The Issue The issue before the Florida Land and Water Adjudicatory Commission (FLWAC) is whether to grant the Petition to Establish the Madeira Community Development District (Petition). The local public hearing was for the purpose of gathering information in anticipation of quasi-legislative rulemaking by FLWAC.
The Issue The issue in this proceeding is whether the petition to establish the Sampson Creek Community Development District meets the applicable criteria set forth in Chapter 190, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 42-1, Florida Administrative Code.
Findings Of Fact Petitioner is seeking the adoption of a rule by the Commission to establish the Sampson Creek Community Development District. The proposed District consists of approximately 1,015 acres located within unincorporated St. Johns County, Florida. There are two out-parcels, totaling 3.7 acres, within the areas to be included in the District. No adverse impact on these out parcels is expected from the establishment of the district. The estimated cost of the infrastructure facilities and services which are presently expected to be provided to the lands within the District was included in the Petition. Petitioner's Composite Exhibit 1 was identified for the record as a copy of the Petition and its exhibits as filed with the Commission. Witnesses Maier, Walters, Boring, and Fishkind each stated that he had reviewed portions of the contents of the petition and its attachments and affirmed the petitions findings. Witness Maier testified that the Petitioner has written consent to establish the District from the owners of one hundred percent of the real property located within the lands to be included in the District. Witness Maier also presented deeds for parcels of land within the boundaries of the proposed District which have been acquired by the Petitioner or its subsidiaries, as well as consent forms from the Petitioner's subsidiaries. The Petition and its attached exhibits are true and correct, with the addition of the deeds showing land ownership and owners' consent as specified above. Witnesses Walters and Fishkind reviewed the proposed District in light of the requirements of the State Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 187, Florida Statutes. Witness Walters also reviewed the proposed District in light of the requirements of the St. Johns County Comprehensive Plan. From a planning and economic perspective, four subjects, subject 16, 18, 21, and 26, of the State Comprehensive Plan apply directly to the establishment of the proposed District as do the policies supporting those subjects. Subject 16, titled Land Use, of the State Comprehensive Plan recognizes the importance of locating development in areas with the fiscal ability and service capacity to accommodate growth. The proposed District will: have the fiscal capability to provide a wide range of services and facilities to the population in the designated growth area; help provide infrastructure to development the County, thereby helping limit unintended, unplanned sprawl; facilitate the delivery of infrastructure and services to assist in fulfilling the community plan. Subject 18, titled Public Facilities of the State Comprehensive Plan provides that the state shall protect substantial investments in public facilities and plan for and finance new facilities to serve residents in a timely, orderly and efficient manner. The proposed District will be consistent with this element because the District will: plan and finance the infrastructure systems and facilities needed for the development of lands within the District in a timely, orderly, and efficient manner; provide the infrastructure systems and facilities within the District with the landowners and residents benefiting from the new public facilities bearing the costs associated with construction, operation, and maintenance of the facilities; act in a type of 'infrastructure partnership' with St. Johns County; have financial self-sufficiency through the use of special assessments, as well as user charges or fees, to provide public facilities; provide a consistent, innovative and fiscally sound alternative for financing public facilities by bringing the cost of managing and financing public facilities down to a level of government closest to its beneficiaries and connecting those who pay for facilities with those who directly benefit from those facilities and services; and be structured to assure secure revenue sources capable of meeting District responsibilities. Subject 21, titled Governmental Efficiency of the State Comprehensive Plan provides that governments shall economically and efficiently provide the amount and quality of services required by the public. The proposed District will be consistent with this element because the proposed District will: cooperate with other levels of Florida government, such as through entering into interlocal agreement to address maintenance issues for certain roads; be established under uniform general law standards as specified in Chapter 190, Florida Statutes; be professionally managed, financed, and governed by those whose property directly receives the benefits; not burden the general taxpayer with costs for services or facilities inside the District; and plan and implement cost efficient solutions for the required public infrastructure and assure delivery of selected services to residents. Subject 26, titled Plan Implementation of the State Comprehensive Plan, provides that systematic planning shall be integrated into all levels of government, with emphasis on intergovernmental coordination and citizen involvement. The proposed District is consistent with this element of the State Comprehensive Plan because: the proposed District will systematically plan for the construction, operation and maintenance of the public improvements and the community facilities authorized under Chapter 190, Florida Statutes, subject to and not inconsistent with the local government comprehensive plan and land development regulations; the District meetings are publicly advertised and are open to the public so that all District property owners and residents can be involved in planning for improvements; Section 189.415, Florida Statutes, requires the District to file and update public facilities reports with the County, which it may rely upon in any revisions to the local comprehensive plan. Based on the testimony and exhibits in the record, the proposed District will not be inconsistent with any applicable element or portion of the State Comprehensive Plan. Witness Walters testified that since St. Johns County has already found the development within the proposed District to be not inconsistent with the St. Johns County local comprehensive plan, the establishment of a community development district would not cause any inconsistency and would be in furtherance of four of the plan's policies, goals and objectives: Policy H.1.3.4 of the St. Johns County Comprehensive Plan states that 'DRI's planned unit subdivisions, and other large developments shall provide for the dedication of parks and open space to be generated by the development according to the level of service standards.' The proposed District will finance the construction of, and ultimately own and maintain, a community recreational facility. Goal J.1 of the St. Johns County Comprehensive Plan states that St. Johns County is to ensure the orderly and efficient provision of infrastructure facilities and services such as roads, utilities, recreation, and drainage. The proposed District will serve as an alternative provider of these infrastructure systems and services to meet the needs of the lands within its boundaries; Objective J.1.7 of the St. Johns County Comprehensive Plan states that the County shall manage fiscal resources to ensure the provision of needed infrastructure. The proposed District will provide the infrastructure facilities and services needed for its lands without burdening the fiscal resources of the County or impacting the bonding limits contained in Policy J.1.7.; Objective K.1.6 of the St. Johns County Comprehensive Plan calls for St. Johns County to work cooperatively with other units of government to address issues and concerns. The proposed District may be expected to enter into interlocal agreements with the County to provide certain enhanced maintenance. Additionally, over the long term, the establishment of the proposed District will provide another unit of local government in place and able to cooperate with the County on future issues and concerns. The State of Florida Department of Community Affairs also reviewed the petition to establish the proposed District and concluded that the petition was consistent with the local comprehensive plan. Based on the evidence in the record, the proposed District will not be inconsistent with any applicable element or portion of the local comprehensive plan, and will in fact further the goals provided. Most of the land in the proposed District is part of a planned community included in a Planned Unit Development (PUD) approval issued by St. Johns County. The PUD was approved on February 10, 1998. The PUD is found in St. Johns County Ordinance No. 98-7. Section 6 of the PUD Application, which is incorporated into Ordinance 98-7 by reference, explicitly states that a community development district will be established and requires the establishment of the District prior to the sale of the first lot within the development. Petitioner is developing all of the lands within the District as a single master-planned community. Witness Walters testified that functional interrelation means that each community purpose has a mutual reinforcing relationship with each of the community's other purposes. Each function requires a management capability, funding source and an understanding of the size of the community's needs, so as to handle the growth and development of the community. Each function must be designed to contribute to the development or the maintenance of the community. The size of the District as proposed is approximately 1,105 acres. From a planning perspective, this is a sufficient size to accommodate the basic infrastructure facilities and services typical of a functionally interrelated community. Compactness relates to the location in distance between the lands and land uses within a community. The community is sufficiently compact to be developed as a functionally inter-related community. The compact configuration of the lands will allow the District to provide for the installation and maintenance of its infrastructure facilities in a long-term cost efficient manner. The property is sufficiently contiguous when all parts of