Senate Bill sb0716c1

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    Florida Senate - 2005                            CS for SB 716

    By the Committee on Community Affairs; and Senators Argenziano
    and Haridopolos




    578-1774-05

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to agricultural economic

  3         development; amending s. 70.001, F.S.;

  4         providing a cause of action for landowners

  5         aggrieved by certain changes to agricultural

  6         land use; amending s. 163.2514, F.S.; defining

  7         the terms "agricultural enclave" and "family

  8         farm agricultural enclave" for purposes of

  9         growth policy; amending s. 163.2517, F.S.;

10         authorizing the owner of land defined as an

11         agricultural enclave or a family farm

12         agricultural enclave to apply for an amendment

13         to the local government comprehensive plan;

14         providing requirements relating to application

15         for a comprehensive plan amendment; providing

16         for the granting of amendment upon the failure

17         to act in a timely fashion; amending s.

18         163.3177, F.S.; requiring land use plans to

19         establish appropriate uses of lands in

20         agricultural enclaves; amending acreage limits

21         for rural land stewardship areas; requiring the

22         department to obtain written agreements from

23         landowners; amending s. 163.3187, F.S.;

24         providing that an amendment to an agricultural

25         enclave comprehensive plan or an amendment to a

26         large scale comprehensive plan adopted as a

27         result of informal mediation may be approved

28         without regard to statutory frequency limits;

29         creating s. 259.047, F.S.; providing

30         requirements relating to the purchase of land

31         on which an agricultural lease exists; amending

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 1         s. 373.0361, F.S.; providing for recognition

 2         that alternative water-source options for

 3         agricultural self-suppliers are limited;

 4         amending s. 373.2234, F.S.; conforming a

 5         cross-reference; amending s. 373.236, F.S.;

 6         requiring water management districts to inform

 7         landowners of the option to obtain certain

 8         consumptive use permits; creating s. 373.407,

 9         F.S.; providing for memoranda of agreement

10         regarding qualification for

11         agricultural-related exemptions; providing an

12         effective date.

13  

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

15  

16         Section 1.  Subsections (4) and (5) of section 70.001,

17  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

18         70.001  Private property rights protection.--

19         (4)(a)  Not less than 180 days prior to filing an

20  action under this section against a governmental entity, a

21  property owner who seeks compensation under this section must

22  present the claim in writing to the head of the governmental

23  entity. The property owner must submit, along with the claim,

24  a bona fide, valid appraisal that supports the claim and

25  demonstrates the loss in fair market value to the real

26  property.  If the action of government is the culmination of a

27  process that involves more than one governmental entity, or if

28  a complete resolution of all relevant issues, in the view of

29  the property owner or in the view of a governmental entity to

30  whom a claim is presented, requires the active participation

31  of more than one governmental entity, the property owner shall

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 1  present the claim as provided in this section to each of the

 2  governmental entities.

 3         (b)  A landowner aggrieved by the changing of an

 4  existing agricultural land use classification or agricultural

 5  zoning or the lowering of the current density designation

 6  which creates an inordinate burden on property classified as

 7  agricultural land pursuant to s. 193.461 shall have a cause of

 8  action in accordance with the procedures provided in this

 9  section, except that the 180-day notice period shall be

10  reduced to a 90-day notice period.

11         (c)(b)  The governmental entity shall provide written

12  notice of the claim to all parties to any administrative

13  action that gave rise to the claim, and to owners of real

14  property contiguous to the owner's property at the addresses

15  listed on the most recent county tax rolls.  Within 15 days

16  after the claim being presented, the governmental entity shall

17  report the claim in writing to the Department of Legal

18  Affairs, and shall provide the department with the name,

19  address, and telephone number of the employee of the

20  governmental entity from whom additional information may be

21  obtained about the claim during the pendency of the claim and

22  any subsequent judicial action.

23         (d)(c)  During the 90-day-notice or the 180-day-notice

24  period, unless extended by agreement of the parties, the

25  governmental entity shall make a written settlement offer to

26  effectuate:

27         1.  An adjustment of land development or permit

28  standards or other provisions controlling the development or

29  use of land.

30         2.  Increases or modifications in the density,

31  intensity, or use of areas of development.

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 1         3.  The transfer of developmental rights.

 2         4.  Land swaps or exchanges.

 3         5.  Mitigation, including payments in lieu of onsite

 4  mitigation.

