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June 14, 2007
Hoop Town
You think you have regulatory problems, overburdened with inspections and regs that slow you down and defeat your best-laid planning? Builders of the Dream Home in Islamorada, Florida, face the toughest regulatory environment in the country: the Florida Keys.
When I asked an employee of the Monroe County Building Department if builders had any special regulatory issues to follow, she burst out laughing and said, "Let's just say that builders have to jump through a lot of hoops around here."
Those hoops address two basic issues: the fragile natural environment of the Keys, which abounds with endangered species, and hurricanes.
Fortunately, the Dream Home site is on a shoreline that has already been altered, so they won't have to deal with turtle nesting rules, sea grass bed protection, or the many other environmental concerns that bring to Keys job site the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Environmental Protection, and other federal agencies.
Then there's the Florida layer, the Monroe County layer, and the Village of Islamorada layer. Monroe County is right up there with Miami-Dade in having the strictest building codes in the country.
Islamorada is a state-designated Area of Critical Concern, so all construction, particularly residential, happens under a microscope -- and a hot sun, too.
Posted by Richard Wall, HGTVPro.com Staff at June 14, 2007 11:08 AM
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Comments
As a FL Keys resident, I can verify that there are many "hoops" but amazingly not as many as Miami and Ft Lauderdale has with their big government. We are a small town down here, with small town ways. We are closely watched by the state and feds. But nothing like the regulations out in Tahoe.
If you want the "toughest" environmental regulations, go to the "Tahoe Regional Planning Agency" or "TRPA" website: www.trpa.org. They don't even alow removal of a single tree and are NOT allowing redevelopment. Not so here in the Keys. We allow mitigation for legal tree removal and definately allow redevelopment.
Just imagine if that expected 7 magnitude earthquake hits the lake. There will be little left to redevelop. The lake shoreline will be a lot more open with new parks after the sunami slosh is done. Here, we will just rebuild most of what is gone after a hurricane. Big difference. Don't you think the Keys are better as far as regulations?
Posted by: Paul at June 20, 2007 12:49 PM
Whae do you hire to build?
Posted by: James at June 21, 2007 9:27 PM
My first thought was - oh boy another McMansion to ruin the beach. I hope you are all paying attention to those pesky "regs" and that you build a home meant for the locale -- high enough for high water, but low enought profile not to scare the birds; strong enough to hold against the winds, but delicate enough to fit in amoung the palms.... Boy the pictures of that locations are making my mouth water. I am lookin forward to watching your progress.
Posted by: Michelle J. Snow-Waltz at June 22, 2007 12:12 AM
Best of luck to the construction crew on jumping through those hoops.
Posted by: Victoria at June 23, 2007 9:41 PM
I wish you and your team luck in getting past some of the hurdles mentioned.
We are all waiting to watch the build.
GOOD LUCK!
Posted by: Victoria at July 6, 2007 9:54 PM
Thank goodness for Hoops!! I wouldn't enjoy any area that endangered what nature has so marvelously created.
Posted by: Ann at July 11, 2007 11:52 AM
Were you going to build a log home in the Florida Keys and what changed your mind? What is the square footage of the home? When will the home be finished?
Posted by: Gene Guffey at July 14, 2007 10:24 PM
Hi, I just check the location of the new HGTV dream home 2008 at isla morada is a bautiful place, I can't wait until I can enter in the contest to win this fabalous home. I already vote for my favourite desing color of the new home,
Posted by: Cristina P at July 17, 2007 8:10 PM
Great location, cant't wait to see it finished Looking forward in watching you build this HGTV dream home Good Luck
Posted by: debbie bullwinkel at August 26, 2007 8:21 AM
Wow, so many great amenities going into this great house, hopefully one of them will be a shoot, from the first to third floors.
that would be so helpful,come laundry time, also grocery bags, breakfast trays.
will that also be an amenity to this great house?
nicole
Posted by: Nicole CAVANAUGH at September 14, 2007 2:53 PM
i love the location and appreciate the regs to keep the enviroment safe.
Posted by: theresa stover at September 16, 2007 8:41 PM
I live in the Keys-One question-How did the dream home get away with having living quarters on the ground level? Regular people are not allowed.
Posted by: Katie at September 23, 2007 10:54 AM
I have the same question as Katie on Sept. 23...I live on the coast in Georgia and had to build up because no living quarters are allowed below 16 feet above the base flood elevation. Please answer if you can. Thanks.
Posted by: Miamigal at September 26, 2007 3:02 PM
YOUR WORK HAS REALLY BEEN CUT OUT FOR YOU ON THIS HOME. FROM WHAT I AM SEEING IT WILL BE WELL WORTH THE EXTRA PROBLEMS. LIVING IN PHOENIX MAKES THIS HOME LOOK LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE. THE WEATHER CANNOT BE as HOT AS WE ARE HERE.WITH THE WONDERFUL BEACH AIR. I AM SURE HOWEVER , THE WORKERs HAVE BEEN QUITE WARM DURING THE SUMMER HOT SUN. NICE THAT A LOT OF THE WORK NOW CAN BE DONE ON THE INSIDE. LOOKING FOWARD TO SEEING WHAT LUCKY PERSON WILL CALL THIS ONE HOME. Larry . Arizona
Posted by: Larry at October 5, 2007 12:38 AM
