Developments of Regional Impact

Developers sizing projects to avoid DRI review


The Florida Developments of Regional Impact (DRI) process was implemented to ensure that large-scale development projects account for their impacts. Too many developments lacking necessary amenities like Golden Gate, Lehigh Acres, Cape Coral and North Port were constructed throughout Florida prior to the DRI process.

Locally, the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council manages the DRI process. This organization has been in place since 1973 and serves: Charlotte; Collier; Glades; Hendry; Lee and Sarasota Counties.

A growing trend is for developments to be built that are just under the size that would trigger a DRI review. The size of development that triggers a review uses a formula based on the population of the county where the project is being built. This also explains why large projects like the West Villages of Thomas Ranch in North Port have parceled out smaller adjacent communities to different builders.

Large-scale developments getting past state review [Sun-Herald]