 5         6.  Location on the least sensitive portion of the

 6  property.

 7         7.  Conditioning the amount of development or use

 8  permitted.

 9         8.  A requirement that issues be addressed on a more

10  comprehensive basis than a single proposed use or development.

11         9.  Issuance of the development order, a variance,

12  special exception, or other extraordinary relief.

13         10.  Purchase of the real property, or an interest

14  therein, by an appropriate governmental entity.

15         11.  No changes to the action of the governmental

16  entity.

17  

18  If the property owner accepts the settlement offer, the

19  governmental entity may implement the settlement offer by

20  appropriate development agreement; by issuing a variance,

21  special exception, or other extraordinary relief; or by other

22  appropriate method, subject to paragraph (d).

23         (e)(d)1.  Whenever a governmental entity enters into a

24  settlement agreement under this section which would have the

25  effect of a modification, variance, or a special exception to

26  the application of a rule, regulation, or ordinance as it

27  would otherwise apply to the subject real property, the relief

28  granted shall protect the public interest served by the

29  regulations at issue and be the appropriate relief necessary

30  to prevent the governmental regulatory effort from

31  inordinately burdening the real property.

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 1         2.  Whenever a governmental entity enters into a

 2  settlement agreement under this section which would have the

 3  effect of contravening the application of a statute as it

 4  would otherwise apply to the subject real property, the

 5  governmental entity and the property owner shall jointly file

 6  an action in the circuit court where the real property is

 7  located for approval of the settlement agreement by the court

 8  to ensure that the relief granted protects the public interest

 9  served by the statute at issue and is the appropriate relief

10  necessary to prevent the governmental regulatory effort from

11  inordinately burdening the real property.

12         (5)(a)  During the 90-day-notice or the 180-day-notice

13  period, unless a settlement offer is accepted by the property

14  owner, each of the governmental entities provided notice

15  pursuant to paragraph (4)(a) shall issue a written ripeness

16  decision identifying the allowable uses to which the subject

17  property may be put.  The failure of the governmental entity

18  to issue a written ripeness decision during the 90-day-notice

19  or the 180-day-notice period shall be deemed to ripen the

20  prior action of the governmental entity, and shall operate as

21  a ripeness decision that has been rejected by the property

22  owner.  The ripeness decision, as a matter of law, constitutes

23  the last prerequisite to judicial review, and the matter shall

24  be deemed ripe or final for the purposes of the judicial

25  proceeding created by this section, notwithstanding the

26  availability of other administrative remedies.

27         (b)  If the property owner rejects the settlement offer

28  and the ripeness decision of the governmental entity or

29  entities, the property owner may file a claim for compensation

30  in the circuit court, a copy of which shall be served

31  contemporaneously on the head of each of the governmental

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 1  entities that made a settlement offer and a ripeness decision

 2  that was rejected by the property owner. Actions under this

 3  section shall be brought only in the county where the real

 4  property is located.

 5         Section 2.  Present subsections (1) and (2) of section

 6  163.2514, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections

 7  (3) and (4), respectively, and new subsections (1) and (2) are

 8  added to that section, to read:

 9         163.2514  Growth Policy Act; definitions.--As used in

10  ss. 163.2511-163.2526:

11         (1)  "Agricultural enclave" means any unincorporated,

12  undeveloped parcel owned by a single person or entity which

13  satisfies all of the following criteria:

14         (a)  The size of an enclave does not exceed the acreage

15  of four sections or 2,560 acres. However, when the enclave

16  parcel is in active agricultural production and a damaging

17  pest, disease, or natural disaster is or has been identified

18  within 5 miles of the agricultural property, the size may not

19  exceed eight sections of land or 5,120 acres.

20         (b)  The parcel has been in continuous use for bona

21  fide agricultural purposes, as defined by s. 193.461, for 5

22  years prior to the date of any comprehensive plan amendment

23  application.

24         (c)  The parcel is surrounded on at least 75 percent of

25  its perimeter by existing industrial, commercial, or

26  residential development or property that the local government

27  has designated as land that is to be developed for industrial,

28  commercial, or residential purposes and only requires building

29  and related permits for that use without further amendment of

30  a local government comprehensive plan.

31  

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 1         (d)  Public services, including water, wastewater,

 2  transportation, schools, and recreation facilities are

 3  available or are scheduled to be provided as part of an

 4  adopted 5-year schedule of capital improvements by the local

 5  government or by an alternative local government, public

 6  infrastructure provider.

