Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Monroe County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
8 issues in development
Affordable housing ROGO allocations
Between July 13, 2026 and July 2027 the county cannot accept or revise ROGO applications while it rewrites its code for the state-mandated 657 new allocations. Building permits can still be processed and held.
Big Pine Key government community campus
The county wants to build a consolidated government center on Big Pine Key — community center, tax collector, building department, and the District 2 commissioner's office — replacing leased space that costs $100,000-$150,000 a year. The plan hinges on buying about an acre of surplus state Forestry Division land next to the hurricane-damaged county site.
Stock Island mixed-use variances
Commissioners want to make it easier for small businesses on Stock Island to rebuild by relaxing parking, setback, open-space and building-size rules through a new overlay district. It would also screen outdoor storage and possibly ban new outdoor vehicle lots — tackling the derelict vehicle problem from the land-use side. Still has to go through community meetings, the planning commission and two board meetings.
Employee housing on infill lot in Stock Island
Florida Keys Electric wants to add an affordable apartment to a skinny 50-foot-wide commercial lot — the kind of small-scale workforce housing the Keys need, but it required four variances to fit.
Affordable workforce housing curb-cut variance
A developer wants a variance to place a driveway 221 feet from Dove Road for a project with 79 affordable workforce apartments in Key Largo. The hearing was pushed to August 26.
Habitat for Humanity permit fee waiver
Habitat asked the county to waive about $53,656.60 in building permit fees for four affordable homes on Big Pine Key. Waiving the fees keeps the homes cheaper to build but shifts that cost away from the county's permitting revenue.
South Cliff workforce housing completion
Staff will explore options to finish 16 remaining workforce housing units at a Key Largo property and file under the Live Local Act before its July 1 sunset to preserve development potential.
Habitat for Humanity 99-year ground leases in Key Largo
The board was asked to approve two 99-year ground leases with Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys for county-owned lots on Hibiscus Drive and Miami Drive near mile marker 100, supporting affordable housing. No outcome is on the record.