a project are either in actual contact or are close enough to allow the efficient design and use of infrastructure. The proposed District is sufficiently contiguous for planning purposes and for the purpose of district governance. The size of the proposed community within the District provides a sufficient economic base to absorb the debt costs and annual operating costs for the proposed District. There will be no economic disincentives to the provision of the infrastructure facilities contemplated. From planning, economics, engineering, and management perspectives, the area of land to be included in the proposed District is of sufficient size, is sufficiently compact, and is sufficiently contiguous to be developed as a single functionally interrelated community. It is presently intended that the District will participate in the construction or provision of certain infrastructure improvements as outlined in the petition. Installation and maintenance of infrastructure systems and services by the District is expected to be financed by bonds and repaid through the imposition of special assessments on benefited property within the District. Use of such assessments will ensure that the real property benefiting from District services is the same property which pays for them. Two types of alternatives to the use of the proposed District were identified. First, the County might provide facilities and services from its general fund or through a MSTU. Second, facilities and services might be provided by some private means, without public bidding, with maintenance delegated to a homeowners association (HOA). The District exceeds the available alternatives at focusing attention to when and where and how the next system of infrastructure will be required. This results in a full utilization of existing facilities before new facilities are constructed and reduces the delivered cost to the citizens being served. Only a community development district allows for the independent financing, administration, operations, and maintenance of the land within such a district. Only a community development district allows district residents to completely control the district. All of the other alternatives do not have these characteristics. From an engineering perspective, the proposed District is the best alternative to provide the proposed community development services and facilities because it is a long-term stable, perpetual entity capable of maintaining the facilities over their expected life. From planning, economic, engineering, and special district management perspectives, the proposed District is the best alternative available for delivering community development services and facilities to the are that will be served by the District. The services and facilities proposed to be provided by the District are not incompatible with uses and existing local and regional facilities and services. The District's facilities and services within the proposed boundaries will not duplicate any existing regional services or facilities which are provided to the lands within the District by another entity. None of the proposed services or facilities are presently being provided by another entity for the lands to be included within the District. Therefore, the community development services and facilities of the proposed district will not be incompatible with the capacity and uses of existing local and regional community development services and facilities. As cited previously, from planning, economics, engineering, and special district management perspectives, the area of land to be included in the proposed District is of sufficient size, is sufficiently compact, and is sufficiently contiguous to be developed and become a functionally interrelated community. The lands to be included within the proposed District have a need for the basic infrastructure being provided. From an engineering perspective, the area within the proposed District is also large enough to support a staff necessary to operate and maintain the proposed infrastructure systems and facilities. Based upon these characteristics, the proposed District is expected to be financially viable. From planning, engineering, economic, and management perspectives, the area that will be served by the intended District is amenable to separate special-district government. Chapter 190, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 42-1, Florida Administrative Code, impose specific requirements regarding the petition and other information to be submitted to the Commission. Section 190.005(1)(a), Florida Statutes, requires the petition to contain a metes and bounds description of the external boundaries of the District. Petitioner's Composite Exhibit 1 contains such a description. Section 190.005(1)(a)1, Florida Statutes, also requires a description of any real property within the external boundaries which is to be excluded from the District and the last known address of the owners of such properties. Petitioner's Composite Exhibit 1 contains the required information. Section 190.005(1)(a), Florida Statutes, requires that the petition contain the proposed timetable for the construction of any district services and the estimated construction costs for those services as well as the designation of the future general distribution, location, and extent of public and private land uses proposed for the area by the future land use element of the adopted local government comprehensive plan. Petitioner's Composite Exhibit 1 contains this information. Section 190.005(1)(a), Florida Statutes, requires the petition to contain written consent to establishment of the District by the owners of one-hundred percent of the real property to be included within the proposed District. Petitioner's Composite Exhibit 1 contains this information which was supplemented by Petitioner at hearing, as it or its subsidiaries acquired title to the lands proposed to be included within the District. Sections 190.005 and 190.006, Florida Statutes, require that each member of a board of supervisors be a resident of Florida and a citizen of the United States. The proposed board members meet these criteria. Section 109.005(1)(a), Florida Statutes, requires the petition to include a Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs (SERC), which meets the requirements of Section 120.541, Florida Statutes. The petition contains a SERC. It meets all requirements of Section 120.541, Florida Statutes. The SERC contains an estimate of the costs and benefits to all persons directly affected by the proposed rule to establish the District -- the State of Florida and its citizens, the country and its citizens, Petitioner, and consumers. Beyond administrative costs related to rule adoption, the State and its citizens will only incur minimal costs from establishing the District. These costs are related to the incremental costs to various agencies of reviewing one additional local government report. The proposed District will require no subsidies from the State. Benefits will include improved planning and coordination of development, which is difficult to quantify but is nonetheless substantial. Administrative costs incurred by the County related to rule adoption should be minimal. Benefits to the County will include improved planning and coordination of development, without incurring any administrative or maintenance burden for facilities and services within the proposed District except for those it chooses to accept. Consumers will pay non-ad valorem or special assessments for certain facilities. Location within the District is voluntary. Generally, District financing will be less expensive than maintenance through a property owners' association or capital improvements financed through developer loans. Benefits to consumers in the area within the community development district will include a higher level of public services and amenities than might otherwise be available, completion of District-sponsored improvements to the area on a timely basis, and a larger share of direct control over community development services and facilities within the area. Petitioner has complied with the provisions of Section 190.005(1)(b), Florida Statutes, in that St. Johns County was paid the requisite filing fees. Section 190.005(1)(d), Florida Statutes, requires the Petitioner to publish notice of the local public hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in St. Johns County for four consecutive weeks prior to the hearing. The notice was published in a newspaper of general paid circulation in St. Johns County (the St. Augustine Record) for four consecutive weeks on March 13, 2000, March 20, 2000, March 27, 2000, and April 3, 2000. All publications were prior to the hearing. Mr. Stephenson, on behalf of the County's community development district processing group formed in accordance with Section 5.06.00 of the St. Johns County Land Development Code, presented the following proposed findings regarding the approval of the development within the proposed District: On October 28, 1999, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners entered into an Impact Fee Agreement with St. Joe Residential Acquisitions, Inc., and A & S Land Development Company to widen a portion of CR 210 in order to meet concurrency requirements for two projects. St. Joe Residential Acquisitions, Inc. is the developer of the property contained within the Sampson Creek CDD Petition. The project is approved with a Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning and contains 799 single family residential dwelling units and associated roadways, retention areas, common areas, sales and recreation complex, and an 18-hole golf course. St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners approved the PUB on February 10, 1998. The PUD provides that a CDD will be established and will be in place prior to the sale of the first lot so that purchasers will be aware of their participation and membership in the CDD and of their obligation to pay any taxes that may be levied by the CDD. The PUD and Impact Fee Agreement are separate County approved documents and the creation and operation of a CDD does not in any way affect these documents or their approval without further review by the St. Johns County Board of Commissioners. Impact fee credits shall be awarded in accordance with approved Impact Fee Agreement which ensures that the credits are awarded to the appropriate entity. The CDD processing group finds no inconsistencies with the six factors as described in Section 190.005(6), Florida Statutes. With these findings, Mr. Stephenson testified that St. Johns County has no objection to the establishment of the proposed District.