 7         (2)  "Family farm agricultural enclave" means an

 8  undeveloped parcel of land not exceeding 500 acres which meets

 9  the criteria for an agricultural enclave.

10         Section 3.  Subsection (7) is added to section

11  163.2517, Florida Statutes, to read:

12         163.2517  Designation of urban infill and redevelopment

13  area.--

14         (7)(a)  In order to preserve commercial agricultural

15  activity, encourage mixed-use infill development, prevent

16  urban sprawl, and provide more efficient delivery of municipal

17  services and facilities, the owner of land defined as an

18  agricultural enclave pursuant to s. 163.2514(1) may apply for

19  an amendment to the local government comprehensive plan

20  pursuant to s. 163.3187 and development-of-regional-impact

21  approval, if applicable. Such amendment and

22  development-of-regional-impact approval, if applicable, may

23  include land uses and intensities of use consistent with the

24  uses and intensities of use  of surrounding industrial,

25  commercial, or residential areas. Any application for a

26  comprehensive plan amendment and

27  development-of-regional-impact approval, if applicable, shall

28  include appropriate new urbanism concepts such as clustering,

29  mixed-use development, the creation of rural village and city

30  centers, and the transfer of development rights in order to

31  discourage urban sprawl while protecting landowner rights. If

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 1  such amendment and application for

 2  development-of-regional-impact approval is otherwise

 3  consistent with applicable provisions of ss. 163.3177,

 4  163.3178, 163.3180, 163.3191. and 163.3245, the state

 5  comprehensive plan, the appropriate regional policy plan, and

 6  chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, the amendment shall

 7  be deemed to prevent urban sprawl and be in compliance as

 8  defined in s. 163.3184, and the application for development of

 9  regional impact shall be approved.

10         (b)  For family farm agricultural enclaves, the owner

11  of land defined as an agricultural enclave pursuant to s.

12  163.2514(2) may apply for an amendment to the local government

13  comprehensive plan pursuant to s. 163.3187. Such amendment may

14  include land uses and intensities of use consistent with the

15  uses and intensities of use of surrounding industrial,

16  commercial, or residential areas. If such amendment is

17  otherwise consistent with applicable provisions of ss.

18  163.3177, 163.3178, 163.3180. 163.3191, and 163.3245, the

19  state comprehensive plan, the appropriate regional policy

20  plan, and chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, the

21  amendment shall be deemed to prevent urban sprawl and be in

22  compliance as defined in s. 163.3184.

23         (c)  If the local government has failed to act within

24  180 days on the comprehensive plan amendment or application

25  for development-of-regional-impact approval, the agricultural

26  enclave as defined in s. 163.2514(1) and (2) shall be granted

27  the comprehensive plan amendment and

28  development-of-regional-impact approval requested.

29         Section 4.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) and

30  paragraph (d) of subsection (11) of section 163.3177, Florida

31  Statutes, are amended to read:

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 1         163.3177  Required and optional elements of

 2  comprehensive plan; studies and surveys.--

 3         (6)  In addition to the requirements of subsections

 4  (1)-(5), the comprehensive plan shall include the following

 5  elements:

 6         (a)  A future land use plan element designating

 7  proposed future general distribution, location, and extent of

 8  the uses of land for residential uses, commercial uses,

 9  industry, agriculture, recreation, conservation, education,

10  public buildings and grounds, other public facilities, and

11  other categories of the public and private uses of land.

12  Counties are encouraged to designate rural land stewardship

13  areas, pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (11)(d), as

14  overlays on the future land use map. The proposed

15  distribution, location, and extent of the various categories

16  of land use shall be shown on a land use map or map series

17  that shall be supplemented by goals, policies, and measurable

18  objectives.

19         1.  Each future land use category must be defined in

20  terms of uses included, and must include standards to be

21  followed in the control and distribution of population

22  densities and building and structure intensities. The proposed

23  distribution, location, and extent of the various categories

24  of land use shall be shown on a land use map or map series

25  which shall be supplemented by goals, policies, and measurable

26  objectives.

