| Since
Representative Sorensen is terming out and can't run again, he's intent
on sticking it to the Keys by eliminating the Area of Critical State
Concern (ACSC) designation that has kept the Keys from being Miami
Beach-ified these past 25 or so years. His motives are, at best,
questionable. If the ACSC designation goes, look for much
more pressure from developers to ditch height restrictions and sensible
growth limits. Last Stand
strongly opposes de-designation at this time, especially given the
bizarre political climate in Monroe County. If the county really
were acting as responsible environmental stewards, it
might not be so bad... but we say they're not. Sorensen's bill is
described... well, sort of, since he apparently doesn't want to reveal
its details until just before it's voted on... in this March 4
Keynoter article: |
|
No more Critical Concern?
By Alyson Matley
amatley@keynoter.com
Sorensen files bill seeking de-designation
State Rep. Ken Sorensen
has two major objectives in this, his last legislative session: Reduce
windstorm insurance premiums and remove Monroe County's designation as
an Area of Critical State Concern.
Sorensen, who will be termed-out in November, has introduced a bill he
says would retain all the benefits and remove all the bugaboos of the
designation.
Despite a recommendation by the state Department of Community Affairs,
the agency given oversight of the county's development by the
designation, to continue that oversight, Sorensen says it's time to get
out from under it.
He said there are two
reasons he's tackling an issue that should be left in the purview of the
DCA. The first is that the
County Commission
unanimously asked him to do so. Secondly, he says, “It's time.”
“It's costing
Monroe taxpayers
millions of dollars a year,” he said. “Critical Concern said, in effect,
once [the county] gets its plan in place, you have a right to proceed as
all the other counties in the state do. Environmental protection,
affordable housing, wastewater - we have accomplished all of these
ends.”
Gov. Jeb Bush, the Florida Cabinet and DCA Secretary Thaddeus Cohen
don't completely agree. Cohen issued a recommendation in November that
the county remain under the designation until some of the plans - only
recently hammered out - are enacted.
He recommends “that we
continue the designation of the Florida Keys Area of Critical State
Concern in order to ensure completion of the work program recently
adopted by the governor and Cabinet.”
Bush and the Cabinet sanctioned that recommendation in February.
Though a bill has been filed, Sorensen says it is merely a place-holder
and that he expects a complete “strike-through” bill to replace it
within the next 10 days. The legislative session starts Tuesday.
Sorensen says he's working closely with DCA and Bush to craft that bill,
keeping in mind a wish list submitted by the County Commission that
would keep the parts of designation that have worked to the county's
benefit.
“I'm working to include all the funding and considerations that are
there,” Sorensen said.
Some of the benefits county officials would like to keep while getting
out from under the stringent development rules include the existence of
the Land Authority, which provides funding for affordable housing and
land acquisition. Critical Concern also allows the county to receive
preferential treatment for grants and other programs from the
Legislature.
Sorensen said he doesn't yet want to disclose all that his proposed bill
would contain. However, he noted that it would likely be “staged,”
meaning the designation would not be removed overnight. Rather, it would
give Monroe County a chance to show its work ethic over the next year.
“It sets the table for them to get [state mandates] done.”
The house bill has a companion bill in the Senate. |