Conclusions On Monday April 10, 2000, at 10:00 a.m., the local public hearing for the Petition to Establish the Sampson Creek Community Development District was held before Administrative Law Judge Diane Cleavinger, at the St. Johns County Public Library, 950 Davis Pond Boulevard, in St. Johns County, Florida. The hearing was conducted pursuant to Section 190.005, Florida Statutes, for the purpose of taking testimony, public comment, and receiving exhibits on the petition of the St. Joe/Arvida Company, L.P. (Petitioner) to establish the Sampson Creek Community Development District (District) in northern St. Johns County, Florida. This report is prepared and submitted to the Florida Land and Water Adjudicatory Commission (Commission) pursuant to Section 190.005, Florida Statutes.
Recommendation Based upon the findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is RECOMMENDED: That the Governor and Cabinet, sitting as the Florida Land and Water Adjudicatory Commission, pursuant to Chapters 120, and 190, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 42-1, Florida Administrative Code, establish the Sampson Creek Community Development District as requested by Petitioner by formal adoption of the proposed rule, after inclusion of the legal description, in substantially the form attached to this Report of Findings and Conclusions as Attachment 3. DONE AND ENTERED this 16th day of May, 2000, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. DIANE CLEAVINGER Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (850) 488-9675 SUNCOM 278-9675 Fax Filing (850) 921-6847 www.doah.state.fl.us Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 16th day of May, 2000. COPIES FURNISHED: Jonathan T. Johnson, Esquire Carolyn S. Raepple, Esquire Hopping, Green, Sams & Smith, P.A. 123 South Calhoun Street Post Office Box 6526 Tallahassee, Florida 32314 Daniel Woodring, Esquire Florida Land and Water Adjudicatory Commission The Capitol, Suite 2105 Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Donna Arduin, Secretary Florida Land and Water Adjudicatory Commission The Capitol, Suite 1601 Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Barbara Leighty, Clerk Growth Management and Strategic Planning The Capitol, Suite 2105 Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Carol Licko, General Counsel Office of the Governor The Capitol, Suite 209 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001
Conclusions Having reviewed the Administrative Complaint, and all other matters of record, the Agency for Heaith Care Administration finds and concludes as follows: 1. The Agency has jurisdiction over the above-named Respondent pursuant to Chapter 408, Part II, Florida Statutes, and the applicable authorizing statutes and administrative code provisions. 2. The Agency issued the attached Administrative Complaint and Election of Rights form to the Respondent. (Ex. 1) The Election of Rights form advised of the right to an administrative hearing. 3. The parties have since entered into the attached Settlement Agreement. (Ex. 2) Based upon the foregoing, it is ORDERED: 1. The Settlement Agreement i is adopted and incoxpotated by reference into this Final Order. The parties shall comply with the terms of the Settlement Agreement. 2. The Respondent shall pay the Agency $2,250.00. If full payment has been made, the cancelled check acts as receipt of: payment and no further payment is required. If full payment has not been made, payment is due within 30 days of the Final Order. Overdue amounts are subject to statutory interest and may be referred to collections. A check made payable to the “Agency for Health Care Administration” and containing the AHCA ten-digit case number should be sent to: Office of Finance and Accounting Revenue Management Unit Agency for Health Care Administration 2727 Mahan Drive, MS 14 Tallahassee, Florida 32308 3. Conditional licensure status is imposed on the Respondent beginning on February 1, 2013. Filed August 29, 2013 2:45 PM Division of Administrative Hearings 1 ORDERED at Tallahassee, Florida, on this 24 day of Augver , 2013. rk Elizayeth Duden 3 Agency for Heath Care Administration
Other Judicial Opinions A party who is adversely affected by this Final Order is entitled to judicial review, which shall be instituted by filing one copy of a notice of appeal with the Agency Clerk of AHCA, and a second copy, along with filing fee as prescribed by law, with the District Court of Appeal in the appellate district where the Agency maintains its headquarters or where a party resides. Review of proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the Florida appellate rules. The Notice of Appeal must be filed within 30 days of rendition of the order to be reviewed. ; CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I CERTIFY that a true and correc of this Final Ordgr was served on the below-named persons by the method designated on this Poe ot : Richard Shoop, Agency Clerk Agency for Health Care Administration 2727 Mahan Drive, Bldg. #3, Mail Stop #3 Tallahassee, Florida 32308-5403 Telephone: (850) 412-3630 Jan Mills Finance & Accounting Facilities Intake Unit Revenue Management Unit (Electronic Mail) (Electronic Mail) Thomas J. Walsh II Anna Small, Esq. | Office of the General Counsel Allen Dell . Agency for Health Care Administration 202 South Rome Avenue (Electronic Mail) Suite 100 Tampa, Florida 33606 (U.S. Mail) eS Linzie F. Bogan Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearing (Electronic Mail)
Findings Of Fact Petitioner is a healthy, alert 27-year-old female individual, who was born with Downs Syndrome and is visually impaired. Petitioner is an adult and is a Medicaid waiver client of Developmental Services and is receiving supported living services. Petitioner, by her choice, is presently residing in the home of her mother, Sandra Kuhn. She desires to continue to live independently outside of a group home or institutional setting. Petitioner desires to have an active social life, outside of work. At present, she participates in the Special Olympics, bowling, attends dances and dates. However, Petitioner's participation is restricted because she must rely on her mother or friends to provide transportation to these functions. She is capable of using a taxi; however, she has limited funds for such purpose. Petitioner is employed on a regular basis at Brevard Achievement Center (BAC), the local sheltered workshop. She receives transportation services from Space Coast Area Transit (SCAT) five days a week to transport her to and from work. Payment for this service comes from Medicaid waiver funds. Funds are also provided for Respite Care services for family members on a regular basis. Petitioner takes the position that the goal of the statute and rules relating to supported living services is to allow clients to live as independently as possible in their own houses and to achieve productive lives as close to normal as possible. Section 393.066(1) and (4), Florida Statutes. Petitioner states that an important part of living a normal and productive life is the ability to partake of recreational and leisure activities and to develop interpersonal relations outside of work or the client's immediate family. This can be accomplished by authorizing waiver funds to provide transportation services to special events or regularly-scheduled activities. Petitioner argues that such services may be authorized under the current rules, as provided in Rule 10F-11.006(1),(3),(h),(l),(m),(p), Florida Administrative Code. The Department is considering a change in its policy regarding the use of waiver funds to provide transportation services for leisure and/or recreational uses by drafting proposed Chapter 10F-13, Florida Administrative Code. Such services have been requested by Petitioner in her support plan for more than two years. Petitioner's Support Coordinator has supported this request. However, such request has been denied by the District Seven Developmental Services Office. Respondent takes the position that waiver funds can only be used to provide transportation services for such purposes that will prevent the institutionalization of a client. The District's position is that regardless of whether funding is available, waiver funds cannot be used to provide for recreational or leisure activities.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services enter a Final Order granting Petitioner's request for waiver funds to be used for transportation services, subject to the restrictions contained in paragraph 19 and availability of funds for such purpose. DONE and ENTERED this 24th day of April, 1996, in Tallahassee, Florida. DANIEL M. KILBRIDE, Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 24th day of April, 1996. COPIES FURNISHED: James A. Sawyer, Jr. District 7 Legal Counsel Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services 400 West Robinson Street, Suite S-827 Orlando, Florida 32801 Ms. Mary Sandra Kuhn 250 South Sykes Creek Parkway Apartment 201B Merritt Island, Florida 32952 Gregory D. Venz, Agency Clerk Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services Building 7, Suite 728 1323 Winewood Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0700 Richard Doran, General Counsel Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services Building 7, Suite 728 1323 Winewood Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0700
