9/10 sat 8:30 | can planners create jobs? - planning & econ. dev. 3

Can Planners Create Jobs?Planning and Economic Development in a High Unemployment Florida

Florida American Planning ConferenceSeptember 10, 2011

Case Studies / Trends A Binding Letter in Niceville A PUD in Tallahassee – The Chamber

takes the Challenge Coastal Chaos – The Great Wall of

Florida Southwood – When Town Centers

aren’t in the Center Anymore Trends/Lessons

A Binding Letter in Niceville Client Required a Binding Letter to

Build a Wal-Mart In Niceville DCA approval required Bubble just popped

A PUD in Tallahassee

A PUD in Tallahassee Planners Dream – Mixed Use Project,

well located – Developer wanting to do the right thing

Organized/well-connected neighborhood in opposition

Planning Department strong support Chamber / Business community

support

Coastal Chaos – The Great Wall of Florida

Coastal Chaos Site located in place of repetitive loss due

to storms – main road washes out Rock revetment not properly maintained

according to permit County has no money for fix – Developer

seen as the solution Former Developer was willing to agree

(becoming desperate) Bank take over – Unwilling to Maintain Wall

Southwood – The Center is not in the Center Anymore

Southwood – The Center is not in the Center Anymore Original Plan envision an intense town center Similar to other New Urbanist projects,

approved Commercial on edge – consistent with Market Forces

Comprehensive Plan retains requirements for higher intensity/multi-story development in center

Property well suited for low rise development – well located but not to intensity originally envisioned

Many suitors – no takers

Lessons / Trends

As planners we play a crucial role in the Florida Development Industry / will be part of Florida’s Economic Recovery

Fewer Projects in the Door – Have to be smart with the opportunities available

We provide guidance in the balance of the immediate and the long term

Projects on the Books that won’t be built in the post bust economy

Lessons / Trends

Projects on the Books that won’t be built in the post bust economy New Owners – Banks Proformas Don’t Pencil Out Lack of Capital New Laws – Re-analyze impacts, no backlog

Economic Development the key buzz word for sometime – Planning and Economic Development must work together