Across the United States, the challenge of balancing economic growth with environmental preservation and infrastructure capacity is both perennial and complex. Nowhere is this tension more visible than in Florida’s long-standing system for reviewing Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs). These are large-scale projects whose size, character, or location have potential effects that transcend local boundaries. Under Florida Statutes § 380.06, DRIs are subject to a comprehensive regional review designed to ensure that development occurs in harmony with environmental resources, transportation systems, and community needs.
The case of the World Commerce Center (WCC) in St. Johns County, Florida—a massive mixed-use development encompassing commercial, residential, and industrial components—illustrates both the promise and the challenge of the DRI process. It stands as a vivid example of how regional planning mechanisms can guide growth while managing the externalities of rapid expansion.
The Concept and Purpose of DRIs
Florida’s DRI framework emerged in the 1970s, amid concerns that uncoordinated local development could strain regional systems such as roads, water resources, and public facilities. The basic principle is straightforward: when a proposed project is large enough to impact multiple jurisdictions or regional assets, it should be reviewed not just by the local government, but by regional and state agencies that oversee transportation, water management, and environmental protection.
The DRI process seeks to integrate three goals—economic growth, environmental stewardship, and intergovernmental coordination. Local governments retain zoning and permitting authority, but their decisions are informed by analyses conducted at the regional level. This creates a system of checks and balances in which development is not merely a local concern, but a regional responsibility.
As Omar Hussian observes, “Florida’s DRI framework was one of the first serious attempts to think beyond city boundaries. It recognized that growth doesn’t stop at the county line, and neither do traffic, pollution, or economic opportunity.” His statement underscores the foundational idea that growth management requires a broader perspective than any one local government can provide.
Case Study: World Commerce Center in St. Johns County
The World Commerce Center (WCC) exemplifies the scale and ambition of projects that qualify as DRIs. Situated along Interstate 95 near St. Augustine, the WCC covers thousands of acres and includes commercial centers, residential neighborhoods, hospitality developments, and institutional uses. Its strategic location near major transportation corridors made it an attractive site for investment—but also raised critical questions about traffic generation, water use, and regional infrastructure capacity.
Under the DRI process, the project underwent extensive review by the Northeast Florida Regional Council (NEFRC) and state agencies such as the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD). These entities collaborated with St. Johns County to identify potential regional impacts and establish mitigation measures before construction could proceed.
Key areas of focus included transportation improvements to relieve congestion on I-95, stormwater management to prevent runoff into nearby wetlands, and public service capacity (including schools, emergency response, and utilities). The resulting Development Order reflected a negotiated balance between private development ambitions and public interest obligations.
According to Omar Hussian, “The World Commerce Center shows how the DRI process, when done correctly, forces the tough conversations up front. It’s not about stopping development—it’s about making sure growth pays its way.” This perspective highlights the pragmatic intent behind DRIs: to align private investment with the costs of public infrastructure and environmental protection.
The Mechanics of Regional Review
The DRI review process is both technical and procedural. Developers must submit an Application for Development Approval (ADA) detailing the project’s scope, land uses, and anticipated impacts. Regional and state agencies then evaluate the proposal, often requiring traffic modeling, environmental assessments, and infrastructure studies. The review culminates in a Development Order, which includes specific conditions for mitigation, phasing, and monitoring.
The process is not merely bureaucratic—it embodies a philosophy of anticipatory planning. By identifying regional impacts early, agencies can ensure that infrastructure investments are coordinated and that environmental systems are safeguarded. The World Commerce Center’s review, for example, led to roadway improvements and drainage systems designed to protect sensitive ecosystems while accommodating new growth.
Yet the process is not without criticism. Some developers argue that DRI reviews add delays and costs, making projects less competitive. Conversely, some environmental advocates contend that mitigation measures often fall short of offsetting the true cumulative impacts. Florida’s gradual shift toward alternative review mechanisms, such as Strategic Regional Policy Plans and Local Government Comprehensive Plans, reflects this ongoing tension between efficiency and thoroughness.
Omar Hussian notes, “There’s always friction in regional review. Developers want speed; regulators want certainty. The art of the DRI process lies in finding the overlap—where a project can move forward without leaving the region worse off.” His comment captures the essence of regional governance: a negotiation of interests aimed at mutual long-term benefit.
