Property Rights vs. Height Limits

"The case underscores Florida's endless conflict between preservation and property rights, and the difficult choices government leaders face in balancing those interests. It also highlights the impact of the Bert J. Harris Jr. Act, a 1995 state law giving landowners more power to sue for compensation when government limits what they can do with their property.

The threat of lawsuits deters many communities from passing development laws meant to protect the safety and well-being of residents, said Steve Pfeiffer, a Sarasota attorney and board member for 1,000 Friends of Florida, a growth management advocacy group.

"The act has a shadow impact that is beyond any impact of actually filing Bert Harris claims," Pfeiffer said, using the shorthand legal term for challenges under the law.

The Harris Act was used recently to file suit against the city of Sarasota after a zoning change rendered a planned 18-story building downtown unbuildable. The change restricted height in the area to 10 stories."