by Michael Bonts
Special To Realty/Builder Connection
You look on walls at Tom Rodgers’ office in Jacksonville and you see the past as well as the future.
A 1907 plat map. There’s an aerial photo of Jacksonville from 1935. But there’s also work showcasing some of the major developments from the past decade such as Queen’s Harbour Yacht and Country Club, Oceanwalk and Hampton Glen at Deerwood.
He believes his firm has grown by abiding by two principles.
“We are committed to meeting the needs of our clients in a timely and cost-effective manner,” said Rodgers. “The owners make my job enjoyable.”
Rodgers Land Development Group is one of the state’s leading land development specialists. The company has been a member of the Northeast Florida Builders Association for nearly 20 years.
Rodgers grew up in Jacksonville. He graduated from Mercer University and is a licensed real estate broker and licensed underground utility contractor.
“I represent landowners in developing projects, from single parcels of land to large projects. Everything from soup to nuts,” said Rodgers. “Some of my work involves investigating the potential of raw land and securing the rights to develop that land.”
Rodgers provides a detailed feasibility study including drainage, landscaping, buffers, dedications, off site improvements, zoning and building code information, time lines and development budget.
With the numerous local and state regulations involved in the permitting and zoning of developments, now a new federal mandate, the Community Character Act, is before Congress.
The firm also provides management supervision for infrastructure installation, earthwork, raw land research, solutions to environmental problems, distressed property workout, infrastructure corrections, 2010 plan review, concurrency, zoning and permitting and underground utilities.
“We serve as consultants and on site managers for the infrastructure development,” said Rodgers. “I have coordinated water and sewer drainage plans, detail work and even final inspection. Then there is the inevitable problem solving.”
The company specializes in planned single-family communities, multifamily communities, commercial construction and renovations.
Rodgers brings his years of experience in consulting into play when handling the intricacies of city, state and federal regulation and requirements that apply to developments.
“We have embraced a very strict on time, one budget philosophy of development. We are committed to excellence and quality in every project,” he said.
Before founding Rodgers Land Development Group in 1984, he spent time working as project manager for two development corporations, TRECO, Inc. and Bos Corp.
“Our ultimate goal is to work with our clients in producing projects that appreciate in value,” said Rodgers. “I have been very fortunate to run some large projects.”
Projects have been as diversified as Pinecrest in Cobb County near Atlanta, Colonial Baptist Church, Ponte Vedra Inn and Country Club, Kensington, Villages of San Jose, Cape House Apartment and Southside Flea Market.
NEFBA board member Peggy West has worked with Rodgers on several projects.
“Tom has established a reputation for doing excellent work. We at JEA have worked with him through his role as a underground utility contractor on a number of projects,” said West.
Rodgers has also been deeply involved in a number of golf course projects, from the redesigns of the Ponte Vedra Ocean course and Timuquana to the new construction at Pablo Creek and South Hampton.
“He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise,” noted Ed Burr, president of LandMar Property Services and South Hampton owner. “Developing a golf course and its community involves a great amount of detail.”
The future of land development is an ever-changing landscape. Local and state regulations are constantly being revamped and now a new federal regulation, the Community Character Act, may further change the landscape.
In an effort to address the short-term pressures of growth, the Community Character Act provides incentives for federal and state agencies to work together toward implementing state land use plans.
However, by potentially opening the door to federal oversight of state and local land use decision-making, the legislation raises constitutional questions under the Tenth Amendment, where powers not expressly granted to the federal government in the Constitution — such as zoning and land use decisions — are reserved for the states and local governments.
“By creating prescriptive criteria in which federal grant money is awarded for state land use planning, this legislation has the potential to upset the federal-state balance. The feeling is local citizens and local governments are the best arbiters for what is the appropriate design for local land use plans,” said Rodgers.
The National Association of Home Builders has urged Congress to reject S. 975, the Community Character Act.
“The industry cannot support legislation that could be construed to impose a federal model for land use planning on local governments. The best way to promote ‘community character’ is to let the community determine its own land use policies,” said Rodgers.