27         2.  The future land use plan shall be based upon

28  surveys, studies, and data regarding the area, including the

29  amount of land required to accommodate anticipated growth; the

30  projected population of the area; the character of undeveloped

31  land; the availability of public services; the need for

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 1  redevelopment, including the renewal of blighted areas and the

 2  elimination of nonconforming uses which are inconsistent with

 3  the character of the community; the compatibility of uses on

 4  lands adjacent to or closely proximate to military

 5  installations; and, in rural communities, the need for job

 6  creation, capital investment, and economic development that

 7  will strengthen and diversify the community's economy.

 8         3.  The future land use plan may designate areas for

 9  future planned development use involving combinations of types

10  of uses for which special regulations may be necessary to

11  ensure development in accord with the principles and standards

12  of the comprehensive plan and this act.

13         4.  The future land use plan element shall include

14  criteria to be used to achieve the compatibility of adjacent

15  or closely proximate lands with military installations.

16         5.  In addition, For rural communities, the amount of

17  land designated for future planned industrial use shall be

18  based upon surveys and studies that reflect the need for job

19  creation, capital investment, and the necessity to strengthen

20  and diversify the local economies, and shall not be limited

21  solely by the projected population of the rural community.

22         6.  The future land use plan shall delineate

23  agricultural enclaves, as defined in s. 163.2514(1) and (2),

24  and establish appropriate uses of land in these enclaves which

25  are consistent with the intensities of use of surrounding

26  industrial, commercial, or residential areas.

27         7.  The future land use plan of a county may also

28  designate areas for possible future municipal incorporation.

29         8.  The land use maps or map series shall generally

30  identify and depict historic district boundaries and shall

31  

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 1  designate historically significant properties meriting

 2  protection.

 3         9.  The future land use element must clearly identify

 4  the land use categories in which public schools are an

 5  allowable use.  When delineating the land use categories in

 6  which public schools are an allowable use, a local government

 7  shall include in the categories sufficient land proximate to

 8  residential development to meet the projected needs for

 9  schools in coordination with public school boards and may

10  establish differing criteria for schools of different type or

11  size.  Each local government shall include lands contiguous to

12  existing school sites, to the maximum extent possible, within

13  the land use categories in which public schools are an

14  allowable use. All comprehensive plans must comply with the

15  school siting requirements of this paragraph no later than

16  October 1, 1999. The failure by a local government to comply

17  with these school siting requirements by October 1, 1999, will

18  result in the prohibition of the local government's ability to

19  amend the local comprehensive plan, except for plan amendments

20  described in s. 163.3187(1)(b), until the school siting

21  requirements are met. Amendments proposed by a local

22  government for purposes of identifying the land use categories

23  in which public schools are an allowable use or for adopting

24  or amending the school-siting maps pursuant to s. 163.31776(3)

25  are exempt from the limitation on the frequency of plan

26  amendments contained in s. 163.3187. The future land use

27  element shall include criteria that encourage the location of

28  schools proximate to urban residential areas to the extent

29  possible and shall require that the local government seek to

30  collocate public facilities, such as parks, libraries, and

31  community centers, with schools to the extent possible and to

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 1  encourage the use of elementary schools as focal points for

 2  neighborhoods. For schools serving predominantly rural

 3  counties, defined as a county with a population of 100,000 or

 4  fewer, an agricultural land use category shall be eligible for

 5  the location of public school facilities if the local

 6  comprehensive plan contains school siting criteria and the

 7  location is consistent with such criteria. Local governments

 8  required to update or amend their comprehensive plan to

 9  include criteria and address compatibility of adjacent or

10  closely proximate lands with existing military installations

11  in their future land use plan element shall transmit the

12  update or amendment to the department by June 30, 2006.

13         (11)

14         (d)1.  The department, in cooperation with the

15  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the

16  Department of Environmental Protection, water management

17  districts, and regional planning councils, shall provide

18  assistance to local governments in the implementation of this

19  paragraph and rule 9J-5.006(5)(l), Florida Administrative

20  Code.  Implementation of those provisions shall include a

21  process by which the department may authorize local

22  governments and landowners to designate all or portions of

23  lands classified in the future land use element as

24  predominantly agricultural, rural, open, open-rural, or a

25  substantively equivalent land use, as a rural land stewardship

26  area within which planning and economic incentives are applied

27  to encourage the implementation of innovative and flexible

28  planning and development strategies and creative land use

29  planning techniques, including those contained herein and in

30  rule 9J-5.006(5)(l), Florida Administrative Code. Assistance

31  may include, but is not limited to:

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 1         a.  Assistance from the Department of Environmental

 2  Protection and water management districts in creating the

 3  geographic information systems land cover database and aerial

 4  photogrammetry needed to prepare for a rural land stewardship

 5  area;

 6         b.  Support for local government implementation of

 7  rural land stewardship concepts by providing information and

 8  assistance to local governments regarding land acquisition

 9  programs that may be used by the local government or

10  landowners to leverage the protection of greater acreage and

11  maximize the effectiveness of rural land stewardship areas;

12  and

13         c.  Expansion of the role of the Department of

14  Community Affairs as a resource agency to facilitate

15  establishment of rural land stewardship areas in smaller rural

16  counties that do not have the staff or planning budgets to

17  create a rural land stewardship area.

18         2.  The department shall encourage participation by

19  local governments of different sizes and rural characteristics

20  in establishing and implementing rural land stewardship areas.

21  It is the intent of the Legislature that rural land

22  stewardship areas be used to further the following broad

23  principles of rural sustainability; restoration and

24  maintenance of the economic value of rural land; control of

25  urban sprawl; identification and protection of ecosystems,

26  habitats, and natural resources; promotion of rural economic

27  activity; maintenance of the viability of Florida's

28  agricultural economy; and protection of the character of rural

29  areas of Florida. Rural land stewardship areas may be

30  multicounty in order to encourage coordinated regional

31  stewardship planning.

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 1         3.  A local government, in conjunction with a regional

 2  planning council, a stakeholder organization of private land

 3  owners, or another local government, or any landowner with

 4  2,500 acres or more of contiguous agricultural land as defined

 5  in s. 193.461 shall notify the department in writing of its

 6  intent to designate a rural land stewardship area. The written

 7  notification shall describe the basis for the designation,

 8  including the extent to which the rural land stewardship area

 9  enhances rural land values, controls urban sprawl, provides

10  necessary open space for agriculture and protection of the

11  natural environment, promotes rural economic activity, and

12  maintains rural character and the economic viability of

13  agriculture.

14         4.  A rural land stewardship area shall be not less

15  than 2,500 10,000 acres and shall be located outside of

16  municipalities and established urban growth boundaries, and

17  shall be designated by plan amendment.  The plan amendment

18  designating a rural land stewardship area shall be subject to

19  review by the Department of Community Affairs pursuant to s.

20  163.3184 and shall provide for the following:

21         a.  Criteria for the designation of receiving areas

22  within rural land stewardship areas in which innovative

23  planning and development strategies may be applied.  Criteria

24  shall at a minimum provide for the following: adequacy of

25  suitable land to accommodate development so as to avoid

26  conflict with environmentally sensitive areas, resources, and

27  habitats; compatibility between and transition from higher

28  density uses to lower intensity rural uses; the establishment

29  of receiving area service boundaries which provide for a

30  separation between receiving areas and other land uses within

31  the rural land stewardship area through limitations on the

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 1  extension of services; and connection of receiving areas with

 2  the rest of the rural land stewardship area using rural design

 3  and rural road corridors.

 4         b.  Goals, objectives, and policies setting forth the

 5  innovative planning and development strategies to be applied

 6  within rural land stewardship areas pursuant to the provisions

 7  of this section.

 8         c.  A process for the implementation of innovative

 9  planning and development strategies within the rural land

10  stewardship area, including those described in this subsection

11  and rule 9J-5.006(5)(l), Florida Administrative Code, which

12  provide for a functional mix of land uses and which are

13  applied through the adoption by the local government of zoning

14  and land development regulations applicable to the rural land

15  stewardship area.

16         d.  A process which encourages visioning pursuant to s.

17  163.3167(11) to ensure that innovative planning and

18  development strategies comply with the provisions of this

19  section.

20         e.  The control of sprawl through the use of innovative

21  strategies and creative land use techniques consistent with

22  the provisions of this subsection and rule 9J-5.006(5)(l),

23  Florida Administrative Code.

24         5.  In selecting a landowner, the department shall by

25  written agreement:

26         a.  Ensure that the landowner has expressed its intent

27  to designate a rural land stewardship area pursuant to this

28  subsection and clarify that the rural land stewardship area is

29  intended.

30  

31  

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 1         b.  Ensure that the landowner has the financial and

 2  administrative capabilities to implement a rural land

 3  stewardship area.

