The document provides an overview of the project entitlement process, outlining key steps like obtaining approvals from local planning departments through zoning, permits, and developing strategic initiatives to engage the community such as emphasizing sustainability and smart growth. It also presents a case study of a successful entitlement process for a large development project that eliminated residential uses in response to community concerns and incorporated public recreation opportunities.

1. Fundamental Skills for Real
Estate Development
Professionals II (cont'd)
Project Entitlement
Wednesday,
October 13
2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Presented by:
Mitchel Hutchcraft
Vice President, Real Estate
King Ranch and Consolidated Citrus, LP
Fort Myers, FL

2. Fundamental Skills for Real Estate Development Professionals
Project Entitlement:
Objectives:
• What are Entitlements
• Why you should care about Entitlements
• The Process: The “Who” and the “How”
• Tips and Techniques: Sustainability to Civic
Engagement

3. Entitlements
Entitlements are a legal method (right) of
obtaining approvals from a governmental entity
to develop a property for a certain use, intensity,
building type or building placement.
Entitlements can be a major determinant in the
ultimate use, viability, and value of your
property.
Form of:
Land Use Approvals, Zoning, Development Orders and Permits

4. “…issued writ commanding the City to revoke all building permits
and the certificate of occupancy…”
Why Should I Care About Entitlements?
“Under the ordinance, the City banned the development
of “discount superstores,” which it defined as discount
stores that exceed 100,000 square feet.”
“The lawsuit against the US Fish and
Wildlife Service, the corps and the
Interior Department asks a judge to
revoke a 2006 permit for Mirasol…”

5. Why Should I Care About Entitlements?
“Despite governmental approval, the 136
occupied apartments violated the county’s
comprehensive plan….”
“…the court
ruled that the
law required
demolition….”

6. Bad “Entitlements” Day:

7. Comprehensive Plan/
General Plan
Zoning
Land Dev. Regs.
Permits
Layers of Regulation
Entitlement
Process
Vested
Rights
Property
Value
Comprehensive Plan/
General Plan
Zoning
Land Dev. Regs.
Permits

8. Jurisdictional Interaction:
8
• Tiered Entitlement System
– More detailed permits must be consistent with
more general permits
• Interactivity
– Each level can prevent a project from going
forward
– Not all reviewing agencies share the same
perspective on approval criteria – resulting in a
disjointed and non-linear process
• Vesting
- Point at which certain approvals can no longer
be taken away or modified

9. Permitting Agencies:
9
Federal Commenting Agencies
• US Fish and Wildlife (FWS)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Army Corps of Engineering (ACOE)
• Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• Department of Energy (DOE)
State & Regional Commenting Agencies
• Local Government (Planning, Zoning, Building)
• Regional or State Planning Agencies
• Department of Transportation (DOT)
• Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP/DNR)
• Department of Agriculture or Forestry
• Fish and Wildlife Commission (FFWCC or FWC)
• Water Management District

10. Approval Process - OVERVIEW:
FEDERAL
WETLANDS
& ESA
PERMITTING
STATE &
REGIONAL
PERMITTING
PRELIMINARY
SITE
PLANNING
PRELIMINARY
/ FINAL PLAT
BUILDING PERMITS
& CONSTRUCTION
One Year Two Years Three Years

11. Entitlements – Comprehensive Plan (General Plan)
• Comprehensive Plan Amendments
– Statement of Community Vision (Values)
– Blueprint for future (long range) growth
– Protects natural resources
– Focuses infrastructure investment
– Usually includes both map and text
• Key elements
– General land use categories
– Goals and objectives
Comprehensive Plan/
General Plan
Zoning
Land Dev. Regs.
Permits

12. Entitlements – Future Land Use Map

13. Entitlements – Land Development Codes
• Zoning (Right-to-Use)
– Specific use, density,
intensity, height,
setbacks consistent
with Comprehensive
Plan
Comprehensive Plan/
General Plan
Zoning
Land Dev. Regs.
Permits
(COMPREHENSIVE PLAN)

14. Entitlements – Conventional Zoning
• Right to the use
• Right to the density
• Government may still regulate
“how” the use is built

15. Entitlements – Planned Developments
• Planned Development Approvals
– More flexible, but usually requires MCP to
tie down details
– Negotiated site-specific zoning category
– Creates more certainty for local
government and public
– Creates more flexibility for developer

16. Comprehensive Plan/
General Plan
Zoning
Land Dev. Regs.
Permits
Entitlements – Land Development Codes
• Land Development Codes & Regulations
– Detailed regulations implementing the
Comprehensive Plan
– Typically include height, setback and lot
dimension regulations, etc.
– Establish rules for Construction permits

17. Entitlements – Plats and Development Orders
• Subdivision / Plat Approvals
– Requirements of dividing land
– Impact fees, exactions and other
government requirements are
imposed here
• Development Orders & Engineering
Approvals
– Final plans which detail
civil engineering or
related requirements
– Necessary to build
horizontal
improvements
Comprehensive Plan/
General Plan
Zoning
Land Dev. Regs.
Permits

