Committee advances bill to enable administrative rezones for remediated brownfields in South Florida
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Summary
CS for HB 979 would let qualifying environmentally damaged parcels in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade be administratively rezoned to residential after remediation, intended to create infill housing. Members questioned notice, registry controls and whether the measure removes local input; amendment adopted and the bill passed committee.
Representative Barreiro presented CS for HB 979 as a targeted infill tool: qualifying parcels (5 acres or more adjacent to residential neighborhoods in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade) could be administratively rezoned to residential after a phase 2 environmental study and mitigation. An amendment excluded parcels owned within the last 15 years by a public utility.
Members raised concerns that administrative approvals could circumvent local planning public hearings and remove local constituent input; the sponsor and proponents argued notice remains and administrative approvals would be limited to qualifying parcels, creating an incentive to remediate brownfields and return sites to productive use. The committee adopted the amendment and reported CS for HB 979 favorably on roll call (20 yeas, 3 nays).