Findings Of Fact Stipulated Facts Deemed Relevant to Be Found Petitioner is the state land planning agency with the duty and responsibility to enforce and administer Chapter 380, Florida Statutes. The Killearn Lakes project is a planned residential community located north of Tallahassee near Bradfordville in Leon County, Florida. A portion of the Killearn Lakes Project, consisting of Units 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 (phase I) is vested from Development of Regional Impact (DRI) review pursuant to Section 380.06(20), Florida Statutes. Petitioner recognized the vested rights for said portion of Killearn Lakes in BLIVR-274-037. The vested portion of Killearn Lakes has never undergone DRI review and is not a subject of this administrative proceeding. The remainder of the Killearn Lakes project, consisting of Units 5 (phases II and III), 6 and 7, is not vested from DRI review. Killearn was the sole owner of the non-vested portion of Killearn Lakes during the original DRI review, and is presently the owner and developer of most of the undeveloped portion of the Killearn Lakes DRI. The county is the local government with the jurisdiction to issue DRI development orders, and is the local government with the primary responsibility for administering DRI development orders for the land covered by the Killearn Lakes DRI development order. On November 14, 1974, Killearn filed a DRI application for development approval (ADA) for the non-vested portion of Killearn Lakes. In March of 1976, the Northwest Florida Planning and Advisory Council, District II, issued its Development of Regional Impact Evaluation for Killearn Lakes, Inc. On March 23, 1976, the county held a public hearing pursuant to Section 380.06(7), Florida Statutes (1975), on the Killearn Lakes ADA. The county commission issued a Development of Regional Impact Development Order approving the Killearn Lakes DRI and rejecting the conditions recommended by the Northwest Florida Planning and Advisory Council. No notice of the adoption of the Killearn Lakes DRI development order was, or has ever been, recorded in the Public Records of Leon County. At the time of the adoption of the Killearn Lakes DRI development order, Chapter 380, Florida Statutes, did not require the developer to record a notice of adoption, as is presently required by Section 380.06(15)(f), Florida Statutes (Supp. 1990), which first became effective in 1980. The county has issued every final local permit for the development that has occurred in the Killearn Lakes DRI. The county has not adopted a document entitled "Amendment to the Killearn Lakes DRI Development Order," and no such amendment to the Killearn Lakes DRI Development Order has been rendered to the Petitioner. Development within the Killearn Lakes DRI has not been completed. Central sewer has not been constructed throughout the developed portion of Killearn Lakes DRI. Other Facts Issuance of the Development Order Preliminary to action taken by the county commission which approved the subject development, the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Commission met on March 18, 1976. It considered the recommendations of the Northwest Florida Regional Planning and Advisory Council related to the project. The recommendations of the Council were: Approval of the project on a phase by phases [sic] basis with necessary permits being granted after review and evaluation of the completed and proposed phases of development; Close monitoring of the drainage methods throughout each phase of development by the Leon County Engineering Department through on-site inspection; Developer is required to obtain a report from the Florida Games and Fresh Water Fish Commission for submission to the Leon County Commission concerning the evaluation of a lake drawdown project before a permit is granted; Developer must provide more information to the Leon County Commission regarding dredge and fill operation prior to the issuing of a permit for each phase of construction; Before the Leon County Commission issues a permit for each phase of development, a review of the upgrading of the Thoamsville [sic] Highway is required from the Florida Department of Transportation; Developer is required to comply with the following two conditions before a permit can be granted: Place hydrants so that all dwellings are within 1000 feet, and commercial property is within 500 feet. Increase water pressure and supply. A phase by phase review of projected growth of the Killearn Lakes Project and a brief impact analysis of Environmental and Natural Resources, Economy, Public Facilities, Public Transportation Facilities, and Housing in the immediate community and region is required before a permit can be issued to continue the Killearn Lakes project on a phase by phase basis. The successful review and evaluation of the above mentioned modifications prior to issuing each phase construction permit is recommended. The local planning group recommended approval of a development order without acceptance of the conditions suggested by the Northwest Florida Regional Planning Council. As mentioned before in Footnote 1, the county rejected all recommendations by that planning and advisory group. According to the minutes of the March 23, 1976 meeting: Mr. Simpson reported that the Planning Commission had recommended granting the development permit of Killearn Lakes without the application of the recommendations of the Northwest Florida Planning & Advisory Council, Inc. Commissioner Vause moved that the report from the Northwest Florida Planning & Advisory Council, Inc. dated March of 1976, be reflected in the minutes as being received and filed and that the Board follow the recommendation of the Planning Commission, Commissioner Marchant seconded the motion. Following very much discussion, Commission Vause amended his motion to adopt the following resolution and to issue a development order as recommended by the Planning Commission, Commissioner Marchant agreed to the amendment and the vote of the Board was unanimous in favor thereof. The Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Commission in its action of March 18, 1976 had not suggested any substantive changes to the ADA. The County Commission did not vote to modify the ADA by changes to the language in the ADA through additions or deletions to the text of the ADA or requirements set forth in the development order or attachments to the development order. Having rejected the recommendations set out by the Northwest Florida Regional Planning and Advisory Council, and offering no other conditions to control the development order other than those contemplated by statutes or rules pertaining to the issuance of the development order, the terms of the development order became those found within the ADA. Deadline for Development Among the topics discussed in the ADA is the date for completing the project. The ADA identifies the project completion date as 1985. This information is provided in accordance with the questionnaire which the consultant to Killearn answered in preparing the ADA. Having examined the Draft Operating Manual for Developments of Regional Impact which had been prepared by the Division of State Planning, the predecessor agency to the Petitioner, it is inferred that the application format/questionnaire recommended by the Division of State Planning was followed in preparing the ADA. The questionnaire contemplates in a number of instances establishment of a concluding date for the project. The evidence presented at hearing did not show that the county made a conscious decision to require submission of the application in the format set forth in the draft operating manual by the Division of State Planning, rather it acquiesced in that protocol on this occasion. There is no evidence that the Division of State Planning had communicated with the county concerning the use of this questionnaire for preparing an ADA, especially as it might pertain to the policy reasons for setting forth a deadline for project completion. Excepting the questionnaire, the Draft Operating Manual for Developments of Regional Impact prepared by the Division of State Planning was not shown to have been made available to the county or the applicant prior to the submission of the application. In particular, the applicant and county were unfamiliar with Section 2.05c. in its statement that all local development orders issued in response to an ADA should include provisions pertaining to the period of effectiveness of the development order and Section 2.07a.