 4         6.5.  A receiving area shall be designated by the

 5  adoption of a land development regulation.  Prior to the

 6  designation of a receiving area, the local government shall

 7  provide the Department of Community Affairs a period of 30

 8  days in which to review a proposed receiving area for

 9  consistency with the rural land stewardship area plan

10  amendment and to provide comments to the local government.

11         7.6.  Upon the adoption of a plan amendment creating a

12  rural land stewardship area, the local government shall, by

13  ordinance, assign to the area a certain number of credits, to

14  be known as "transferable rural land use credits," which shall

15  not constitute a right to develop land, nor increase density

16  of land, except as provided by this section.  The total amount

17  of transferable rural land use credits assigned to the rural

18  land stewardship area must correspond to the 25-year or

19  greater projected population of the rural land stewardship

20  area.  Transferable rural land use credits are subject to the

21  following limitations:

22         a.  Transferable rural land use credits may only exist

23  within a rural land stewardship area.

24         b.  Transferable rural land use credits may only be

25  used on lands designated as receiving areas and then solely

26  for the purpose of implementing innovative planning and

27  development strategies and creative land use planning

28  techniques adopted by the local government pursuant to this

29  section.

30         c.  Transferable rural land use credits assigned to a

31  parcel of land within a rural land stewardship area shall

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 1  cease to exist if the parcel of land is removed from the rural

 2  land stewardship area by plan amendment.

 3         d.  Neither the creation of the rural land stewardship

 4  area by plan amendment nor the assignment of transferable

 5  rural land use credits by the local government shall operate

 6  to displace the underlying density of land uses assigned to a

 7  parcel of land within the rural land stewardship area;

 8  however, if transferable rural land use credits are

 9  transferred from a parcel for use within a designated

10  receiving area, the underlying density assigned to the parcel

11  of land shall cease to exist.

12         e.  The underlying density on each parcel of land

13  located within a rural land stewardship area shall not be

14  increased or decreased by the local government, except as a

15  result of the conveyance or use of transferable rural land use

16  credits, as long as the parcel remains within the rural land

17  stewardship area.

18         f.  Transferable rural land use credits shall cease to

19  exist on a parcel of land where the underlying density

20  assigned to the parcel of land is utilized.

21         g.  An increase in the density of use on a parcel of

22  land located within a designated receiving area may occur only

23  through the assignment or use of transferable rural land use

24  credits and shall not require a plan amendment.

25         h.  A change in the density of land use on parcels

26  located within receiving areas shall be specified in a

27  development order which reflects the total number of

28  transferable rural land use credits assigned to the parcel of

29  land and the infrastructure and support services necessary to

30  provide for a functional mix of land uses corresponding to the

31  plan of development.

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 1         i.  Land within a rural land stewardship area may be

 2  removed from the rural land stewardship area through a plan

 3  amendment.

 4         j.  Transferable rural land use credits may be assigned

 5  at different ratios of credits per acre according to the

 6  natural resource or other beneficial use characteristics of

 7  the land and according to the land use remaining following the

 8  transfer of credits, with the highest number of credits per

 9  acre assigned to the most environmentally valuable land and a

10  lesser number of credits to be assigned to open space and

11  agricultural land.

12         k.  The use or conveyance of transferable rural land

13  use credits must be recorded in the public records of the

14  county in which the property is located as a covenant or

15  restrictive easement running with the land in favor of the

16  county and either the Department of Environmental Protection,

17  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, a water

18  management district, or a recognized statewide land trust.

19         8.7.  Owners of land within rural land stewardship

20  areas should be provided incentives to enter into rural land

21  stewardship agreements, pursuant to existing law and rules

22  adopted thereto, with state agencies, water management

23  districts, and local governments to achieve mutually agreed

24  upon conservation objectives.  Such incentives may include,

25  but not be limited to, the following:

26         a.  Opportunity to accumulate transferable mitigation

27  credits.

28         b.  Extended permit agreements.

29         c.  Opportunities for recreational leases and

30  ecotourism.

31  

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 1         d.  Payment for specified land management services on

 2  publicly owned land, or property under covenant or restricted

 3  easement in favor of a public entity.

 4         e.  Option agreements for sale to public entities or

 5  private land conservation entities, in either fee or easement,

 6  upon achievement of conservation objectives.

