Council adopts ordinance to shift subdivision approvals to administrative review to comply with Florida law

The city council on Sept. 11 adopted amendments to the Land Development Code (Chapter 12‑7, subdivisions) to implement state statutory changes contained in Senate Bill 784. The ordinance moves procedural approval authority for subdivision applications and final plats from the planning board and council to the city's Public Works/Engineering department and designates the city engineer as the official to approve final plats administratively.

Planning staff said the changes are required by the state and streamline technical review by concentrating authority in engineering; external review and stakeholder input from utilities and other departments will remain. The planning board discussed the item with vigorous comment but ultimately recommended approval.

Why it matters: The change revises a longstanding local review pathway and reduces quasi‑judicial steps for final plat approval, shifting certain approvals to administrative review consistent with the state mandate.

Votes: The council adopted the amendments and the implementing ordinance on first reading (motions recorded as 6–0 in the meeting sequence). A companion proposed ordinance to amend the code text was also approved on first reading.

Ending: The code amendments bring the city into compliance with state law and are intended to streamline final plat processing while preserving technical and utility reviews.