Why Does the Compromise Have to Be to Our Detriment?

At the September BOCC meeting last week the County Commissioners voted on whether or not to change the language of the established Comprehensive Plan to give the developers of the proposed Publix in Tavernier, along with 86 affordable housing units, the ability to accept the 86 early evacuation ROGOs without having to do the required 1-1 exchange for regular ROGOs. The Comprehensive Plan was created to prevent over development because the Florida Keys is an area of critical concern and protect the County from takings cases. The exchange program was put into place so if the County were sued in a takings case, tax payers would not have to pay the bill should the County lose the lawsuit by offering a ROGO from the relief pool. 

What is astonishing about this outcome, in which the County Commissioners ended up voting 4-1, with Craig Cates being the only Commissioner to vote against the proposition, is that in previous BOCC meetings, County Attorney Bob Schillinger has stated that they cannot say the possibility of takings cases is less than $1 Billion. This was also in each of the presentations by Kimberly Matthews, Strategic Planner. While many residents questioned why this scare tactic continued to be in presentations, when the Commissioners looked for a more sensible number, County staff could not provide one. 

Location for Future Publix and 86 Affordable Housing Units

So why would the BOCC go against their fears of takings cases and give up these ROGOs without exchange? To date, there has been no exchanges since they accepted the 300 Early Evacuation ROGOs from the State. The original idea was when Early Evacuation ROGOs would be exchanged and they would save the regular ROGOs for Administrative Relief and takings cases. So, the BOCC now feel it’s time to release them and put them to use since, per the State, they cannot be used for single family homes prior to an exchange. They must be used for multi home units with several restrictions, including a property manager that will ensure the early evacuation of residents. 

The real question is, are we, as residents, now at a greater risk because we don’t have the cushion of Administrative Relief ROGOs for takings cases? And if we are choosing to compromise for the sake of affordable housing, why are we doing it with a Publix attached to it that will inevitably create more jobs, but also more needs for affordable housing? Why would we put ourselves in a vicious cycle that we cannot build our way out of?

What we should be looking at is creative ways to build affordable housing that helps alleviate the desperate need we have as a community and satisfying a builder’s need to make money, which appears to be the only way the current BOCC feel we can get out of this dire situation. There are plenty of residents that don’t qualify for affordable housing, but cannot afford to purchase a home due to high interest rates, insane insurance costs and lack of down payments. These are our middle class, and they need our help. Why not build housing with the conditions of no vacation rentals or only long-term housing? Or a solution that helps solve the problem of housing, not further hurt it. 

I am ready to work on creative solutions, help the middle class and be the change that is needed on the BOCC to get Monroe County back on the right track. To learn more about my campaign, request a yard sign to show your support or make a donation go to www.chrisformonroe.com.