Question 1

What is urban infill development in Florida?

Accepted Answer

Urban infill: development on vacant or underutilized land within existing urban areas. In FL: urban infill is encouraged by: the FL Growth Management Act (Chapter 163: promotes compact development and discourages sprawl), local incentive programs (many FL cities offer: density bonuses, reduced impact fees, expedited permitting, and tax incentives for infill projects), and the FL Brownfield Program (Chapter 376: provides incentives for developing contaminated urban sites). Types: residential (building homes on vacant lots within established neighborhoods), commercial (developing retail or office space on underutilized urban parcels), and mixed-use (combining residential and commercial uses on urban sites).

Question 2

What are the benefits and challenges of urban infill in Florida?

Accepted Answer

Benefits: reduces sprawl (development occurs on existing urban land rather than greenfield sites), uses existing infrastructure (water, sewer, roads, and utilities are already in place: reducing public costs), revitalizes neighborhoods (infill development can: increase property values, reduce blight, and attract businesses), and supports transit (higher-density infill supports public transportation). Challenges: land assembly (infill parcels may be: small, irregularly shaped, and require assembling multiple lots), neighborhood opposition (existing residents may oppose: increased density, traffic, and changes to neighborhood character), environmental (urban sites may have: contamination, stormwater challenges, and limited green space), and costs (infill sites may have higher construction costs: demolition, remediation, and utility upgrades).

Question 3

What incentives does Florida offer for urban infill development?

Accepted Answer

FL incentives: density bonuses (local governments may allow: higher density on infill sites than would otherwise be permitted by zoning), reduced impact fees (some cities reduce or waive impact fees for infill projects), expedited permitting (streamlined review processes for infill projects), tax incentives (property tax abatements, tax increment financing (TIF), and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) incentives), Brownfield Program (Chapter 376: tax credits, liability protection, and regulatory incentives for developing contaminated sites), and state funding (FL Housing Finance Corporation: provides financing for affordable housing on infill sites). Each: varies by local government and project type.

Urban Infill Development

Florida Urban Infill Development

Benefits

Challenges

FL Incentives

Related Terms

Barnes Walker Land Use

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