Environmental and Infrastructure Mitigation
At the heart of any DRI review is mitigation—the set of actions developers must take to offset the adverse impacts of their projects. In the case of the World Commerce Center, mitigation included extensive stormwater treatment systems, wetland buffers, and transportation upgrades. The development’s proximity to sensitive wetlands and tributaries of the St. Johns River made water management a top priority.
Mitigation extends beyond environmental concerns to encompass infrastructure obligations. Developers were required to fund improvements to regional roadways and coordinate with FDOT on interchange enhancements to manage traffic volumes. Such conditions ensure that large projects contribute proportionally to the public systems they depend upon.
Omar Hussian emphasizes the importance of this principle: “Mitigation isn’t a penalty—it’s a partnership. When developers invest in infrastructure or environmental protection, they’re investing in the longevity and credibility of their own projects.” His observation reframes mitigation not as a regulatory burden but as a strategy for sustainable competitiveness.
Coordination Between Local and State Agencies
A defining feature of the DRI process is its intergovernmental nature. Local governments retain land use authority, but their decisions are shaped by regional and state input. The World Commerce Center required ongoing coordination between St. Johns County and multiple agencies—each with its own statutory mission and jurisdictional boundaries.
The Northeast Florida Regional Council acted as a facilitator, ensuring that feedback from agencies such as FDOT, SJRWMD, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) was integrated into a unified set of recommendations. This collaborative framework helped prevent duplication and ensured that infrastructure and environmental issues were addressed comprehensively.
Still, coordination can be complex. Differing agency priorities, timelines, and funding mechanisms often create friction. Over time, Florida’s Legislature has modified § 380.06 to streamline reviews and encourage local governments to assume greater responsibility for managing regional impacts through comprehensive planning. However, projects of the scale of the World Commerce Center continue to demonstrate the enduring value of multi-agency cooperation.
As Omar Hussian points out, “No single agency can manage growth at this scale. DRIs remind us that regional planning only works when everyone—local, state, and private—pulls in the same direction.” This insight speaks to the cooperative spirit underlying effective growth management.
Lessons and Evolving Policy
The World Commerce Center’s DRI review offers several lessons for future large-scale developments. First, early and transparent engagement with regional agencies helps developers anticipate mitigation requirements and avoid costly redesigns. Second, aligning project phasing with infrastructure delivery ensures that growth occurs in step with capacity. Finally, maintaining a focus on cumulative impacts—rather than isolated project-level effects—is crucial to protecting regional systems over time.
Florida’s evolving approach to growth management has gradually decentralized the DRI process, placing greater reliance on Local Government Comprehensive Plans and Proportionate Fair-Share Mitigation. Nonetheless, the principles embodied in the DRI framework remain vital: regional awareness, interagency collaboration, and accountability for impacts that extend beyond jurisdictional borders.
In many ways, the World Commerce Center serves as both a case study and a cautionary tale. It demonstrates the potential of structured regional review to yield well-coordinated growth—but also the administrative and political challenges of sustaining such a system in a fast-growing state.
Omar Hussian concludes, “The lesson from Florida’s DRI experience is not that regulation stifles progress, but that uncoordinated progress creates bigger problems down the road. Regional review is the price of responsible growth.” His words encapsulate the delicate equilibrium between opportunity and oversight that defines large-scale development in an interconnected world.
Conclusion
The DRI process stands as a testament to the idea that growth, when guided thoughtfully, can be both prosperous and sustainable. Projects like the World Commerce Center demonstrate that regional review—though sometimes cumbersome—can align private ambition with public purpose. In the face of climate pressures, infrastructure constraints, and rapid population growth, the principles underlying Florida’s DRI framework remain as relevant as ever.
Ultimately, balancing growth and regional concerns requires more than compliance; it demands collaboration, foresight, and shared responsibility. Through mechanisms like the DRI process, Florida continues to refine that balance—seeking a path where development and preservation coexist, and where communities prosper not despite growth, but because of how it is managed.
Originally Posted: https://omarhussainchicago.com/balancing-growth-and-regional-concerns/

