RURAL POLICY SUB-COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT STUDY COMMISSION


DECEMBER 1, 2000


Overview


The Rural Policy Sub-Committee recognizes the long-term value of retaining rural lands for agriculture, open space and conservation uses. Protection of traditional rural land uses is essential while allowing compatible economic development that protects natural resources. A thriving rural economy with a strong agricultural base, healthy natural environment, and viable rural communities is an essential part of Florida's present and future vision. Rural land uses such as agriculture are a cornerstone of the state's economy and help to preserve the agricultural heritage of the State. Rural lands comprise more than 60% of the state's total land area, and more than 60% of Florida's privately owned land is used for agriculture. Rural areas also include the largest remaining intact ecosystems and best examples of remaining wildlife habitats as well as a majority of privately owned land targeted by local, state and federal agencies for natural resource protection. These lands provide an essential buffer between intense urban uses and natural areas. In addition to these natural areas, agricultural lands provide areas for open space, aquifer recharge and wildlife habitats, while playing an integral role in the state's economy.

The growth of Florida's population and the demand for low density and moderately priced housing to serve it create increasing pressure to develop rural lands. Florida's growth management policies have not successfully controlled, and have in many instances accelerated rather than reversed this trend. Further, urban land use policy has dominated comprehensive planning in Florida. Rural infrastructure needs have been widely ignored and rural counties have struggled to comply with the requirements of the state's current growth management laws.

The property rights of rural land are assets upon which rural landowners depend in maintaining the value of their property and the economic viability and sustainability of its uses such as, but not limited to, agriculture. Florida's agricultural economy is land rich and cash poor. The value of agricultural lands as collateral for borrowed capital needed to support agricultural operations is based in large part on the underlying development rights for non-agricultural uses. These underlying development rights have been reduced over time as a byproduct of ineffective management and environmental policy. As the alternative uses of rural lands are reduced, so to is the asset value and options available to rural residents to diversify the rural economy and accommodate rural oriented development.

The Sub-Committee suggests the following vision for development of rural Florida:
A thriving rural economy, with economically robust agriculture, a healthy natural environment, effectively protected ecosystems and complimentary, viable rural communities containing well-planned, clustered patterns of development surrounded by extensive areas of open space.

Findings and Assumptions


These findings and assumptions were discussed and incorporated as a basis for development of the goal, vision, and recommendations of the Rural Policy Committee.

Effect of Growth Management on Rural Areas


The unintended consequence of Florida's current growth management process has produced impacts harmful to the character and economy of our rural areas. Existing statutory flexibility for more innovative planning opportunities have not been well developed or disseminated to rural communities. Primarily focused on downzoning as a means of controlling rural density, the result has been: There is little objective evidence to suggest that policies that encourage conversion of rural lands from working forestry or agriculture to widely dispersed very low density residential tracts in itself achieves any protection for habitat or ecosystems.

Rural Policy Sub-Committee Questions

  1. How can we preserve the State's agricultural heritage and promote rural economies in the face of escalating growth?
    1. By revising the State's comprehensive planning process such that it:
      1. Addresses the needs of urban, rural and agriculture areas,
      2. Is primarily based on incentives rather than constraints,
      3. Restores land values and respects private property rights, and
      4. Takes maximum advantage of the flexibility provided by existing Florida Statutes.
    2. By coupling and coordinating environmental protection and agricultural preservation objectives to the benefit of rural areas and the State as a whole.
    3. By assisting rural communities in developing and diversifying local economies.
  2. What factors should be the guiding principles for future development of rural areas?
    The guiding principle for future development of rural areas should be identification and protection of areas of compelling state interests, promotion of rural economic development, maintenance of the viability of Florida's agricultural economy, control of urban sprawl, and protection of the character of rural areas of Florida.
  3. Determine the best methods that can be utilized to meet these guiding principles by considering all relevant topics.
The Growth Management Study Commission should endorse the following principles and strategies in order to: (1) prioritize areas of compelling state interest; (2) develop funding to purchase, or obtain conservation easements over, areas of compelling state interest; (3) simplify the process for restoring reasonable densities that would allow sustainable development; and (4) develop funding to assist rural communities in economic development.
a) A new, dedicated source of revenue for public purchase of conservation and agricultural easements in areas of compelling state interests. b) Develop incentives which reward landowners for good stewardship of land and natural resources.

Recognizing and rewarding the natural resource values of rural property will counter the current tendency to convert land to other economic activities for which a higher value is assigned. Incentives could include:

c) Develop a program of incentives for innovative planning and development strategies which implement the provisions of section 163.3177(11), Florida Statutes.

Local decisions about the most appropriate location and type of growth that occurs in local areas should be part of a program of planning and development incentives for the consolidation of development into discrete clustered patterns that provide ample open space for agriculture, recreation and regional environmental protection. Such a program will require:

d) Where appropriate, promote the use of best management practices or whole farm plans, developed by agricultural producers in conjunction with regulatory agencies and local governments, to replace the permitting process for agricultural land uses, in order to remove or reduce the financial and bureaucratic obstacles to keeping land in agricultural production.

e) Develop a collaborative process between cities and counties for determining "urban growth areas" with final review and approval by DCA in collaboration with DEP, WMDs, FWCC and DOT. Criteria for approval of the areas would be based, in part, upon the avoidance of conflicts with resources of statewide significance. Within such areas:

f) Undertake initiatives to support rural communities in economic development such as: g) Legislative adoption of a resolution urging Congress to lift the inheritance tax on agricultural lands.

h) Amendment of the revenue sharing provisions of Chapter 212, Florida Statutes, to provide a disproportionate increase in the allocation of revenue to rural counties.

Long Term Implementation


The Rural Policy Subcommittee acknowledges that full implementation of the above recommendations -statutorily or otherwise -is a multi-year task and encourages the Florida Department of Community Affairs and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to enter into a long-term Memorandum of Agreement which provides for the development, in conjunction with the Florida Association of Counties, Florida Legislature, and other affected agencies and interests, a process for continued implementation of a comprehensive planning strategy for rural Florida.