18. Entitlements – Plats and Development Orders:

19. Entitlements – Permitting (Environmental):
Wetlands/Unique and Sensitive Lands
• Determine if property is “Jurisdictional”
• Must demonstrate avoidance and minimization of impacts – the mitigation
Endangered Species
• State or Federally regulated species (Endangered Species Act)
• Impacts and Mitigation (Take Permits)
Water Quality
• TMDLs & Numeric Nutrient Standards
• Must demonstrate minimization of adverse impacts
Comprehensive Plan/
General Plan
Zoning
Land Dev. Regs.
Permits

20. Entitlements – State and Federal Environmental Permitting:
• Federal Wetland Jurisdictional
Determination
– Wetlands – complex
– Uplands and other types – not
as complex
• Dredge and Fill Permit
• Federal Commenting Agencies
– Often more onerous than the
primary agency

21. State and Federal Environmental Permitting:
• General (Nationwide) ERP/404
• Clean Water Act
• Permits designed for predetermined
impact
• Usually easier to obtain due to their
standardized nature
• Less than .5 acres
• Individual ERP
• Permits that are unique and require
specialized evaluation
• Require Public Notice

22. Understanding Entitlement Negotiation – What are the tools?
• Understand Community Values:
• Design - Density and Appearance
– Basic changes to density and intensity
need to be carefully evaluated
– Good design components may convince
local governments to allow higher
density/intensity
• Exactions/Impact Fees
– Need to negotiate and understand
• Strategic and Tactical Initiatives
– Utilizing “appropriate” tools and
programs to enhance the acceptance of
your project in your local community
How can you solve other people’s problems?

23. Strategic and Tactical Initiatives – Community Values:
Decision Drivers:
• Density/Context
• Environment
• Economic Development
• Retirees – Families – or
Worker Bees
• Community Aesthetic
• Rental versus Condo
• Open Space
• Community Icons
• Community Involvement

24. Strategic Initiatives - Sustainability:
“Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use that aims to
meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these
needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to
come.…...” – The Brundtland Commission
• Environmental Sustainability
• Carrying Capacity
• Protection of Natural Systems
• Material Selection
• Efficiency
• Economic Sustainability
• Sociopolitical Sustainability

25. Strategic Initiatives - Smart Growth:
“Smart Growth generally refers to development that supports the
economy, the community, and public health.” – EPA Definition
• Compact Development
• Create Strong Local and Regional Economies
• Concentrated Infrastructure and Public Services
• Conservation of Resources
• Mix of Uses – Integrated Communities
• Walkable Neighborhoods – Transportation Choices
• Integrated Open Space, Recreation and Water Management
• Large areas reserved for farm and forest

26. Strategic Initiatives - Civic Engagement:
• Information Harvesting (WIIFM)
• Value of Establishing a Brand
• Identify Potential Opposition
• Identify Community Advocates
• Intentional Communication
• Internet Site
• Small Group Meetings
• Presentations to Civic Groups
• One on One with Opposition
• Accept Feedback
• Incorporate Tactical and
Strategic Refinements

27. Case Studies – The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

28. Case Study – Sunrise Grove – The Issues:
• Significant issues with growth boundary,
community preference, environment,
infrastructure
• Subject County has history of stiff “anti-
growth” opposition
• Proposing over 6 million SF of new uses
• Community opposes residential, but was
looking for economic development
• Entitlement Strategy was very different from
typical (new team, early outreach, detailed
application)
• Goal was to demonstrate economic benefit,
opportunities for environmental
enhancement, and a viable way to retain
long-term agriculture.

29. Sunrise Groves – Collaborative Approach
• Started outreach 3 months before submittal
• Conducted interviews with key community
leaders
• Conducted dozens of meetings with HOA,
Chambers, EDC and community groups.
• Met in advance with permitting agencies and
incorporated their feedback.
• Conducted on-site interviews with Media and
offered tours of property.
• Met with adjacent governments, developers
and neighborhoods.
• Reached out to recognized “opposition”
• Created Web Site to maintain communication
with Community.
• Joined Chamber(s)

30. Case Study – Sunrise Groves Media Coverage

31. Sunrise Grove – The Process
Submitted initial findings &
recommendations – September 2009
Received input
Repeated this process several times
over the next year until adequate
analysis was conducted and county
support achieved
Revised Plan

32. Sunrise Groves – Results
• Incorporated Community Vision
– Eliminated Residential
– Clustered Development to retain
agriculture and allow for environmental
enhancement
– Identified flow way corridors
– Incorporated Public Recreation
Opportunities
– Addressed Design Guidelines along
adjacent scenic road
– Focused on adjacent approved and
existing uses.
• Utilities – provided from adjacent City
• New Road - provides additional
regional connectivity

33. Entitlements – Take Away Value
1. Understand Time and Cost
involved.
2. Develop and Implement a Sound
Entitlement Strategy
3. Proactively think about Interactivity
between permitting entities
4. Understand “Community Values”
5. Frame Justification in a Larger
Local/Regional Planning Context
6. Think Long Term About the
Project/Property and Long Term
About Setting Precedent in the
Entitlement Process

34. Questions or Comments:
Mitch Hutchcraft
King Ranch/Consolidated Citrus Limited Partnership
October 13, 2010
4210 Metro Parkway
Suite 250
Fort Myers, FL 33916
(239) 405-1694
mhutchcraft@cclpcitrus.com