(2) pertaining to expiration of the period of effectiveness of the development order as a factor that may require retriggering of the DRI process. By implication, the county was not carrying forward the policy ideas expressed by the Division of State Planning where it urges local government, in the interest of sound planning principles to include a provision in the development order pertaining to the period of effectiveness of that development order and the statement that at the expiration of that period of effectiveness the development order may require a retriggering of the DRI review process. In the abstract, the questions that were answered in the ADA in response to the format contemplated by the Division of State Planning dealing with a concluding date for the project can be seen as associated with the concept of establishing an expiration date for the development order. The answers do not equate to setting out the expiration date as an incorporated requirement countenanced by this development order. Neither does the development order nor the incorporated ADA remind the developer or its successors in interest that there is a deadline for concluding the project beyond which the development order is no longer effective and the possible requirement for retriggering review of the DRI. Under the circumstances, absent some requirement of law not arising from the development order per se, the statements found within the ADA concerning the projects's concluding date are nothing more than an internal planning device for the benefit of the developer and its successors in interests. As an estimate by the applicant it does not express the perception of local government in issuing the development order and is unenforceable. Statutes and rules in effect at the time that the development order was issued, and it is those statutes and rules which control for reasons discussed in the conclusions of law, did not mandate the establishment of deadlines for completing the project, establishment of a period of effectiveness for the development order or a statement setting out the ramifications for not complying with the deadlines for buildout on the possible consequences of operating beyond the period of effectiveness of a development order. More generally stated Chapter 380, Florida Statutes and the rules of the Division of State Planning in existence when the project was considered did not readily explain the application process. It is not accepted that the county in view of the dialogue which took place between various commissioners and representatives of Killearn on March 23, 1976, took official action to extend the deadline set out in the ADA, but the resulting de facto extension of the buildout deadline beyond the effective date set forth in the ADA is irrelevant. The discussion among the commissioners and with representatives of the developer concerning the project completion was inconclusive, because from a parliamentary viewpoint, the county did not act to restate the ADA and by such restatement set forth a project deadline. The county never precluded further development in the DRI area after 1985 absent further DRI review. It did not have to. No deadline was required by law. No legally binding deadline has been imposed. Therefore development may proceed into the future. Sewer Service At The Inception Another item in dispute concerns the need to provide sewer service in the project area and at what point in time. The development order unequivocally requires a sewage treatment system so that units as they are built are connected to that system contemporaneous with their development. The development order does not allow alternative use of septic tanks until a central sewer system becomes available, if it ever does. The introductory portion of the ADA under the report summary speaks of sewer being provided by Talquin Electric Cooperative, Inc. Under the environmental assessments portion of the ADA associated with water quality, Paragraph 19.b.(3)(a), which speaks to possible discharges into ground water of liquid waste states: All units will be connected to a central plant as they are developed. This plant will remove 90 percent of the bio-chemical oxygen demand (B.O.D.) and of suspended solids (Chapter 403, Florida Statutes) and discharge to a land via a land disposal system; no surface discharge, (Figure 19-10). The economic assessments, Paragraph 25, discusses sanitary sewers at pages 59 and 61, as follows: a. Cite amount of sewage expected to be generated by the proposed development and source of treatment facility. Amount generated (added to .04 of Phase I): About 1.4 million gallons per day (mgd) in DRI area. Treatment will be accomplished by Talquin Electric Cooperative for Phases I into IV. The collection system will utilize lift stations (Figure 25-1). Will the design of the sewage system insure that all areas of the development have adequate facilities at all stages of the development? Specify. The Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and collection system construction will be phased (Table 2) to accommodate this flow as follows: Now ready to start - .040 mgd S.T.P. (Phase (not in DRI area) 1, Unit 5) Until January 1975 - .450 mgd S.T.P. (Phase II, Units 5 & 6) Until mid-1976 - .900 mgd S.T.P. (Phase III, Unit 5+ apt./Condo. & Comm.) 1978 to mid-1982 - 1.800 mgd S.T.P. (Phase IV) or convert .900 mgd S.T.P. to a lift station and pump to City of Tallahassee Talquin Electric Cooperative has a construction permit from the Department of Pollution Control, and operating permit will be issued when the S.T.P. is built, subject to conditions discussed under "discharge to groundwater". The S.T.P. and land disposal site will be located at the northeast corner of Unit 2. Additional acreage, if needed, can be provided at the adjacent school site (Figure 19-10). How does the development's sewage system relate to the county's sewer and water treatment facilities objectives? During Phase IV this responsibility will shift to the City of Tallahassee. 16/ Killearn Lakes sewage then will be treated at the Tallahassee Northeast Treatment Plant (+ 1984). What assurances will the developer provide that such a system will indeed be completed? Construction? Performance bonds? Agreement with Talquin. 15/ Sewer connection to the City of Tallahassee depends on resolution of differences between the City and Leon County. The City/County Technical Coordinating Committee recently passed resolution urging priority action on this matter. Talquin Electric Cooperative builds and operates many total - utilities packages in the area, including sewer systems. It has been in business as a Rural Electric Cooperative for several decades. In addition, in the environmental assessments section, Paragraph 19.b.(2)(a) at pages 7 and 8 dealing with discharges into surface water of detergents and solvents reference is made to commercial and residential sewer service. Figure 19-4, at page 8, related to land disposal speaks of the temporary land disposal site for sewage effluent. Again the section on economics found at page 49 in the ADA comments that Talquin Electric Cooperative is responsible for all utility installation. Table 1, item 25 discusses sewage and notes that all areas to be served by Talquin Electric will be phased into a regional facility in 1984 to meet county objectives. No exception to this requirement is stated. Paragraph 31.c., at page 71, concerning alternative means of providing sewer states: What alternative power, water, sewer and solid waste disposal sources or mixes were considered and evaluated in selecting this particular site? The City of Tallahassee, Leon County, and Talquin Electric Cooperative are the alternative sources and they were selected through a combination of availability, common practice and cost. Contrary to the opinion of the county, this reference is unambiguous and does not contemplate the use of septic tanks at any time as a possible alternative to sewer service. The statement of availability describes the choice between utilities, not the choice between sewer service and septic tanks. Killearn's Agreement With Talquin Electric The sewer service agreement between Killearn and Talquin Electric Cooperative concerning provision of sewer service commented on in Footnote 15 to the ADA addresses provision of sewer service for the entire project controlled by the development order upon request by Killearn with cost or return of the total cost to be guaranteed by Killearn as recited in the agreement. It makes Killearn responsible for depositing funds with Talquin Electric Cooperative as construction work progresses as may be required by Talquin. Those funds must be sufficient to cover Talquin's and Killearn's "actual direct costs related to the installation of said utilities, including engineering and debt service." Killearn is refunded or credited with one-half of all utility revenue received by Talquin in excess of $5 per month per customer. Those excess customer revenues would be credited first to repay amounts borrowed by Talquin for the installation of utilities to meet debt service. The excess of those revenues would be refunded to Killearn to the extent that Killearn had deposited funds with Talquin Electric for project purposes. The refund to Killearn would include any interest paid by Killearn associated with funding. By the agreement Talquin would borrow funds for the installation of the utilities if it could obtain better rates than were available to Killearn. All the funds borrowed by Talquin are subject to Killearn's guarantee on the repayment of all debt service required and if the aforementioned refunds and credits are insufficient to meet that requirement by Talquin, Killearn agrees to deposit with Talquin the amount of that deficiency which would be counted as a cost to Killearn and subject to some