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The objectives of the Association are to operate exclusively for
charitable and educational purposes in providing information needed to
combat deterioration of Perdido Key, Florida, and maintain its natural
beauty and lessen neighborhood tensions, while promoting its welfare and
aiding in its orderly development.
Perdido
Key Dwelling Cap
Comprehensive Plan Amendment
The Dept. of Community Affairs announced on February 1, 2008 it's decision
that the Perdido Key Dwelling Cap Amendment adopted by the Escambia
County Board of Commissioners in Dec. 2007 abolishing the
dwelling/lodging caps on Perdido Key, is
"Not in Compliance"
with Florida state
law. The Dept. of Community Affairs sent it's Objections,
Recommendations and Comments (ORC) Report to Escambia County in response
to the proposed Comp Plan amendment submitted earlier this year
requesting the Dwelling / Lodging caps on Perdido Key be abolished.
The DCA recommended
that the County NOT ADOPT the amendment.
Please read the DCA ORC report
here.
In accordance with the opinions that have been expressed to the board by
the majority of our members, PKA objected to the amendment. We support
the DCA's position.
We will continue to
keep you advised.
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Our Mission Statement
– Each time the PKA Board of Directors is faced with making a decision
on an issue, this is where we look for guidance. Does it fit into this
mission? Our Board goes to great lengths to research information
regarding issues, before our Association voices a public opinion on
them. We know that our membership of 702 Households (March 1, 2008) look
to us for the facts. We value that trust and always try to meet the
highest standard of conduct and credibility.
The State of
Florida Division of Administrative Hearings has now scheduled a hearing
for February 9 - 13, 2009 in Pensacola.
At issue is whether the amendment to the Escambia County Comprehensive
Plan to remove the Dwelling / Lodging Caps on Perdido Key is in
compliance with Florida Statutes.
Results
of Dwelling Cap Mediation Hearing
The parties spent 12 hours in mediation on Tuesday, June 3. The Mediator
declared an impasse on Thursday, June 5, which terminated the formal
mediation process. The County intends to continue to explore settlement
with the DCA, and we will continue to provide the DCA with our analysis
of such settlement efforts. The next step will be for the Administrative
Law Judge to schedule the evidentiary hearing, which has not occurred
yet. The members of the PKA greatly appreciate the time and effort that
the DCA and 1000 Friends of Florida have provided to this matter.
Click here for Mediation report (PDF
file).
Please email any comments you may have for the PKA board to
pkaemail@cox.net. We will keep you informed.
From the
President
After careful review, the PKA board believed that the amendment to the
Escambia County Comprehensive Plan, adopted by the BOCC last December,
to removing the Dwelling / Lodging Caps was poorly written, purposefully
contained vague, subjective language, failed to identify a need, failed
to adequately protect the environment, failed to explain how
infrastructure would be provided, and contained significant up-zoning
and density increases. The Florida State Department of Community Affairs
(DCA) came to the same conclusions and ruled that the amendment was “Not
in Compliance” with State laws. Escambia County appealed the decision of
the DCA and requested that the Florida State Dept. of Administration
Dept. hold an administrative hearing before an Administrative Law Judge
(ALJ) to determine a final ruling. The hearing is scheduled for June 3.
PKA filed a Motion to Intervene in support of the state’s ruling against
the Dwelling Cap removal. Additionally, 1000 Friends of Florida, a
501(c)(3) not-for-profit membership organization that monitors growth
management issues throughout the State of Florida filed a Motion to
Intervene. To “Intervene” means that we each asked for an opportunity to
represent our membership in the upcoming hearing. The judge agreed that
we had met all the criteria to participate, and granted our Motions. PKA
has taken this action out of a sense of responsibility to the
membership, adherence to our mission statement and because as citizens
of Florida we have the right to participate in government issues that
concern our lives and property.
Not everyone in the Perdido Key / Pensacola community agrees with PKA
positions on various issues. Sadly, rather than discuss the issues in an
open forum, PKA frequently comes under personal attack from those who
resent our involvement. However, as an organization, citizens and,
property owners - we cannot ignore our responsibility as stewards of
this island to stand by and do nothing. Our community should be
developed to none less than the highest and best standards of community
and environmental planning, rather than the minimal or no standards we
have learned to expect. We have to find a way to strike a balance.
Though our involvement in the upcoming hearing, we hope to assist the
process towards a better plan for the future of the island. We believe
any amendment that is designed to lay out the long-range future of
Perdido Key, has to address all of the critically important aspects of
life in a Coastal High Hazard Area. The amendment that was adopted was
not acceptable. It was not the best that the county could offer the
residents of Perdido Key. Perhaps now, with the assistance of the DCA,
and legal counsel provided by Perdido Key Association and 1000 Friends
of Florida, we hope to see a solid, well written amendment that the
entire community can support.
Annie Griffin,
President
Perdido Key Association |
