Akerman Real Estate Partner Stephen K. Tilbrook was quoted in the South Florida Sun Sentinel article “New South Florida Housing Bill promotes the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated sites,” sharing his insights on legislation aimed at accelerating residential development on environmentally impacted land across South Florida.
The article examines the Infill Redevelopment Act, a bill passed by Florida lawmakers to streamline the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties, including designated brownfield sites, by reducing certain local government approval requirements. Supporters say the measure will help address the region’s housing shortage, and encourage cleanup of impaired sites.
Stephen noted that the legislation will expedite development timelines by reducing regulatory hurdles. “The public interest that’s identified in this bill is the fact that there is a shortage of housing availability in Florida, and there are land use regulations that impair the ability to build and operate housing,” he said.
He also addressed environmental considerations tied to redevelopment of certain properties, including former recreational sites. “Golf courses have a tradition, or a history, of having environmental impacts related to the application of pesticides and herbicides,” Stephen said. “And that requires soils to be either capped or removed, and then the developer may be required to address the impacts to the groundwater as well.”