Defending Rural Florida: The problems with overdevelopment

Florida is facing the repercussions of excessive development, as rapid urban expansion continues to strain the state's natural resources and ecosystems.

Once-vast wetlands are being drained for housing and commercial projects, disrupting wildlife habitats and increasing the risk of flooding. Traffic congestion, water shortages, and flooding are wreaking havoc on citizens as development outpaces infrastructure improvements. The decline of agricultural lands are becoming more pressing concerns as development outpaces infrastructure

improvements. This rampant development is causing the loss of Florida’s rural landscapes. Projections indicate that if current trends persist, the state could see over 2 million acres of agricultural land converted for urban use by 2070, equating to approximately 45,000 acres annually.

Without strategic planning and conservation efforts, Florida risks losing its rural heritage and the environmental and economic benefits it provides.

Florida is facing several challenges created by overdevelopment

Loss of Food Sustainability

Less farms and ranches, less food, more dependency *According to a study by 1000 Friend of Florida, the state is projected to lose more than 2.2 million acres of agricultural land to development. Grazing land primarily associated with ranches is projected to be most impacted, with more than 1 million acres lost. The loss of agricultural land poses a significant threat to food security by diminishing the area available for crop and livestock production. Such lands are crucial for building a resilient Florida that can effectively tackle crises, such as food supply chain issues.

Despite their importance, Florida farmland continues to be lost to urban development, fragmentation, and poorly planned residential, commercial, and industrial projects.

*Source: Report from 1000 Friends of Florida. 

Overdevelopment leading to Water Shortages

The Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research (EDR) released an updated

report detailing Florida’s water supply. According to the report, Florida could experience

a water supply shortage as early as this year (2025) and it is expected to increase in

severity through 2040. The state's rapid population growth and economic expansion are

contributing to the problem. According to their research, the statewide daily demand for

water, 6.4 billion gallons as of 2015, is projected to increase by 17% in the next 20 years

to more than 7.5 billion gallons as the population climbs to 25.2 million. That demand

could be higher and the availability of that water lessened.

Source  

Source

Water Shortage causing saltwater intrusion

A major driving force for saltwater intrusion is excessive pumping of groundwater for irrigation and other urban uses (e.g., drinking and cleaning) related to increasing populations (Boman and Stover 2002). 

Saltwater intrusion is the movement of saltwater into freshwater aquifers. In South Florida, the aquifer is experiencing increasing levels of saltwater intrusion. This phenomenon is caused by the depletion of fresh groundwater due to pumping, wells, overuse of water by coastal populations.

Overdevelopment causes more flooding-More pavement, More Problems

A Johns Hopkins study has found that for every percentage point increase of roads,

parking lots, and other impervious surfaces, annual floods increase on average by 3.3%.

This means that if an undeveloped area increases the amount of impervious surfaces

from zero to 10%, scientists would expect, on average, a 33% increase in annual

flooding.

Overdevelopment leads to Higher Property Insurance Costs.

Development in flood-prone areas is a major driver of increases in flood-related damage, increasing both the likelihood that a flood will impact people and infrastructure and the severity of harm when it does. Roughly half of all residential floodplain development in the U.S. was built in Florida. The researchers note that if new housing was distributed proportionally to the share of floodplain land in Florida, they would expect to see 40% of new housing built in the floodplain.

Overdevelopment results in increased property insurance costs. As more pavement is added, the risk of flooding rises, which in turn drives up insurance premiums. Without substantial changes in land use planning, Florida’s insurance market will continue to struggle, leaving homeowners with unaffordable and insufficient coverage.

In December 2022, Florida's legislature enacted Senate Bill 2-A to tackle the issue of excessive litigation surrounding insurance claims, but meaningful change will only occur by addressing the underlying causes of the crisis. Key among these causes is the prevalence of development in regions that are highly susceptible to storm damage and flooding.

Source: These findings from scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of

Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science provide new information on patterns of

floodplain development that pose a potential risk to people and communities in regions

like the Southeastern U.S. that are especially prone to flooding.

Overdevelopment leads to more sinkholes

Geological experts believe the sinkhole activity is increasing because developers are pumping more water out of the ground for new developments. "As builders are forced to go farther and farther out of cities in search of developable land, compromises such as building on less than ideal sites have to be made to deliver competitively priced properties," said Peter Zalewski, an expert in Florida real estate development."We think this factor is only going to contribute to the sinkhole problem in the future on the Florida peninsula. At the end of the day, technology can only serve as a stopgap against Mother Nature."

Overdevelopment strains our energy grid.

If Florida’s population projections hold true, power plant operators will continue to be faced with challenges that require them to minimize service interruptions and provide maximum power output.

Overdevelopment strains our Sewer Systems

In Florida, Sewer Systems are being strained and running short of sewer capacity. Several counties and cities across Central Florida are asking residents to limit their water usage due to strains on sewer systems.

Here are examples of the problems brought on by development.

