News & Insights
Law360 Quotes Sid Bigham in, "What's Behind Gainesville Inclusionary Zoning Fight Tensions"
December 21, 2022
Law360
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity in late November filed a petition for an administrative hearing, arguing that Gainesville's comprehensive plan update — which eliminated single-family home zoning — didn't go far enough to encourage affordable housing and, instead, could lead to a flurry of market-rate, multifamily developments that worsen the issue.
In the filing, the DEO for the first time classified affordable housing as a state asset — a move that surprised real estate experts and attorneys — and highlighted the bubbling tensions between local governments and the state when it comes to addressing housing stock.
"It seems clear to me that DEO is making a statement by asserting that affordable housing is an important state resource and asserting their standing to challenge a comprehensive plan update on that basis," Berger Singerman LLP partner Sid Bigham said. "So, I think DEO's action demonstrates an intent to send a message and may be the beginning of a new trend."
