ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Florida has leaned on a new law to block Orange County’s master development guidelines, even though a different state law requires the county to have and update those guidelines.
The plans, known as Vision 2050, have been in the works for years and cost millions of dollars to create due to the amount of time and research involved.
Tuesday, the state sent the county a letter denying Vision 2050’s approval and citing SB 180, which was created to help homeowners affected by Hurricanes Ian and Milton rebuild without additional red tape.
The final version of SB 180, however, blocks counties from passing additional restrictions on property owners in counties affected by the hurricanes until the end of 2027. It also applied the law retroactively to August 2024.
Lawmakers admitted they weren’t aware their bill was broader than they intended it to be after a lawyer threatened the county’s attempts to pass a rural boundary.
Vision 2050 largely updates the county’s guidelines to discourage suburban sprawl and the development of still-untouched rural areas, as well as encourage density around transit zones to take fewer cars off the roads and reduce traffic.
Orange County administrators responded to WFTV’s questions about their next steps with the following statement:
“Orange County staff intends to meet with representatives from the Florida Department of Commerce to gain a clearer understanding of their concerns and to receive guidance on appropriate next steps. We are also preparing for future engagement with the Board of County Commissioners to discuss the matter and seek direction.Until further notice, all land use, zoning, and development decisions will continue to follow the existing Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code.
We will share more information as soon as it becomes available. We’re committed to transparency and will keep the public updated throughout this process."
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