Big Win for the County and for Property Rights!

 

Those that did the "Finger Wag" over sector plan opt-outs had their fingers painfully and forcefully hyperextended backwards and taped to their collective wrists (metaphorically speaking, of course 😉) via today's final agency determination from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Ouch, that's gotta hurt....

Commissioners were notified this afternoon that the opt-outs to the county's sector plan that the BCC approved last year and that were subsequently challenged by local activists Theresa Blackwell and Jacqueline Rogers have now finally, once and for all, been affirmed by the Department of Economic Opportunity.

From our attorney:

“Commissioners,

Attached is the Final Order associated with the three Sector Plan Opt Outs, to include the Westmarks.  The County has been successful in defending all three opt ours.  This represents final agency action; the appeal at this point would be to the First District Court of Appeal and must be filed within 30 days.”

 After initial approval last year, Jacqueline Rogers, a land-use activist that runs a facebook chat site, and fellow activist Theresa Blackwell challenged the county’s action and the ruling in Tallahassee that upheld the county’s action--- by filing dozens and dozens of exceptions to the initial DOAH Administrative Law Judge’s ruling in favor of the county’s resolutions allowing multiple residents to opt out of the sector plan.

Today’s final agency action by DEO is a devastating, stunning, and spectacular rebuke to Jacqueline Rogers and Theresa Blackwell---and a huge victory for Frank and Elizabeth Westmark, The Escambia Board of County Commissioners, and folks county-wide who respect and support private property rights.

Not a single exception from the 44 filed by Rogers and Blackwell discussed in this order was found to have any merit; they were---- each one of them---- summarily denied.

Ouch.  What a wreckage job.

Read the stunning and devastating rebuke to Jacqueline Rogers and Theresa Blackwell here.

DEO to Escambia Regarding the Comprehensive Plan Amendment: "No Comment"

The county received the below correspondence from the Department of Economic Opportunity regarding our comprehensive plan amendment--and I am told by relevant staff this means the county is proceeding correctly and there are no issues with what was submitted.  This, however, does not stop citizens from taking further exception with plan amendments in the circuit court, however.  From the state:

"Please see attached correspondence from the Department of Economic Opportunity regarding the above comprehensive plan amendment.  In addition to this electronic message, a paper copy of the letter is being mailed to the addressee.  Paper copies of the attached correspondence are available upon request.  Please contact the Department planner identified in the attached letter if you have any questions or concerns.  Thank You"