Key Biscayne is honored today by this Blogger! By Geniusofdespair

Statute 360, that was passed by the State, eliminated Key Biscayne's ability to participate in any meaningful way in the regional DRI process, essentially limiting our ability to be a part of any regional review of large scale projects that may have a negative effect on our community. - Mayor Robert Vernon - Key Biscayne (his email reply when asked why he voted to join the lawsuit)

I reported on this pending lawsuit on July 5th. The Herald reported today that it has been filed. Cutler Bay, Lee County, Deerfield Beach, Miami Gardens, Fruitland Park and Parkland joined Weston to block that new phony growth management law, the Community Renewal Act (that was Senate Bill 360). One Miami-Dade entity voting to join the lawsuit, the Village of Key Biscayne, is probably the least likely in Miami Dade to be impacted by the law since the Key is built out. Earlier today I said maybe they are looking at the good of the County and the good of the State. Nope. just looking out for their interests. Hold the applause but this is still a very good thing they did. Their vote was unanimous to give $2,500 to support the lawsuit! Thomas Thorton Councilman, said the law was a travesty to anyone interested in managing growth. I also want to thank our Miami-Dade neighbors in Miami Gardens and Cutler Bay.

The suit is based on technicalities, not on the substance of the new law:

• One provision says the Legislature can't pass a single law that encompasses multiple unrelated subjects. Lawmakers broke the so-called ''single subject rule'' by adding language about security cameras at private businesses and affordable housing to the growth-management bill, the suit says.

• Another provision limits so called ''unfunded mandates'' -- that is, new laws that are imposed on local governments without any new source of money to pay for them. The Legislature can skirt this requirement by a two-thirds vote in each chamber.

House Bill 360 is the Community Renewal Act now. By Geniusofdespair

House Bill 360, which is now called the Community Renewal Act, was distilled by the Orlando Business Journal:

Community Renewal Act
• Defines dense urban land areas as municipalities with populations of more than 5,000 and densities of at least 1,000 people per square mile.
• Removes the 37-year-old regional planning process for major projects known as developments of regional impact (DRI) for areas that meet certain population standards and already have necessary services, such as water and sewer.
• Removes requirement that developers pay to upgrade roads — known as traffic concurrencies — in designated areas and establishes a “mobility fee” to replace it.
• Extends the shelf life of a building permit for two years.

Let's hope that State Amendment 4 can short-circuit this and that Weston's Lawsuit to find it unconstitutional will be filed. Weston is looking for other municipalities in Florida to join in against the toxic Community Renewal Act. Weston has 7 so far. Isn't it ironic that far West (in the historic Everglades) Weston -- a poster child for what is wrong with planning in Florida -- would be the leader in this effort?