The Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern designation includes the municipalities of Islamorada, Marathon, Layton and Key Colony Beach, and unincorporated Monroe County. The City of Key West challenged the designation as a Critical Area and after litigation in 1984 was given its own Area of Critical State Concern designation. The Area of Critical State Concern Program authorized by Section 380.05, Florida Statutes, allows the Governor and Florida Cabinet, sitting as the Administration Commission, to designate certain areas within Florida that contain resources of statewide significance as an Area of Critical State Concern. Administration Commission oversight includes authority to promulgate administrative rules containing Work Programs that guide local government's growth and development decisions, amend comprehensive plans and land development regulations, and to appeal local government development orders.
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