 7         9.8.  The department shall report to the Legislature on

 8  an annual basis on the results of implementation of rural land

 9  stewardship areas authorized by the department, including

10  successes and failures in achieving the intent of the

11  Legislature as expressed in this paragraph.

12         Section 5.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section

13  163.3187, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

14         163.3187  Amendment of adopted comprehensive plan.--

15         (1)  Amendments to comprehensive plans adopted pursuant

16  to this part may be made not more than two times during any

17  calendar year, except:

18         (d)  Any comprehensive plan amendment required by a

19  compliance agreement under pursuant to s. 163.3184(16), an

20  amendment to an agricultural enclave comprehensive plan

21  pursuant to s. 163.2517(7), or any amendment to a large-scale

22  comprehensive plan adopted as a result of informal mediation

23  in accordance with s. 163.3181(4) may be approved without

24  regard to statutory limits on the frequency of adoption of

25  amendments to the comprehensive plan.

26         Section 6.  Section 259.047, Florida Statutes, is

27  created to read:

28         259.047  Acquisition of land on which an agricultural

29  lease exists.--

30         (1)  When land with an existing agricultural lease is

31  acquired in fee simple pursuant to this chapter or chapter

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 1  375, the existing agricultural lease may continue in force for

 2  the actual time remaining on the lease agreement. Any entity

 3  managing lands acquired under this section must consider

 4  existing agricultural leases in the development of a land

 5  management plan required under s. 253.034.

 6         (2)  Where consistent with the purposes for which the

 7  property was acquired, the state or acquiring entity shall

 8  make reasonable efforts to keep lands in agricultural

 9  production which are in agricultural production at the time of

10  acquisition.

11         Section 7.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section

12  373.0361, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

13         373.0361  Regional water supply planning.--

14         (2)  Each regional water supply plan shall be based on

15  at least a 20-year planning period and shall include, but not

16  be limited to:

17         (a)  A water supply development component that

18  includes:

19         1.  A quantification of the water supply needs for all

20  existing and reasonably projected future uses within the

21  planning horizon. The level-of-certainty planning goal

22  associated with identifying the water supply needs of existing

23  and future reasonable-beneficial uses shall be based upon

24  meeting those needs for a 1-in-10-year drought event.

25  Population projections used for determining public water

26  supply needs must be based upon the best available data. In

27  determining the best available data, the district shall

28  consider the University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and

29  Business Research (BEBR) medium population projections and any

30  population projection data and analysis submitted by a local

31  government pursuant to the public workshop described in

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 1  subsection (1) if the data and analysis support the local

 2  government's comprehensive plan. Any adjustment of or

 3  deviation from the BEBR projections must be fully described,

 4  and the original BEBR data must be presented along with the

 5  adjusted data.

 6         2.  A list of water source options, including

 7  traditional and alternative source options, from which local

 8  government, government-owned and privately owned utilities,

 9  self-suppliers, and others may choose, for water supply

10  development, the total capacity of which will, in conjunction

11  with water conservation and other demand management measures,

12  exceed the needs identified in subparagraph 1. The list of

13  water-source options for water supply development must contain

14  provisions that recognize that alternative water-source

15  options for agricultural self-suppliers are limited.

16         3.  For each option listed in subparagraph 2., the

17  estimated amount of water available for use and the estimated

18  costs of and potential sources of funding for water supply

19  development.

20         4.  A list of water supply development projects that

21  meet the criteria in s. 373.0831(4).

22  

23  The water supply development component of a regional water

24  supply plan which deals with or affects public utilities and

25  public water supply for those areas served by a regional water

26  supply authority and its member governments within the

27  boundaries of the Southwest Florida Water Management District

28  shall be developed jointly by the authority and the district.

29         Section 8.  Section 373.2234, Florida Statutes, is

30  amended to read:

31  

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 1         373.2234  Preferred water supply sources.--The

 2  governing board of a water management district is authorized

 3  to adopt rules that identify preferred water supply sources

 4  for consumptive uses for which there is sufficient data to

 5  establish that a preferred source will provide a substantial

 6  new water supply to meet the existing and projected

 7  reasonable-beneficial uses of a water supply planning region

 8  identified pursuant to s. 373.0361(1), while sustaining

 9  existing water resources and natural systems. At a minimum,

10  such rules must contain a description of the preferred water

11  supply source and an assessment of the water the preferred

12  source is projected to produce. If an applicant proposes to

13  use a preferred water supply source, that applicant's proposed

14  water use is subject to s. 373.223(1), except that the

15  proposed use of a preferred water supply source must be

16  considered by a water management district when determining

17  whether a permit applicant's proposed use of water is

18  consistent with the public interest pursuant to s.

