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The Legislature has passed a bill requiring all cities in Florida to allow “Accessory Dwelling Units” in residentially zoned areas except for master-planned residential communities.
Those living in gated neighborhoods are protected from the direct impact of this legislation.
The rationale for the bill is to create more housing units and thus lead to more affordable housing. While I recognize many support the idea of a family guest cottage and the affordability of housing is a nation-wide issue, this legislation goes too far. In my opinion, this law will lead to the degradation of middle class, predominately owner-occupied neighborhoods.
Accessory Dwelling Units are defined as backyard or attached cottages and also allow for the conversion of an existing single family residence into a duplex. There is no requirement that the owner reside in the main residence and cities are prohibited from requiring new parking for the additional unit.
In short, this bill will allow homeowners to convert single family neighborhoods into more crowded and traffic clogged, high density rental areas never envisioned by local planners, school systems or those of us who work hard to enjoy the quiet of a traditional neighborhood. This Tallahassee mandate will fundamentally change the character of our communities.
This legislation will quickly and irrevocably degrade our neighborhoods, increase traffic, further squeeze our already crowded schools and strain police and other services. Every official supporting this measure has effectively allowed absentee landlords, rather than you or your local elected officials, to control the destiny and character of our communities and neighborhoods.
Unless you are fortunate to live in an affluent community where home values are very high, you should expect crowds, noise and decay more prevalent in rental communities without HOA or similar protections. They have sacrificed quality of life under the false narrative of affordability.
Additionally, the legislature amended the “Live Local” statute to limit further local control over high rise, high density subsidized housing and adds church properties and local historic sites as eligible to be demolished for mostly subsidized rental apartments with no local control.
Contact Governor DeSantis today at GovernorRon.DeSantis@eog.myflorida.com, 850-488-7146 and ask him to veto Senate Bills 184 and 1730. Contact your local officials and ask that they join in opposition. The future of our communities depends on your loud and clear voices echoing through the halls of our state capitol building. This is a statewide call to action.
Steven D. Losner, Mayor
City of Homestead
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