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