BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA

Title: Approval of a Resolution to Suspend Assessment of Fees for Requests to Extend
Environmental Management Permits as Part of Economic Stimulus Strategies for Development
and Related Activities
April 9, 2013
Page 2
Report and Discussion
Background:
At the September 2, 2008 Board meeting, staff was directed to provide additional detail
regarding anticipated impacts associated with several economic development incentives that
were identified to encourage development. As the Board’s representative to the Economic
Development Council (EDC), Commissioner Desloge recommended that the Board consider a
strategy similar to what had been approved by the City of Tallahassee.
The Board adopted Resolution R08-56 on October 14, 2008 for purposes of suspending
assessment of fees for requests to extend environmental permits. The Resolution intended to
provide a “bridge” to allow currently approved, but not built, development projects to remain
valid until the local/national economic situation improved. That suspension of extension fees
expired on December 31, 2010. On January 18, 2011, the Board adopted Resolution R11-01 for
purposes of continuing the suspension of fees to extend environmental permits. That Resolution
expired on December 31, 2011.
The economic recovery was slower than anticipated. As a result, the Legislature approved
HB 503 in the 2012 legislative session that provided another two-year extension, without
payment, if notification was given to the County by December 31, 2012. That legislation expired
on December 31, 2012.
This agenda item is essential to the following FY2012 and FY 2013 Strategic Initiative that the
Board approved at the January 29, 2013 meeting:
“Implement strategies that encourage highest quality sustainable development, business
expansion and redevelopment opportunities, including consider a policy to continue
suspension of fees for environmental permit extensions.”
This particular Strategic Initiative aligns with the Board’ Strategic Priority – Economy,
“Support business expansion and job creation…” (EC2).”
Analysis:
The original fee assessment suspension on environmental permit extension requests originated
on October 14, 2008, and combined with the Legislative extension last year, lasted 50 months
and expired on December 31, 2012. The economic recovery has been slow; therefore, in an
effort to accommodate County citizens and businesses, staff recommends the Board approve a
new Resolution to continue the suspension for an additional year until December 31, 2013, with
a retroactive date of January 1, 2013. The anticipated impacts of this proposal are as follows:
• The proposal would provide a “bridge” to allow currently approved, but not built,
development projects to remain valid until the local/national economic situation improves.
• It would allow property owners to maintain their approved project’s transportation
concurrency capacity reservation, based on the conditions and the mitigation approved at the
time of the initial development approval.
Page 125 of 622 Posted at 5:00 p.m. on April 1, 2013