Will Florida's Growth Management Controls Encourage Sprawl?

"Builders have watched with growing concern since the state Legislature approved Senate Bill 360 in 2005 to add teeth to the state's original Growth Management Act of 1985. Under the new law, new development could be banned in communities where additional population would overburden existing infrastructure such as roads, water utilities and schools."

The new law also requires cities and counties to establish a process to enact fees on new development to cover the cost of the provision of new schools, roads, and utilities.

"Most builders say they understand the need to help local governments pace growth with infrastructure improvements. But the builders say the costs for expanding roads, water utilities and school classrooms should be spread to buyers of existing homes - not just tagged on buyers of new homes."

"As local government officials try to decide how the new law's requirements will be implemented, local builders say the requirements could put smaller builders out of business, increase the cost of affordable housing by $20,000 or $30,000 per new home and cause urban sprawl to occur in surrounding counties when middle class home-buyers seek cheaper homes where growth hasn't overburdened the infrastructure."