President’s Corner – November 2024 – What is a Development of Regional Impact?

Sometimes I get inspiration for my President’s Corner posts from questions that come up in HOA meetings. And, yes, I attend a LOT of HOA meetings here in Viera so there is a veritable cornucopia of possibilities to choose from. I realize not everything I write about is mind-blowing or fascinating, but, there are a lot of subjects that are important to know about if you live in Viera. This question came up literally the night before I am writing this and was a point of confusion at the meeting so, this post was born.

As most of you know, Viera is not a city, town, or village. It is not an incorporated municipality, so we fall under the governmental purview of Brevard County as we are in the unincorporated areas of Brevard County. However, that does not mean we do not have boundaries and specific rules and guidelines we have to follow. The name for what we are is called a “Development of Regional Impact” or DRI. I understand this post will be longer than most but – stick with me! If you really want to understand the DNA of Viera, this information will be invaluable to your Viera education.

A Development of Regional Impact (DRI) refers to a large-scale project or community that is so significant it has the potential to impact not only the immediate area but also neighboring communities and infrastructure. When a major new development, such as a master-planned community (like Viera), gets built, its influence can extend beyond its borders. That’s where the DRI process comes into play. It ensures that the development aligns with broader regional goals and doesn’t create unintended negative consequences.

Viera’s DRI Boundaries (Red and Green Lines)

One of the best-known applications of the DRI process is in master-planned communities. Communities like Viera, Lakewood Ranch, or The Villages, which are designed to provide residents with everything from housing to schools, parks, and shopping centers, are prime examples of how the DRI process ensures these large developments are thoughtfully integrated into the surrounding region. These projects are about more than just building homes; they aim to create self-sustaining communities that minimize the impact on existing infrastructure while enhancing the quality of life for residents.

DRIs are a way to balance growth with sustainability. Without proper planning, a massive development could put too much pressure on local infrastructure, leaving communities struggling with traffic congestion, school overcrowding, or environmental damage. The DRI process helps make sure that doesn’t happen. The idea is to bring all stakeholders to the table early on—city planners, county officials, transportation departments, environmental agencies, and developers—so they can assess the potential regional impacts of the project.

Some of the areas considered during the DRI review process include:

• Traffic and Transportation: Will the project add too many cars to nearby highways?
• Public Services: Can local schools, fire departments, and hospitals support the new population?
• Water and Utilities: Will the development strain water supplies or energy infrastructure?
• Environmental Impact: Are there any nearby wetlands, endangered species, or flood zones to protect?

By addressing these issues upfront, the DRI process aims to prevent problems down the road and make sure the development is compatible with the region’s long-term plans.

In Florida, the DRI process was historically managed by the state government, working closely with regional planning councils and local governments. However, in 2015, the state streamlined its growth management laws. Since then, many of the responsibilities for approving and overseeing DRIs have shifted to local governments, though regional cooperation is still encouraged for major projects. Some legacy DRIs, those approved before the 2015 changes, are still monitored under older regulations. Viera is one of these “legacy” DRIs.

DRI Creation Process

Having said all this, the DRI process has changed over the years and no new DRI’s are being created. The DRI process has been largely phased out since legislative reforms in 2015 and subsequent adjustments. New developments now typically go through local government comprehensive planning rather than the DRI framework. The shift to local oversight was meant to simplify development processes while still addressing regional impacts through local coordination. As a result, many existing DRIs have either been grandfathered in under older regulations or transitioned to local review processes.

Prior to the 2015 legislative changes that rolled back much of the Development of Regional Impact (DRI) program, Florida had more than 200 active DRIs spread across the state. These projects included large-scale residential developments, commercial areas, mixed-use communities, and infrastructure projects that were evaluated for their regional impact on areas like traffic, public services, and the environment. The program’s scope began to diminish even before the 2015 reforms. For example, in 2009, Florida exempted certain dense urban areas from DRI requirements, recognizing that the issues DRIs addressed could often be handled through local comprehensive planning processes. By 2015, with the formal legislative changes, new DRIs were no longer required to undergo state-level review, and the responsibility for large developments transitioned entirely to local governments. This shift was intended to streamline the approval process for developers while maintaining regional oversight through local planning frameworks. However, several pre-2015 DRIs, such as those already approved or in the process of review, continued to operate under legacy DRI rules. Local governments now manage these legacy DRIs along with new developments through their own comprehensive plans

I hope this information has been educational and enlightening. I still see many references to Viera being a city on social media and at HOA meetings, so it seemed like the right time to go into some detail on what Viera really is.

So, until next time, remember, “Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.” – Leonardo da Vinci

Eva M. Rey, President
Central Viera Community Association, Inc.