The cities of Key West, Marathon and Islamorada have already begun changes on land development regulations in order to accept 300 affordable housing allocations (per city), gifted by the state in May. “For business owners across the Keys, the availability of affordable workforce housing has been a challenge that was compounded by Hurricane Irma,” said Gov. Rick Scott in a press release. Monroe County has yet to take any action on accepting 300 affordable housing allocations for unincorporated Monroe County. If the BOCC were to vote on this today, would you move to accept or decline the extra allocations?
MONROE COUNTY COMMISSION
DISTRICT 2
Michelle Coldiron (R): More workforce housing is a critical necessity. Accepting the 300 housing units requires changes in the Comprehensive plan and LDR. The changes must consider natural resource protection, infrastructure management and hazard mitigation, including the plan for mandatory evacuation. If the state approves the changes, I would vote yes.
Tommy Ryan (D): I would vote to decline. This so-called gift to the county is an attack on home rule. The 48 hours rule is questionable on how it would be enforced. The county has worked hard, and the people have voted to maintain our land use. What’s to stop any governor from stepping in and over ruling our county planning?
MONROE COUNTY COMMISSION
DISTRICT 4
Vicki Tashjian (No party): I would vote to accept the 300 allocations. Whether they are used or not would remain to be determined. I believe it’s better to have and if down the road, they are not needed or ROGO has prevailed, return to the state.
David Rice* (R): This item will be discussed at our BOCC meeting on Sept 19. Unless there appears new information before that date, I plan to vote in support of accepting. This represents 300 takings cases, which will not be paid for by Monroe County taxpayers. It’s an estimated savings of $60 million and 300 additional affordable workforce homes.
*Incumbent
Editor’s note: Candidate answers appear as submitted.