19  373.223(1)(c). A consumptive use permit issued for the use of

20  a preferred water supply source must be granted, when

21  requested by the applicant, for at least a 20-year period and

22  may be subject to the compliance reporting provisions of s.

23  373.236(4)(3). Nothing in this section shall be construed to

24  exempt the use of preferred water supply sources from the

25  provisions of ss. 373.016(4) and 373.223(2) and (3), or be

26  construed to provide that permits issued for the use of a

27  nonpreferred water supply source must be issued for a duration

28  of less than 20 years or that the use of a nonpreferred water

29  supply source is not consistent with the public interest.

30  Additionally, nothing in this section shall be interpreted to

31  require the use of a preferred water supply source or to

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 1  restrict or prohibit the use of a nonpreferred water supply

 2  source. Rules adopted by the governing board of a water

 3  management district to implement this section shall specify

 4  that the use of a preferred water supply source is not

 5  required and that the use of a nonpreferred water supply

 6  source is not restricted or prohibited.

 7         Section 9.  Subsections (2) and (3) of section 373.236,

 8  Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (3) and (4),

 9  respectively, and a new subsection (2) is added to that

10  section, to read:

11         373.236  Duration of permits; compliance reports.--

12         (2)  The Legislature finds that some agricultural

13  landowners remain unaware of their ability to request a

14  20-year consumptive use permit under subsection (1) for

15  initial permits or for renewals. Therefore, the water

16  management districts shall inform agricultural applicants of

17  this option in the application form.

18         Section 10.  Section 373.407, Florida Statutes, is

19  created to read:

20         373.407  Memorandum of agreement for an

21  agricultural-related exemption.--No later than July 1, 2006,

22  the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and each

23  water management district shall enter into a memorandum of

24  agreement under which the Department of Agricultural and

25  Consumer Services shall assist in a determination by a water

26  management district as to whether an existing or proposed

27  activity qualifies for the exemption in s. 373.406(2). The

28  memorandum of agreement shall provide a process by which, upon

29  the request of a water management district, the Department of

30  Agriculture and Consumer Services shall conduct a nonbinding

31  review as to whether an existing or proposed activity

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 1  qualifies for an agricultural-related exemption in s.

 2  373.406(2). The memorandum of agreement shall provide

 3  processes and procedures by which the Department of

 4  Agriculture and Consumer Services shall undertake this review

 5  effectively and efficiently and issue a recommendation.

 6         Section 11.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

 7  law.

 8  

 9          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
10                         Senate Bill 716

11                                 

12  The committee substitute (CS) creates a cause of action for
    agricultural property that suffers an inordinate burden as a
13  subsection within the Bert Harris Act, rather than a separate
    section of law. It provides that a land owner may be aggrieved
14  by not only the action of a county, but also a municipality.

15  The CS reduces the maximum size for agricultural enclave from
    7,500 to an acreage limit that does not exceed 2,560 acres,
16  except for enclaves with a pest, disease, or natural disaster
    within 5 miles which may not exceed 5,120 acres. It defines
17  "family farm agricultural enclave" as undeveloped land not
    exceeding 500 acres that meets all of the other criteria for
18  an agricultural enclave. Also, it deletes language that
    imposed a five-year delay before a plan amendment could be
19  filed by two or more contiguous landowners who consolidate
    their lands to qualify as an agricultural enclave.
20  
    If the local government fails to act on a plan amendment or
21  DRI application from the owner of an agricultural enclave or
    family farm enclave within 180 days, the application shall be
22  granted or receive approval. It requires a local government to
    delineate agricultural enclaves and family farm enclaves and
23  to establish appropriate uses of land in these enclaves that
    is consistent with the intensities of surrounding commercial
24  and residential uses in its future land use element.

25  The CS reduces the minimum acreage for a rural land
    stewardship area from 10,000 acres to 2,500 acres. It
26  authorizes landowners, in addition to local governments, to
    designate a rural land stewardship area. Finally, it exempts
27  plan amendments to relating to an agricultural enclave or
    family farm agricultural enclave from the twice-per-year
28  limitation on plan amendments.

29  

30  

31  

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