future refund. Killearn had agreed to execute the necessary documents for individual loans if requested to do so by Talquin. The agreement has a duration of 20 years beyond the date of completion of the last utility construction. The agreement allows Talquin to place a sewer service tap fee on lot purchasers in the project area at rates which are normal and competitive. Talquin is to deduct the direct cost of installation related to tap fees with agreement to credit or refund the remainder to Killearn. By the agreement Talquin committed to pay Killearn the cost of any land required by Talquin for sewer treatment facilities. Those purchase costs would be included in the total cost of utilities which required deposits or guarantees from Killearn to Talquin. Nothing in the agreement between Talquin Electric and Killearn spoke to the means by which successor developers would assure that sewers were provided for units developed in the DRI area. The development order in addition to not being subject to recording in the Public Records of Leon County, Florida, based upon its own terms or requirements in law, did not obligate Killearn to advise purchasers of parcels in the DRI area who bought those parcels for development purposes, that the subsequent developer would need to provide sewers in accordance with the development order either through Talquin Electric or an appropriate utility. The failure of the development order to require disclosure is not unexpected given the county's willingness to allow the ADA to serve as the development order. The ADA informs the county of the project features. It is not designed to anticipate development controls, in this instance to set out the process by which the initial developer would alert subsequent developers to the terms of the ADA to include the requirement to provide sewer service. Nonetheless, the permission to develop was granted to Killearn as applicant and to the extent that right to develop was assigned to another developer by conveyance which removed Killearn as the responsible developer, it would be reasonable to expect Killearn to give notice of the existence of the development order and its salient features. The need to provide sewer service as development proceeds is among those features. Transactions and Notice to Subsequent Purchasers What did Killearn tell subsequent purchasers about the requirement to provide sewers? J. T. Williams, Jr., CEO and President of Killearn offered testimony on that subject. Williams identified that he had sold by warranty deed to Holt Robinson the Channel 40 television station property. The notice of violation refers to this property as Ton Realty Partnership. Killearn sold parcels to Dennette Rainey on contracts for deed for areas known as Mallard Bluff and Mallard Point. Parcels between Mallard Point and Mallard Bluff were sold to Perry Bodin on contracts for deed. The sales described occurred between 1979 and 1981. The balance of the project which is in dispute has been developed by Killearn and sewer has been installed in those developed areas that Killearn had not sold or agreed to sell. According to Williams the contracts for deed to Rainey and Bodin included references about central sewer. Unfortunately, copies of the contracts for deed were not presented in the hearing to establish the exact nature of those references and the notice they may have given the purchasers concerning their obligations to arrange for sewer service contemporaneous with development (the building of residences). Williams said that the agreement was to provide sewer at the developer's request, meaning to Rainey and Bodin, pursuant to Killearn's agreement with Talquin Electric. As stated, Talquin Electric has no commitment to provide sewer service to a subsequent developer under the terms of its agreement with Killearn. More importantly the agreement with Killearn requires that the developer provide a substantial deposit before installation of sewer service. It is unclear from the record whether Rainey, Bodin or Robinson understood this. Given the arrangement described at hearing which Williams said that he would make between Talquin Electric and Respondents Kinhega Landing and Kinhega Oaks, as liaison, in which the expectation would be that those two developers would be responsible for funding or deposits to move the work forward, the possibility exists that Rainey, Bodin and Robinson had also been made aware that this funding would be needed to bring about the installation of sewer lines in areas to be developed by those purchasers. By contrast they may have understood Williams' explanation to be that Killearn would arrange for provision of the sewer service in the areas to be developed upon their request without the need for initial funding provided by the subsequent developers. The state of the record does reveal that none of the areas described in the contracts for deed between Killearn and Rainey and Killearn and Bodin have sewer service from a central location. Homes in those areas are served by septic tanks. The property conveyed to Ton Realty Partnership may or may not have sewer service based upon proof in this record. Williams stated that he told his immediate purchasers that there was a DRI on the property and bragged that it would not be necessary for those persons who bought from him to go back through a process of project review. This does not signify that those purchasers were familiar with the contract with Talquin Electric which is spoken to under Footnote 15 to the ADA. In a more general sense, the record does not indicate that the immediate purchasers read the ADA. Again, they would not have been aware of the development order and its terms by resort to the Public Records in Leon County, Florida. In addition to Robinson, Killearn gave warranty deeds to other purchasers of parcels within the DRI. Killearn sold the parcel known as Mallard Bluff to Olin Mannheimer while under contract for deed to Rainey. The warranty deed under those circumstances went directly to Olin Mannheimer as developer. The terms of the warranty deed were not identified in the record nor any explanation made of Mannheimer's awareness of the requirement for sewers if he had an impression of that requirement. Williams established that Rainey developed Mallard Point. As Williams describes, for the property between Mallard Point and Mallard Bluff that had been sold to Perry Bodin in which the parcels known as Kinhega Landing and Kinhega Oaks are found, together with Kinhega Estates and the Kinhega Lodge, title was released per warranty deed as acreage was paid off. Except for the last parcel within the Bodin contract for deed with Killearn, that parcel being associated with Kinhega Landing group of Respondents (Southern Heritage Development, Inc., Seay Enterprises, Inc. and Jimmy Boynton Realty, Inc.), Killearn gave warranty deeds directly to persons who purchased property that had been identified under the contract for deed between Bodin and Killearn. Killearn conveyed the Kinhega Landing parcel to Bodin by warranty deed. The terms of that warranty deed were not identified in the record. Killearn conveyed by warranty deed that property known as Kinhega Oaks. That conveyance was subject to restrictions, reservations, covenants and easements of record, if any. The conveyance to the Kinhega Oaks group of Respondents (Stephen John Stoutamire, Lewis Hill, Sr. and Lewis Hall, Jr.) took place on May 19, 1989. Kinhega Landing, Kinhega Oaks and Other Particulars The Kinhega Landing purchase by the present Respondents was based upon a deposit and receipt contract for sale and purchase between Bodin and his wife and James Jarrett followed by a warranty deed from Bodin and his wife to the Kinhega Landing group. No explanation is made concerning Jarrett's understanding of the need to provide sewers. The warranty deed to the Kinhega Landing group of Respondents was executed December 13, 1989, and refers to restrictions, easements, and reservations and covenants that are of record, if any. As with other conveyances and throughout the history of this project no reference to the development order could be found by a search of the Public Records. Neither does the deposit and receipt contract for sale and purchase identify the existence of the development order for the edification of the Kinhega Landing group. Killearn had no direct dealing with purchasers of property contemplated within the agreement for deed between Killearn and Bodin other than the act of preparing and delivering a warranty deed to the Kinhega Oaks group and others similarly situated who took title directly from Killearn based upon the agreement for deed between Killearn and Bodin. To the extent that the agreement for deed with Bodin may have informed the reader that Killearn had disclosed the nature of the requirement for provision of sewer as set forth in the development order, no indication was given in the record that someone other than Killearn may have then made the Kinhega Oaks and Kinhega Landing groups mindful of that caveat or that Bodin or someone that he was affiliated with otherwise disclosed the need to provide sewers for the parcels to be developed by the Kinhega Oaks and Kinhega Landing groups. Bodin is not named as a Respondent nor was