1000 Friends of Florida does not support the Florida Hometown Democracy (FHD) constitutional amendment. Our organization shares the widespread frustration with Florida's current growth management programs, and will be actively seeking their improvement during the upcoming legislative session. Our Board of Directors recognizes that both opponents and supporters who feel that it is necessary to mount a vigorous campaign to improve growth management have numerous valid reasons sustaining their positions.
The principal reasons to support Florida Hometown Democracy include failures of local government to adopt and implement reasonable growth management decisions, failures by the Legislature to fund, improve and strengthen growth management controls, and the loss of public access and voice in the comprehensive planning process.
Major concerns with the amendment include that very local concerns may overwhelm larger societal ones, dilution of accountability for development decisions by elected officials, piecemeal planning, high priced media campaigns involving amendments, and the possibility of “planning gridlock”, and retaliation by the Legislature. The current state of affairs in Florida growth management cannot be allowed to endure, but 1000 Friends is equally aware of the problems associated with having public votes on every comprehensive plan amendment. To further the goal of effective use of growth management programs to protect Florida’s environment, economy and quality of life,1000 Friends supports the following improvements to Florida’s growth management process:
1. State adoption of the “Citizen Planning Bill of Rights.” This includes requirements for a supermajority vote of the elected body for all plan amendment changes; a mandatory citizen participation plan and workshops conducted by any developer seeking a land use change; a “cooling off” period preventing last minute changes to plans before public meetings to allow the public, staff and elected officials time for informed deliberation; preservation of citizen standing status throughout any appeal process; and citizen protection from SLAPP suits associated with any participation in the comprehensive planning process.
2. Full funding for Florida Forever and Sadowski Affordable Housing Program.
3. Adoption of a meaningful state plan(s) that guides/requires that all state capital funds be spent to make existing communities more livable, rather than promote expansion and sprawl.
4. Adequate funding to administer all growth management programs, including reviews of comprehensive plan amendments and Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs).
1000 Friends will vigorously advocate for these initiatives during the 2010 legislative session. We remain hopeful that positive reforms will pass this session, and will continue to evaluate our position on Florida Hometown Democracy.
