MARTIN COUNTY — Two similar bills introduced in the Legislature this session could preempt local control over land use and destroy the “Martin County difference,” two local leaders say.
The “Martin County difference” is generally defined as limited growth compared with counties to its north and south. Building heights in Martin County, for example, are limited to four stories, which is different from St. Lucie and Palm Beach counties.
“We’re really quite disturbed by the prospect,” County Commissioner Blake Capps said Thursday. “We feel like these (bills) would swiftly destroy the ‘Martin County difference’ and the agricultural and natural lands all over the state of Florida.”
Senate Bill 1118 and House Bill 1209 were introduced by state Sen. Stan McClain, R-Ocala, and state Rep. Kevin Steele, R-Hudson. Neither McClain nor Steele could be reached for comment.
Local state Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, has yet to read the bill, her office said. Local Rep. John Snyder, R-Palm City, could not be reached for comment Friday.
SB 1118 passed along party lines March 17 in the Senate Community Affairs Commitee. HB 1209 was in the House Housing, Agriculture and Tourism Subcommittee Thursday.
Administrative approval
“These bills would allow administrative approval of developments in so-called agricultural enclaves all over the state,” Capps said.
Agricultural enclave is a state term the Legislature is changing, and it’s unclear what could be built in an agricultural exclave, county officials said.
But an administrative approval means the County Commission would get no chance to vote on a development in an agricultural enclave.
“It goes straight to the state for a rubber stamp,” Capps said. “And they’re off and running building new, large developments out in the agricultural areas.”
Importance of agriculture
Doing away with agriculture by preempting local government control over use of its land “is just inconsistent with good planning,” said Greg Braun, executive director of The Guardians of Martin County, which educates residents about the value of balancing man-made and natural resources.
“Agriculture is an important part of Martin County’s economy,” he said.
Martin County has nearly 180,000 acres of farmland, comprising about 52% of its land area, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2022 Census of Agriculture, the latest data available.
Nearly $121 million of products comes from farms in Martin County, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture.
Preempting control
“One of the things that we’re concerned about is the attempts by the Legislature to preempt us and local governments from continuing to govern within our county,” Braun said.
Martin County Growth Management Director Paul Schilling and county Comprehensive Planning Administrator Clyde Dulin echoed that concern.
They are concerned with how the bills could preempt Martin County’s control over how land is developed.
“This would allow the expansion of urban development outside of the primary urban services boundary without complying with county regulations and comprehensive plan policies,” Dulin said.
The bills would threaten no conservation land though, county officials said.
So far, this is the county’s basic understanding of the bills, and they could be amended, officials said. If the bills are passed and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, they would become law July 1.
More: Martin County pauses efforts to get Stuart’s backing for grants for a Brightline station
More: Martin County Commission adopts final changes to its comprehensive growth plan
Importance of Comp Plan
The county Comprehensive Plan, or Comp Plan — which helps govern growth and development in the county — is what makes the county different from most other urbanized areas in the state, Braun said.
“Martin County is different because we have elected commissioners that stand behind the growth-management plan and Urban Services District,” Braun added.
Keith Burbank is TCPalm’s watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com and at 720-288-6882.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: ‘Martin County difference’ at risk from bills in the Legislature; county could lose power
Reporting by Keith Burbank, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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