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Hometown Democracy…

Hometown Democracy…. BAD FOR YOUR HOMETOWN WORSE FOR OUR DEMOCRACY !. Presentation Credits …. This Slideshow is a compilation from presentations by: J.N. “Jack” Breed, Keith and Schnars, P.A. for the Florida Surveying and Mapping Society Floridians For Smarter Growth

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Hometown Democracy…

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  1. Hometown Democracy… BAD FOR YOUR HOMETOWN WORSE FOR OUR DEMOCRACY! SAMS SHOW

  2. Presentation Credits … This Slideshow is a compilation from presentations by: J.N. “Jack” Breed, Keith and Schnars, P.A. for the Florida Surveying and Mapping Society Floridians For Smarter Growth Augie Fragala, Powell Fragala and Associates Florida Chamber of Commerce SAMS SHOW

  3. Is it… a) CITIZEN APPROVAL OF ALL PLAN CHANGES? b) THE END OF RATIONAL PLANNING? c) THE BEGINNING OF COMMUNITY CHAOS? d) ALL OF THE ABOVE? Hometown Democracy… SAMS SHOW

  4. Is it… a) CITIZEN APPROVAL OF ALL PLAN CHANGES? b) THE END OF RATIONAL PLANNING? c) THE BEGINNING OF COMMUNITY CHAOS? d) ALL OF THE ABOVE? Hometown Democracy… SAMS SHOW

  5. What Exactly is Hometown Democracy? A constitutional amendment that will forever change the way development is approved …A community vote on every comprehensive plan amendment approved by every unit of local government… *This includes special purpose districts that have plans, too. SAMS SHOW

  6. Hometown Democracy… Mandates the local electorate within a community must approve each plan amendment prior to any development occurring resulting from the amendment. SAMS SHOW

  7. Hometown Democracy… • A citizen’s initiative – a good thing – but… • Forcing voters to decide every change to a local government’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan • DOES THIS BELONG IN OUR CONSTITUTION? SAMS SHOW

  8. Hometown Democracy… • A very naïve view of land use planning in Florida • Comprehensive Plans are not static • Land-owners rights • Existing land-uses • Existing Zoning Districts • Municipal infrastructure availability • Are the voters going to make informed decisions? SAMS SHOW

  9. What Is the Status of the HTD Initiative? • 611,009 signatures to be on the ballot • Reported 433,000 certified signatures on 12/10/07 Signatures certified by January 31, 2008 to be placed on the ballot in November SAMS SHOW

  10. Who Is Behind the Initiative? • Is it ? • Alliance of disgruntled citizens? • “No Growth” advocates? • Sierra Club? SAMS SHOW

  11. Who Is Behind the Initiative? • Lesley Blackner – an anti-growth zealot • Ross Stanford Burnaman – a NIMBY Tallahassee attorney • Joe Redner - !!! More importantly, WHO will support it? SAMS SHOW

  12. How Will It Work andWhat Will It Cost? • Vote on every City Comp Plan Change • Vote on every County Comp Plan Change • Special elections not required – How will it work? • Polk County alone had 23 changes in the last 6 months! In our medium sized County, you could be faced with 80+ issues in a single election!! SAMS SHOW

  13. What to Do? • Voters want “smarter growth,” not “no growth” • Top concerns include: • Infrastructure • Overcrowding in schools • Density and housing costs • Taxes and insurance • This is “quality of life” versus “extreme special interests” SAMS SHOW

  14. The HARD facts…. • What is Florida’s economy? • What happens in YOUR community if this is passed? • The economy of a community funds your: • Schools • Churches • Community Associations • Municipal infrastructure • Is NO GROWTH the answer? SAMS SHOW

  15. Hometown Democracy… • Will not prevent sprawl • Will not allow efficient government services • Will not protect natural resources Comp Plans are meant to change! SAMS SHOW

  16. Hometown Democracy = Good Growth / • “Big Picture” will be lost • Power of $ greater • Less accountability in decision-making SAMS SHOW

  17. Hometown Democracy = Good Growth / • No natural resource protection • Neighborhood vs. Neighborhood • Essential services will suffer • No one will EVER approve a jail, a landfill, a sewer plant, etc… The big picture will be lost forever SAMS SHOW

  18. Economic Consequences… • Cost of referendums • Court challenges/judgments • Local planning efforts/public hearings • Infrastructure delays (Comp Plans include your Community’s Five Year CIP) • Community disruption SAMS SHOW

  19. Hometown Democracy… The Florida Chapter of APA OPPOSES Hometown Democracy • Encourages shortsighted decisions • Reduces accountability of local officials • Does notprotect Florida’s natural areas • Dismantles public participation in the planning process SAMS SHOW

  20. Hometown Democracy… Audubon of Florida has elected not to join in support of Hometown Democracy because… • …of too many unanswered questions about the workability of the proposal… • …if adopted, it is not clear it will achieve the intended result… • …since Florida’s constitution contains NO requirements for local government land use planning, does it make sense to place a requirement for public voting on such plans and amendments in the constitution? SAMS SHOW

  21. Hometown Democracy… 1,000 Friends of Florida Board of Directors cannot support Hometown Democracy because… • NIMBYISM – much needed but often controversial amendments will be difficult to find approval with voters (i.e., affordable housing proposals, landfills, water & sewer plants, and the CSX Intermodal Logistics Center) • Piecemeal Planning – no longer will planning be comprehensive, but instead a series of disjointed voter approved amendments • Legal Gridlock – legal challenges to the amendment, if approved, will likely be necessary to clarify the vague and murky language of the amendment, possibly resulting in years of court proceedings SAMS SHOW

  22. Tom Pelham, Secretary, Florida DCA, -opposes the HTD amendment Samuel Staley Director, Urban Futures Program, -opposes the HTD amendment SAMS SHOW

  23. What's the Plan? SAMS SHOW

  24. Breaking the state into “Tiers” according tovote share Priority Counties SAMS SHOW

  25. Our Responsibility • Learn the issue • Take it, and its supporters, seriously • Promote greater public participation SAMS SHOW

  26. What Can You Do? • Support the State Chamber of Commerce • Support Floridians for Smarter Growth and join your local leadership team • Report paid signature gatherers • Write letters to the editor • Encourage your associations to oppose this measure • Talk it down at neighborhood gatherings • Encourage others to become informed • Speak out when you hear misinformation • Tell them who is opposed to this and who is backing it! SAMS SHOW

  27. Visit the Floridians for Smarter Growth website at www.flsmartergrowth.org • Organize your community… call Ryan Houck at (407) 442-0832 • Send a contribution to: • Floridians for Smarter GrowthPost Office Box 532018Orlando, Florida 33853 SAMS SHOW

  28. HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY It's NOT about your Hometown, and It's NOT about Democracy! SAMS SHOW

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