HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2026-006 Urging Rejection of House Bill 299RESOLUTION NO. 2026-006
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DANIA
BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO REJECT HOUSE BILL 299/SENATE BILL 354, RELATING TO “BLUE RIBBON PROJECTS” THAT WOULD REQUIRE ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF 10,000 ACRES
OR MORE; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; FURTHER, PROVIDING FOR
AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, House Bill 299/ Senate Bill 354, known as the “Blue Ribbon Projects” bills,
would require administrative approval of massive developments of 10,000 acres or more.; and
WHEREAS, 10,000 acres is at least 15 square miles of land—and the bill sets no upper
limit on the size of these projects; and
WHEREAS, the bill creates a framework for a new type of planned community referred to
as a “blue ribbon project” (BRP) that according to the Legislature, is intended to balance
environmental stewardship with the need for development to provide for future growth; and
WHEREAS, the local government’s review of the application is limited to determining
whether the proposed BRP meets the bill’s requirements and if the BRP meets its requirements,
the applicable local government must approve the project administratively without further action
by the local government or any quasi-judicial or administrative reviewing body, all to be
accomplished within 60 days of receipt; and
WHEREAS, the bill authorizes applicants to hire private companies to conduct plan
reviews and building inspections; and
WHEREAS, if a BRP is approved, the bill requires the applicant to publish notice of the
approval in a newspaper of general circulation in the area in which the land is located within 14
days after the approval is issued; and
WHEREAS, the applicant must also record the blue ribbon plan in the public records of
the county in which the project is located.
WHEREAS, the bill: establishes requirements for a proposed development to qualify as a
BRP, provides criteria for the types of development must be contained within each BRP, and
requires each BRP to be developed in accordance with a blue ribbon plan that adopts a longer
planning period than local government comprehensive plans; and
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WHEREAS, BRPs may be located in any future land use designation and zoning
designation without the need for a comprehensive plan amendment or rezoning. The bill provides
an appeal procedure for applicants who are denied approval for a BRP or for persons whose
substantial interests are impacted by the approval of a BRP; and
WHEREAS, under the proposal, developers would be required to set aside 60% of the land
as “reserve” and incorporate elements of walkability and compact design; and
WHEREAS, the bill strips away the planning framework needed to evaluate whether these
projects are appropriate, feasible, or compatible with surrounding areas; and
WHEREAS, local governments would have just 60 days to determine whether a proposed
project meets the bill’s vague criteria, and if the local governments cannot complete their review
in time, the project is automatically approved and granted 50 years of vested development rights,
even if no construction ever begins and may be extended for an additional 25 years; and
WHEREAS, the bill requires the residential portions of the development area to be varied
in the types of housing available, with a mix of single-family and multi-family units provided in
both attached and detached forms.
WHEREAS, density in the residential portions of the BRP is limited to 12 units per gross
acre, as measured in combination throughout all phases of the project, and at least 20 percent of
the residential units within each phase of the project must be a combination of affordable housing
for persons at or below 80 percent of area median income, “missing middle housing,” and housing
that is affordable for persons eligible for the Florida Hometown Hero Program; and
WHEREAS, the bill requires at least 10 percent of the development area to be allocated
for non-residential land uses; and
WHEREAS, in addition, per the Legislature, a portion of the area must be intended for
uses that provide economic development and create high-wage jobs, which must be located in a
part of the BRP that is accessible by an interstate interchange, a state road, a rail line, an airport,
or other transportation facility, and the non-residential portions of the development area are
subject to a maximum intensity of 85 percent impervious surface ratio per gross acre, as measured
in combination throughout all phases of the project; and
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WHEREAS, the bill encourages local governments to enter into public-private
partnerships to provide public facilities, including partnerships for water storage and other water
quality and capacity improvements that operate in the same manner as public-private partnerships
for water improvements on private agricultural lands; and
WHEREAS, if a project under a blue ribbon plan contributes land, funds, or otherwise
causes the construction of public facilities necessary for achieving concurrency, the project must
receive dollar-for-dollar credits against impact, mobility, proportionate share, or other fee credits
from the local government for such facility improvements as required under the concurrency
statute; and
WHEREAS, the bill provides that any easement granted to the Department of Agriculture
and Consumer Services for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, or any other
easement or property granted to any other state agency, a water management district, or a local
government, must be granted without charge; and
WHEREAS, if a local government denies an application for a BRP, the applicant may
appeal the decision by filing a written petition with the Department of Commerce pursuant to
certain provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, 4 within 21 days after receipt of the
denial; and
WHEREAS, additionally, any person whose substantial interests are or may be affected by
a local government’s approval of a BRP may file a written petition with the Department
challenging the approval within 21 days of the publication of public notice of the BRP’s approval;
and
WHEREAS, the petition must clearly state the reasons for the petition and describe how
the project will adversely affect the person more substantially than the general population of the
geographical area in which the project is located; and
WHEREAS, the petitioner must provide a copy of the petition to the local government and
if it is timely filed, the applicant may intervene as a party to the hearing; and
WHEREAS, upon receipt of an appeal or petition, the Department must hold a hearing in
according with Ch. 120, F.S., and determine whether the BRP meets all requirements and issue a
final order granting or denying the application; and
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WHEREAS, the bill authorizes a prevailing party in proceedings brought by a person
whose substantial interests are or may be affected by the local government's approval of a BRP to
be awarded reasonable attorney fees if the non-prevailing party has been determined by the
administrative law judge to have participated in the proceeding for an improper purpose.
WHEREAS, if enacted it would become effective July 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS, with the possible loss of property tax revenue, and the short turn around to
have local government staff review projects that are over 15 square miles in size, which is the size
of a Development of Regional Impact (DRI), and the burden on local resources is overwhelming
and would not allow the public to provide input into the process during a quasi-judicial public
hearing; and
WHEREAS, according to the Legislative analysis the bill may have an indeterminate
fiscal impact on the state and local governments to the extent the development of BRPs require
additional local government services.
WHEREAS, the Florida League of Cities urges cities to contact their legislatures to reject
the bills; and
WHEREAS, the City of Dania Beach (“City”) does not support House Bill 299/Senate
Bill 354.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA:
Section 1. That the above “Whereas” clauses are ratified and confirmed, and they are
made a part of and incorporated into this Resolution by this reference.
Section 2. That the City urges the Florida Legislature to reject (VOTE NO) on House
Bill 299/Senate Bill 354.
Section 3. That the City Clerk is requested to send a copy of this Resolution to the
Florida Legislature, the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis, the Broward League of Cities, the
Florida League of Cities, to the other Cities of Broward County, the Broward County Board of
County Commissioners and any other interested parties.
Section 4. That all resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict with this Resolution
are repealed to the extent of such conflict.
Section 5. That this Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage
and adoption.
RESOLUTION #2026-006 5
PASSED and ADOPTED on January 13, 2026.
Motion by Commissioner Lewellen, second by Commissioner Rimoli.
FINAL VOTE ON ADOPTION: Unanimous X
Yes No
Commissioner Lori Lewellen ____ ____
Commissioner Luis Rimoli ____ ____
Commissioner Archibald J. Ryan IV ____ ____
Vice Mayor Marco Salvino ____ ____
Mayor Joyce L. Davis ____ ____
ATTEST:
ELORA RIERA, MMC JOYCE L. DAVIS CITY CLERK MAYOR
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
EVE A. BOUTSIS
CITY ATTORNEY