September 25, 2025
GrayRobinson is pleased to share Shareholder Derek Rooney recently served as a panelist for “Session 5: Exploration of Southwest Florida Bonus Density Programs” at the 2025 REIS Annual Real Estate Symposium.
The session featured leaders from across the region who examined the evolving landscape of bonus density programs and their impact on local development. Derek contributed legal insight into how these programs are structured, the regulatory considerations local government and developers must address, and the ways in which local governments and developers can collaborate to ensure density incentives result in meaningful community benefits. He also discussed how these policies influence housing supply, long-term planning goals, and the balance between growth and regulatory integrity in Southwest Florida.
Based in the firm’s Fort Myers office, Derek practices in the areas of land use law and local government law and is board-certified by The Florida Bar in City, County and Local Government Law. He represents private and government clients on questions of general municipal law, land use, and public-private partnerships. Derek currently serves as counsel to the City of Bonita Springs, the City of LaBelle, the Charlotte County Industrial Development Authority, the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, and as special counsel to a number of other local government entities.