taxing authorities and is for

30  their respective purposes and concerns.  This subsection does

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  1  not apply in any jurisdiction where the community

  2  redevelopment agency validated bonds as of April 30, 1984.

  3         (6)(5)  It is further found and declared that there

  4  exists in counties and municipalities of the state a severe

  5  shortage of housing affordable to residents of low or moderate

  6  income, including the elderly; that the existence of such

  7  condition affects the health, safety, and welfare of the

  8  residents of such counties and municipalities and retards

  9  their growth and economic and social development; and that the

10  elimination or improvement of such condition is a proper

11  matter of state policy and state concern and is for a valid

12  and desirable public purpose.

13         Section 2.  Subsections (8), (9), and (10) of section

14  163.340, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

15         163.340  Definitions.--The following terms, wherever

16  used or referred to in this part, have the following meanings:

17         (8)  "Blighted area" means either:

18         (a)  An area in which there are a substantial number of

19  slum, deteriorated, or deteriorating structures and conditions

20  that lead to economic distress or which endanger life or

21  property by fire or other causes or one or more of the

22  following factors that which substantially impairs or arrests

23  the sound growth of a county or municipality and is a menace

24  to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare in its

25  present condition and use:

26         1.  Predominance of defective or inadequate street

27  layout;

28         2.  Faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy,

29  accessibility, or usefulness;

30         3.  Unsanitary or unsafe conditions;

31         4.  Deterioration of site or other improvements;

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  1         5.  Inadequate and outdated building density patterns;

  2         6.5.  Tax or special assessment delinquency exceeding

  3  the fair value of the land; and

  4         7.  Inadequate transportation and parking facilities;

  5  and

  6         8.6.  Diversity of ownership or defective or unusual

  7  conditions of title which prevent the free alienability of

  8  land within the deteriorated or hazardous area; or

  9         (b)  An area in which there exists faulty or inadequate

10  street layout; inadequate parking facilities; or roadways,

11  bridges, or public transportation facilities incapable of

12  handling the volume of traffic flow into or through the area,

13  either at present or following proposed construction.

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15  However, for purposes of qualifying for the tax credits

16  authorized in chapter 220, "blighted area" means an area

17  described in paragraph (a).

18         (9)  "Community redevelopment" or "redevelopment" means

19  undertakings, activities, or projects of a county,

20  municipality, or community redevelopment agency in a community

21  redevelopment area for the elimination and prevention of the

22  development or spread of slums and blight or for the provision

23  of affordable housing, whether for rent or for sale, to

24  residents of low or moderate income, including the elderly,

25  and may include slum clearance and redevelopment in a

26  community redevelopment area or rehabilitation and

27  revitalization of coastal resort and tourist areas that are

28  deteriorating and economically distressed, or rehabilitation

29  or conservation in a community redevelopment area, or any

30  combination or part thereof, in accordance with a community

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  1  redevelopment plan and may include the preparation of such a

  2  plan.

  3         (10)  "Community redevelopment area" means a slum area,

  4  a blighted area, or an area in which there is a shortage of

  5  housing that is affordable to residents of low or moderate

  6  income, including the elderly, or a coastal and tourist area

  7  that is deteriorating and economically distressed due to

  8  outdated building density patterns, inadequate transportation

  9  and parking facilities, faulty lot layout or inadequate street

10  layout, or a combination thereof which the governing body

11  designates as appropriate for community redevelopment.

12         Section 3.  Subsection (6) of section 163.360, Florida

13  Statutes, is amended to read:

14         163.360  Community redevelopment plans.--

15         (6)  Following such hearing, the governing body may

16  approve the community redevelopment and the plan therefor if

17  it finds that:

18         (a)  A feasible method exists for the location of

19  families who will be displaced from the community

20  redevelopment area in decent, safe, and sanitary dwelling

21  accommodations within their means and without undue hardship

22  to such families;

23         (b)  The community redevelopment plan conforms to the

24  general plan of the county or municipality as a whole;

25         (c)  The community redevelopment plan gives due

26  consideration to the provision of adequate park and

27  recreational areas and facilities that may be desirable for

28  neighborhood improvement, with special consideration for the

29  health, safety, and welfare of children residing in the

30  general vicinity of the site covered by the plans; and

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  1         (d)  The community redevelopment plan will afford

  2  maximum opportunity, consistent with the sound needs of the

  3  county or municipality as a whole, for the rehabilitation or

  4  redevelopment of the community redevelopment area by private

  5  enterprise; and.

  6         (e)  The community redevelopment plan and resulting

  7  revitalization and redevelopment for a coastal tourist area

  8  that is deteriorating and economically distressed will reduce

  9  or maintain evacuation time, as appropriate and ensure

10  protection for property against exposure to natural disasters.

11         Section 4.  Section 163.336, Florida Statutes, is

12  created to read:

13         163.336  Coastal resort area redevelopment pilot

14  projects.--

15         (1)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--

16         (a)  The Legislature recognizes that some coastal

17  resort and tourist areas are deteriorating and declining as

18  recreation and tourist centers. It is appropriate to undertake

19  pilot projects to determine the feasibility of encouraging

20  redevelopment of economically distressed coastal properties to

21  allow full utilization of existing urban infrastructure such

22  as roads and utility lines. Such activities can have a

23  beneficial impact on local and state economies and provide job

24  opportunities and revitalization of urban areas.