he called as a witness in this hearing to explain his position in these matters. Likewise Rainey, Mannheimer and Jarrett are not parties nor were they called as witnesses. In that a warranty deed was given directly from Killearn to Kinhega Oaks, opportunity was presented by that conveyance for Killearn to have alerted the Kinhega Oaks group concerning the DRI and its terms, even if seen from Williams' viewpoint as principally being a favor to Bodin to avoid tax implications of a transfer from Bodin and thus to the Kinhega Oaks group. Although this opportunity was presented to Killearn to describe the existence of the requirements for sewer set out in the development order when making a direct conveyance to the Kinhega Oaks group, the warranty deed did not reveal that information and no discussion was entered into with Kinhega Oaks concerning any aspects of the purchase beyond the conveyance itself. Williams asserts in his testimony in further explanation of the events that Bodin would be responsible for arranging the furnishing of sewer to the Kinhega Landing group, but that Killearn would voluntarily arrange for that sewer service as a matter of a favor, not a matter of contract. This would be upon provision of the payment of 30 per cent of cost of the installation by Kinhega Landing to Talquin Electric. At hearing Williams offered to make a similar arrangement for the Kinhega Oaks group as Williams described as having been done for Rainey under his contract with Killearn, a contract not presented at hearing. Again, this contemplates that Kinhega Oaks would pay 30 per cent of the total costs and that Killearn would get all rebates that pertained for coverage of interest and carrying costs during the rebate period. Notwithstanding Killearn's offer to make these arrangements with Talquin Electric to provide sewer for the benefit of the subsequent developers, those arrangements have not been made. Nothing in the record establishes or suggests that the Kinhega Oaks group and the Kinhega Landing groups were aware of the existence of the development order and its requirement for installation of sewer contemporaneous with development when they purchased their parcels. Had they understood that requirement was incumbent upon them, they would not have undertaken the purchases and incurred debt obligations which they now are experiencing difficulties meeting, in part due to the possible outcome here which could prohibit development absent the contemporaneous installation of sewers. Petitioner argues that no authority exists to allow septic tanks at individual lot sites as an interim condition prior to sewer lines being made available in the areas undergoing development by Kinhega Oaks and Kinhega Landing. This is contrary to the attitude expressed by the county in granting preliminary plats to the two developers and individual permits for septic tank installation until sewer is made available, if that eventuality occurs. Raymond Richard Yates, Jr. testified. He is President of Southern Heritage Development Inc. and together with Jimmy Boynton Realty, Inc. and Seay Enterprises, Inc. owns the property known as Kinhega Landing. Those individuals became involved with the property through contacts between Yates and Jarrett. As alluded to, Jarrett did not tell Yates that the property was subject to the development order and its requirements for provision of sewer. At the inception of their dealings the Kinhega Landing group intended to substitute for Jarrett and his contract and to purchase the property if plat approval could be gained. The record is not clear about Jarrett's position with Bodin and Killearn beyond the previously described deposit and receipt contract for sale and purchase Bodin to Jarrett. The Kinhega Landing group arranged to have a search made of the Public Records of Leon County to discover any easement, development orders and/or restrictions affecting the property in question effective through December 13, 1989. That report of April 22, 1991, did not reveal the existence of the development order. On November 16, 1989, the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Commission voted to approve the preliminary plat for Kinhega Landing subject to conditions. This was in accordance with the county ordinance on recording subdivision plats that became effective in 1984. (Other developers in the area of Lake Iamonia within the DRI as described had undertaken development before passage of the ordinance.) Among those conditions was the requirement for mound type septic tank systems in lieu of ordinary septic tank systems where subsurface conditions would require the mounded approach. Another condition required that the Kinhega Estates Home Owners Association's covenants and restrictions would apply. A condition was established that homeowners would be required to hook up to a central sewer system if and when it became available. The Kinhega Landing group paid $240,000 for the land or an amount approximating that cost with a fee of $30,000 paid to Jarrett for the assignment of the contract. The Kinhega Landing group obtained a loan for $425,000 to develop the land. In furtherance of the project roads have been installed, clearing has been done and some holding facilities for stormwater runoff put in place. Other permits for development have been acquired to include environmental permits from the county and the State of Florida, Department of Environmental Regulation. After plat approval and purchase, the Kinhega Landing group first discovered that the property was subject to the development order. In addition to the prohibition against the use of septic tanks contemplated by the notice of violation, the county has told the Kinhega Landing group that they may not proceed with development. At present the property in question, which is 29.71 acres with 44 lots and a unit density of 1.65 units per acre lies dormant. No septic tanks have been installed as this developer had anticipated doing. Yates testified that he is not in a financial position to address the sewer requirements in an instance where deposit money would have to be made available for that activity. His other partners have decided they no longer wish to participate and Yates is in jeopardy with his financing institution. On April 20, 1989, the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Commission voted to approve the preliminary plat for Kinhega Oaks. That parcel has an acreage of 11.87, with 15 lots of a unit density of 1.4 per acre. The preliminary plat has the same conditions that have been described for Kinhega Landing. Kinhega Oaks is owned by Stephen John Stoutamire, Lewis Hill, Sr. and Lewis Hill, Jr. The property was purchased through a real estate agency known as Rae Roeder Realty in the person of Bob Cole. The Kinhega Oaks group did not deal with Perry Bodin directly or anyone other than the realtor. The Kinhega Oaks group bought the property for purposes of development of single-family residential lots of approximately one-half acre size. Improvements intended to be installed included a county maintained road. They did not intend to install a central sewer system. The project contemplated the use of septic tanks. In furtherance of the project the purchasers paid approximately $100,000 and had site evaluations done on two lots that were in the most sensitive area of the project near Lake Iamonia. An engineering firm was hired to gain that preliminary plat approval. Title work was done. Closing on the property was contingent upon activities by the engineering firm, soil samples and title insurance. For the two lots which were the most sensitive in terms of use of septic tanks, soil studies were done and the necessary approvals were gained for the use of septic tanks. In purchasing the property, the Kinhega Oaks group relied upon the conditions for development which were set out in the preliminary plat, including allowances for septic tanks to be used on an interim basis. If the preliminary plat had not been approved, the Kinhega Oaks group would not have purchased the property, nor would they have purchased the property if they had been aware of the existence of the development order. They would not have developed if the studies related to the use of septic tanks had been adverse. Since the purchase of the property, a road has been built, and water service and underground electric service has been provided. A concrete ditch has also been put in place and sod. Approximately $40,000.00 has been expended on improvements. In pursing the project, necessary permits have been obtained. The closest available central sewer is approximately one mile away. To install the sewer system, it would be necessary to tear up the road and lay the sewer line in the middle and T-off on the sides and re-pave the road. Five lots have been sold in the subdivision. Two houses have been constructed and one is underway. All of those houses have septic tanks. The Kinhega Oaks purchasers became aware of the existence of the development order after making improvements and selling the five lots. The Kinhega Oaks group first became aware of the development order when served with a notice of violation. Under the orders for corrective action and the development order, the Kinhega Oaks group and the Kinhega