(Assisted by McLemore's "rat-pack" commission.)

TCPALM

Editorials                         More Fuel For Growth Machine -

December 24, 2006

Just in time for Christmas, (received 12/28/06) two hefty reports have arrived to explore the state of growth in Florida.

"A tidal wave of growth is heading our way," warns 1000 Friends of Florida.   But rest assured, beleaguered residents, the ongoing onslaught can be accommodated, say the "Friends," who call for "large-scale planning" over the next 50 years.

(This is probably the length of time needed to develop "Tiny Town" --- aka the Towncenter in Winter Springs --- which is now in it's 12th year of McLemore's diminished planning logic.)

In the second report, the Florida Department of Transportation, bragging about its "world-class transportation system," lays out a five-decade road-building plan that covers virtually every section of the peninsula.

Such foresight — looking a half-century ahead — surely stimulates the proponents of growth.   And long-term strategies certainly are preferred to reactionary or non-existent thinking.

Yet there's a surreal quality to these studies that ought to give pause to Floridians feeling swamped by the growth that's already here.   Skepticism is heightened by the fact that 1000 Friends, which touts itself as the state's "leading growth-management advocate," relies heavily on funding from uber-developer, the St. Joe Company.

(This is the same method used by incumbent politicians in Winter Springs, Fl. for their re-election.)

With growth managers like these, who needs growth promoters?  

(They must mean the government & management of Winter Springs, Fl.)

While 1000 Friends offers some positive proposals — such as expanding the Florida Forever program and creating a 100-year Legacy Plan to protect open space — the overriding objective is to facilitate and expand "sustainable development."

That call to bulldozers was saluted by none other than The Nature Conservancy.   Its Florida director, Vicki Tschinkel, gives political cover to the growth machine by favoring "large-scale planning, rather than platitudes about slowing growth."

Enter FDOT's "Future Corridors," which wants to pave the way for nine major new highways and toll roads around the state while widening scores of others.   Though this epitomizes "large-scale planning,"   Tschinkel opposes it, noting such projects would transform open lands to "urban or suburban use" and effectively dictate "where growth will occur."

She's exactly right, of course.   And therein lies the contradictory conceit of "smart-growth," whether espoused by fuzzy environmentalists or bloodless engineers.

Florida's scalped landscapes are littered with examples of good plans gone bad.   The state's "growth-management" statutes have not contained growth, and "proactive" talk of new towns, density bonuses, mixed use, etc., just might end up in the same place — more congestion, wider sprawl, higher densities and diminished natural resources.

So, whatever the planning gurus in Tallahassee decide next, local governments along the Treasure Coast must stand up for the interests of citizens who are wearying of this increasingly costly treadmill.

"Every community has the right of self-defense," says Chris Williamson, an associate professor at the University of Southern California and proponent of a "post-growth" approach, which is gaining traction in areas where developers are "slowly drawing a noose around entire regions."

Williamson believes that communities may not want (or be able) to build enough housing to meet all the demand anticipated by groups such as 1000 Friends.   Nationally, courts have upheld voters' right to just say "no" to Comprehensive Plan changes via voter referendums.

(Not in the City of Winter Springs.    People like mayor Bush and city manager McLemore work their plans behind closed doors, and then SPRING it upon the City as a "New Project".    They are not only protected by "Home Rule Powers" -- orchestrated by McLemore, but have their own DRC controlled by the "lap-dog" commission!   They would be scared to death to let the public vote on their greed.)

Size matters, and each year, more anxious Floridians are coming to the conclusion that less is better.   For them, growth-enabling gifts from "friends" at St. Joe and FDOT sit like heavy lumps of coal in the Christmas stocking.

GROWTH TRENDS

Predictions from "A Time for Leadership: Growth Management and Florida 2060" and "The Case for Florida's Future Corridors":

• By 2030, the southeast region from Indian River County to Monroe County will add 2.4 million people — a 40 percent increase.

• By 2060, 7 million more acres statewide will be converted from rural to urban use.

• A "sea of urbanization" will surround much of today's protected conservation lands unless alternative development patterns are promoted.

WHERE THEY STAND

1000 Friends of Florida and The Nature Conservancy have declined to endorse Florida Hometown Democracy, the statewide petition drive to require public approval of any changes in local Comprehensive Plans.   The ballot measure needs 611,000 voter signatures to qualify for the 2008 state ballot.   

(How can they claim to be "Friends of Florida"& "Natural Conservancy"?   Like the City of Winter Springs --- they have been bought by developers paying politicians HUGE campaign contributions.)

• Download FHD's petition at www.floridahometowndemocracy.com.

 READ THE REPORTS

• 1000 Friends of Florida:

www.1000fof.org/planning/2060.asp.

•Florida Department of Transportation: http://www.dot.state.fl.us/planning/corridor/workshop113006/notebook.htm#plan.

Find this online at: http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/editorials/article/0,,TCP_24460_5229587,00.html