25         (b)  The Department of Environmental Protection shall

26  administer pilot projects for redevelopment of economically

27  distressed coastal resort and tourist areas. The pilot

28  projects shall be administered in the coastal areas of

29  Florida's Atlantic Coast between the St. Johns River entrance

30  and Ponce de Leon Inlet and the coastal areas of Florida's

31  Gulf of Mexico between St. Andrews Bay and Perdido Bay.

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  1         (2)  ADMINISTRATION OF PILOT PROJECTS.--

  2         (a)  To be eligible to participate in the pilot

  3  projects, all or a portion of the area must be within:

  4         1.  The coastal building zone as defined in s. 161.54;

  5  and

  6         2.  A community redevelopment area, enterprise zone,

  7  brownfield area, empowerment zone, or other such economically

  8  deprived area as designated by the county or municipality with

  9  jurisdiction over the area.

10         (b)  Local governments are encouraged to use the full

11  range of economic and tax incentives available to facilitate

12  and promote redevelopment and revitalization within the areas

13  of the pilot projects.

14         (c)  The Office of the Governor, the Department of

15  Environmental Protection, and the Department of Community

16  Affairs are directed to provide technical assistance to

17  expedite permitting for redevelopment projects and

18  construction activities within the areas of the pilot

19  projects, consistent with the principles, processes, and

20  timeframes provided in s. 403.973.

21         (d)  The Department of Environmental Protection shall

22  exempt construction activities within the areas of the pilot

23  projects in locations seaward of a coastal construction

24  control line and landward of existing armoring from certain

25  siting and design criteria pursuant to s. 161.053. However,

26  such exemption shall not be deemed to exempt property within

27  the areas of the pilot projects from applicable local land

28  development regulations, including, but not limited to,

29  setback, side lot line, and lot coverage requirements. Such

30  exemption shall apply to construction and redevelopment of

31  structures involving the coverage, excavation, and impervious

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  1  surface criteria of s. 161.053, and related adopted rules, as

  2  follows:

  3         1.  This review by the department of applications for

  4  permits for coastal construction within the areas of the pilot

  5  projects must apply to construction and redevelopment of

  6  structures subject to the coverage, excavation, and impervious

  7  surface criteria of s. 161.053, and related adopted rules. It

  8  is the intent of these provisions that the areas of the pilot

  9  projects be enabled to redevelop in a manner which meets the

10  economic needs of the areas while preserving public safety and

11  existing resources, including natural resources.

12         2.  The criteria for review under s. 161.053 are

13  applicable within the areas of the pilot projects, except that

14  the structures within the areas of the pilot projects shall

15  not be subject to specific shore parallel coverage

16  requirements and are allowed to exceed the 50 percent

17  impervious surface requirement. In no case shall stormwater

18  discharge be allowed onto, or seaward of, the frontal dune.

19  Structures are also not bound by the restrictions on

20  excavation unless the construction will adversely affect the

21  integrity of the existing seawall or rigid coastal armoring

22  structure or stability of the existing beach and dune system.

23  It is specifically contemplated that underground structures,

24  including garages, will be permitted. All beach-compatible

25  material excavated under this subparagraph must be maintained

26  on site seaward of the coastal construction control line.

27         3.  The review criteria in subparagraph 2. will apply

28  to all construction within the area of the pilot projects

29  lying seaward of the coastal construction control line and

30  landward of an existing viable seawall or rigid coastal

31  armoring structure, if such construction is fronted by a

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  1  seawall or rigid coastal armoring structure extending at least

  2  1,000 feet without any interruptions other than beach access

  3  points. For purposes of this section, a viable seawall or

  4  rigid coastal armoring structure is a structure that has not

  5  deteriorated, dilapidated, or been damaged to such a degree

  6  that it no longer provides adequate protection to the upland

  7  property when considering criteria including, but not limited

  8  to, the following:

  9         a.  The top must be at or above the still-water level,

10  including setup, for the design storm of 30-year return storm

11  plus the breaking wave calculated at its highest achievable

12  level based on the maximum eroded beach profile and highest

13  surge level combination, and must be high enough to preclude

14  runup overtopping;

15         b.  The armoring must be stable under the design storm

16  of 30-year return storm including maximum localized scour,

17  with adequate penetration; and

18         c.  The armoring must have sufficient continuity or

19  return walls to prevent flooding under the design storm of

20  30-year return storm from impacting the proposed construction.

21         4.  Where there exists a continuous line of rigid

22  coastal armoring structure on either side of unarmored

23  property and the adjacent line of rigid coastal armoring

24  structures are having an adverse effect on or threaten the

25  unarmored property, and the gap does not exceed 100 feet, the

26  department may grant the necessary permits under s. 161.085 to

27  close the gap.

28         5.  Structures approved pursuant to this section shall

29  not cause flooding of or result in adverse impacts to existing

30  upland structures or properties and shall comply with all

31  other requirements of s. 161.053 and its implementing rules.

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  1         6.  Where there exists a continuous line of viable

  2  rigid coastal armoring structure on either side of a nonviable

  3  rigid coastal armoring structure, the department shall grant

  4  the necessary permits under s. 161.085 to replace such

  5  nonviable rigid coastal armoring structure with a viable rigid

  6  coastal armoring structure as defined herein.  This shall not

  7  apply to rigid coastal armoring structures constructed after

  8  May 1, 1998, unless such structures have been permitted

  9  pursuant to s. 161.085(2).

10         (3)  EXPIRATION OF PILOT PROJECTS.--The authorization

11  for the pilot projects and the provisions of this section

12  expire December 31, 2002. The Legislature shall review these

13  requirements before their scheduled expiration.

14         Section 5.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

15  law.

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