Martin County Commissioner Harold Jenkins urges Governor DeSantis to veto HB 7103 in a letter sent on behalf of citizens in District Three.
(Hobe Sound as well as a portion of Tequesta and Indiantown.)
Martin County Commissioner Harold Jenkins
Commissioner Jenkins says, “It will have a significant negative effect on the enforcement of the County’s Comprehensive Plan. On the last day of the legislative session, an amendment was proposed that was never fully vetted or debated before a vote was taken. Boiled down to its essence, this aspect of the bill requires a losing citizen/ challenger of a development order to pay the legal fees of the county and/or the developer/applicant. This appears to be financial intimidation. If signed into law, few citizens will step forward to challenge a development order for fear of bankruptcy. It strips away the voice of Martin County citizens to participate in growth management issues. The argument that the amendment will deter frivolous lawsuits appears to be a response to a problem that does not exist. Currently judges can order challengers to pay attorney’s fees when nuisance challenges are filed.”
Read the letter by clicking here:
DeSantis_HB_7103_Ltr_05152019