Landing group are confronted with a requirement to provide sewer service within a year of a final order, if Petitioner's position is sustained. The Kinhega Oaks group understands that limits have been imposed on the installation of septic tanks. Had it realized that it would become necessary to place the sewer lines, it would not have purchased the property. If required to make the corrections that are contemplated by the Petitioner, Stephen Stoutamire on behalf of the Kinhega Oaks group, testified that he would "go broke". The County: Application of The Development Order Martin Patrick Black, the present Chief of Land Use Administration for the county, testified. He has held that position since December, 1989. He concedes that the ADA does not mention septic tanks. The person who was principally responsible for considering the applications for plat approval from Kinhega Landing and Kinhega Oaks is Wade Pitt, a planner for the county. He knew of the existence of the development order from when he was initially employed in 1983. He testified that Mallard Bluff, Mallard Point and Kinhega Estates existed before the subdivision regulations were passed in 1984 and did not need to obtain plat approval as was necessary with Kinhega Landing and Kinhega Oaks. This did not excuse development without provision of sewer service. When he reviewed the subject requests for preliminary plat approval after the ordinance was enacted, he referred to the development order and ADA, in addition to the county subdivision regulations. On the issue of sewage disposal, he concluded that the ADA stated that central sewer would be provided by phases in the DRI; however, provision of central sewer was predicated on availability. Given that central sewer was not available at the time that the plat approval was considered, he decided that septic tanks were an acceptable alternative to the installation of sewer until sanitary sewer became available. In effect, he believed septic tanks were an available and appropriate interim measure until sewer became available. His perceptions led to the above described conditions on wastewater treatment which were placed in the preliminary plat approval for both Kinhega Landing and Kinhega Oaks. His interpretation is erroneous. His position, as adopted by the county in the preliminary plat approvals, is incorrect in a setting in which the requirements announced in the development order/ADA are not fairly debatable. There is no allowance for septic tanks as an interim response, especially not when the contingency in the plat approvals is for provision of sewer only when it becomes available, if at all. This is as contrasted with the absolute requirement of sewer service at the project inception, when development commences, found in the development order. The record is devoid of any statement that someone other than the subsequent developers would make the necessary financial contribution to bring about sewer service in those areas which were not developed by Killearn. It appears unlikely that sewer service will become available in substitution for septic tanks under the present circumstances. To the extent that the applicant in responding to the questionnaire which formed the basis of the application considered alternative methods for wastewater treatment, those alternatives did not include septic tanks. The statement of how Killearn would respond to wastewater treatment did not set forth septic tanks as the means, even as an interim measure. For the county to perceive that the ADA/development order would allow septic tanks as an interim condition is contrary to reason and in contravention of the development order which it issued. More About Covenants and Restrictions On November 29, 1979, certain Declarations of Covenants and Restrictions for that portion of the DRI known as Mallard Point were recorded in the Public Records of Leon County, Florida. They are in substance the same as those associated with Kinhega Estates, Unit I, as recorded on December 21, 1982, and those for Kinhega Lodge recorded on February 23, 1987. All were recorded by Killearn as the developer and signed by J. T. Williams, as President of Killearn. The restrictive covenants by Killearn executed in 1979, 1982 and 1987 call for single-family residential development in an area of the DRI which was approved for condominium development. Kinhega Landing and Kinhega Oaks per the terms of the preliminary plats received by those developers must abide by the Kinhega Estates Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions. Pursuant to the definitional section in that document, the term "improvements" includes sewers. Under Article IX, having to do with the preservation of the natural environment, lakes, and Green Areas at Section 5, the developer, Killearn, reserves the right for itself and successors and assigns to go over and around the ground to erect and maintain and use sewers and for other suitable equipment for conveyance and use of sewers in the Green Areas. Right is reserved to locate pumping stations and treatment plants in the Green Areas; however, the rights which may be exercised by the developer and any licensee of the developer, also referred to as the company, shall not be considered as an obligation of the company to provide or maintain the utility, in this dispute, the sewer service. In Section 9 of Article IX, further mention is made of the idea that the granting of the easement in no way places a burden of affirmative action on the developer, and the developer is not bound to make any of the improvements noted or to extend service of any kind. Article XVIII speaks specifically of sewage disposal where it says: "No individual sewage disposal system shall be permitted on any site unless such system is designed, located and constructed in accordance with the requirements, standards and recommendations of the State of Florida's Department of Pollution Control. Approval of such system as installed shall be obtained from such department or departments." These provisions fail to mandate the requirements for provision of sewer service by the original developer or subsequent developers. They also allow septic tanks in contravention of the development order. Other Departures Given the proposed stipulations in law among the parties in which consideration of the factual significance of those other departures from the terms of the development order is not anticipated, intricate treatment of those matters is not undertaken to examine the significance of these deviations from the development order. It suffices to say that the following improvements: the golf course known as Golden Eagle, the single-family residences in the vicinity of Lake Iamonia in lieu of the condominiums identified in the ADA, a school site under the ADA which has been converted to single-family residences in Golden Eagle Units 1 and 3, and the Television 40 site developed by Ton Realty Partnership in an area approved for a single-family residential development or a school site depart from the terms of the development order. Forgiveness Petitioner has not named individual lot owners who purchased property prior to the notice of violation as Respondents.
Recommendation Upon consideration of the facts found and the conclusions of law reached, it is recommended that a Final Order be entered which: Requires Killearn to: comply with the requirements of the stipulation requiring an amendment to the development order incorporating the reduction in density from condominiums to single-family residences in the area bordering Lake Iamonia; the elimination of a school site in an area of residential development; the construction of a golf course and the construction of a television station in an area designated for a school site or alternatively for single-family residential development. provide written notice in all it sells for development by others after the date of the final order that a development order exists and that all new development must have contemporaneous sewer service, and if Killearn intends to broker the contract between Killearn and Talquin Electric as a means of meeting the central sewer requirement the purchaser must be made aware that Talquin Electric must be paid a deposit from the subsequent developer before Talquin Electric will undertake the project. record the development order/ADA and its amendments in the Public Records of Leon County, Florida. Requires the County to: amend the development order pursuant to the stipulation between the county and Killearn described at I.A. refrain from issuing any permits which would allow development in the DRI area not served by a central sewer, excepting those situations set forth in the conclusions of law. In those instances development permits could be issued to successors in interest. In the exceptional cases the permit should provide that the lot owner will be required to connect to a central sewer system when made available. faithfully fulfill the terms of its development order. dismisses the notice of violation against Kinhega Landing, Kinhega Oaks and Ton Realty Partnership. RECOMMENDED this 28th day of August, 1991, in Tallahassee, Florida. CHARLES C. ADAMS, Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 28th day of August, 1991.