POLK COUNTY

In Auburndale, the town has run short of sewer capacity and may have to halt 30 new developments until it can fix the problem sometime next year. In Dundee, the town expects to declare a one-year moratorium on new housing developments because of a lack of water.

In Lakeland, the controversial company named BS Ranch has finally been shut down after years of odor and pollution complaints, leaving septic tank service companies nowhere close to dispose of their odorous waste. Meanwhile the county has run short on its supply of water and is turning to a risky and expensive new source that may not work.

FLAGLER COUNTY

Flagler County emergency management announced Thursday morning that sewer systems are overwhelmed throughout the county and residents should use water on an emergency basis only.

The city of Bunnell said crews responded to an issue with the lift station on Anderson Road. The city said in a statement that flooding from Milton throughout the night has increased the strain and pressure on the wastewater system, lift stations and the treatment plant. Water going down the drains from businesses and homes will add to the strain on the city sewer system.

ORANGE COUNTY

Water officials are requesting that residents reduce their impact on the wastewater system by cutting down on water usage when possible. This will reduce the strain on our pump stations and help prevent sewage overflows, they said. Limit large, immediate water usage in dishwashers, washing machines and baths. Water stored in bathtubs should be drained slowly, not all at once.

OSCEOLA COUNTY

Toho Water Authority is asking customers to limit their water use. This will help area wastewater collection systems that are feeling the strain from the heavy rain and flooding caused by the hurricane to re-establish normal operations. Customers should: Only use water when necessary

Avoid dishwasher and clothes washer use 

Keep irrigation systems off

Avoid contact with standing water

Report sewer backups by contacting our customer service at 407-944-5000

SEMINOLE COUNTY

Seminole County said limiting water use now and after the storm helps reduce the pressure on the county's lift stations and prevents sewer overflows. Water should be used for essential functions only, the county warned. The use of washing machines and dishwashers, and reducing time in the shower is recommended. Residents should try to only flush toilets "when necessary, the county said.

The city of Casselberry is also asking residents to conserve water to ease pressure on lift stations and prevent sewer backups.

The city of Winter Springs is urging residents to limit water usage to help reduce the pressure on the city's wastewater systems.

VOLUSIA COUNTY

The city of DeLand is urging all residents to conserve water at this time. The city's intake

structure, which handles liquid waste like toilet water, is completely flooded. Crews are

working to create a berm around it.

The city of Port Orange has asked residents to conserve and limit water usage during this time.

Sources:

“I think our developers, who have been making big bucks in our hot housing market by adding more homes and businesses to the burden of our treatment plants for so long, would be a good source of funding for all of that. Surely they’d want to avoid the bad publicity going on now.”

1000 Friends of Florida study shows poorly planned developments do

not pay for themselves.

Many communities in Florida and throughout the nation mistakenly believe that any type of growth is beneficial. The misconception lies in the idea that as communities expand and develop, there is a perceived increase in productivity when the tax base shifts from agriculture to residential areas. However, similar to a sugar rush, this perceived productivity is unsustainable; the infrastructure will ultimately require maintenance, and the productivity associated with suburban developments is often insufficient to support their own upkeep.

When a new residential neighborhood is created, the developer is responsible not only for constructing the homes but also for the essential infrastructure, such as roads. As a result, the local government receives these roads without any upfront cost, since they didn't have to build them. However, maintenance of these roads, along with other infrastructure, eventually falls to the city or county. They must budget for routine maintenance and face more significant expenses for infrequent but necessary tasks like resurfacing. Eventually, these roads will need complete reconstruction, which can be extremely expensive. It is crucial for local jurisdictions to understand this cyclical maintenance requirement as they expand and take on more infrastructure that they will be responsible for indefinitely.

Furthermore, adding new developments without appropriate planning can exacerbate flooding issues, negatively impacting current homeowners who face the costs of flood damage repairs and rising property insurance premiums.

Keep rural lands rural – While natural and agricultural lands are less financially productive in terms of generating property and sales tax revenue, they preserve many other economic and environmental benefits that suburban areas don’t offer and require only minimal infrastructure demands. There are planning and land conservation strategies that can help protect natural and agricultural lands.

Counties and Cities addressing overdevelopment

Manatee County

Manatee County officials are making moves to put more guardrails on local development. ‘We’re not playing anymore.’ Manatee County officials planning big development changes By Ryan Ballogg Read more

Orange County

Persistent flooding issues in parts of Orange County are driving local officials to consider a temporary halt on new development in areas near the Horizon West area, Reams Road and Ficquette Road. County leaders say unchecked construction has contributed to rising water levels and dangerous conditions during storms, leaving residents vulnerable and roadways impassable.

Volusia County

Volusia County to discuss a proposed countywide residential development moratorium.

City of Edgewater

City of Edgewater will implement temporary development moratorium.

New Smyrna Beach

New Smyrna Beach city commission approves second extension of Venetian Bay development

moratorium.

Juno Beach

Juno Beach to consider pause on new commercial developments. The moratorium may last a year as town officials figure out ways to protect the seaside town's character.