West Volusia Beacon
April 28, 2010

People on all sides of the growth issue turned out April 20 for a forum at Stetson University on the public's role in planning for growth and development. Amendment 4 was the hot topic. Another was the Farmton development plan.

 

One area of consensus: People believe their elected officials are swayed or pressured by developers to approve amendments to land-use plans that should be denied.

A group called Hometown Democracy was successful in getting Amendment 4 on the ballot this fall. The constitutional amendment would give voters final say over their communities' master plans for growth.

Changes in comprehensive plans, the big picture of land use -- whether a parcel could be changed from agricultural to commercial, for example -- now go through a process of approval through the local jurisdiction and the Volusia Growth Management Commission. The amendment would add a final step: approval of the voters, before the change is sent to the state Department of Community Affairs.

The amendment would not affect zoning decisions.

Its opponents say it would cripple Florida's economy by stifling growth. The Florida Chamber of Commerce opposes it.

Chamber President Mark Wilson stated, "Although it is a bad idea in any economy, Amendment 4 is a uniquely destructive proposal in the midst of a recession."

More than 100 people filled the Stetson Room at the Carlton Union Building for the forum.

A survey completed as they entered indicated people were pretty evenly divided: 41 percent would vote for the amendment; 41 percent would vote against the amendment. Another 11 percent said they didn't know what the amendment was about; 7 percent were familiar with it, but were undecided how they would vote.

Political leaders such as Mayor Bob Apgar of DeLand and Mayor Harley Strickland of Orange City were there. So were environmentalists from the Sierra Club and the Environmental Council of Volusia and Flagler Counties, and land-use attorney Mark Watts of DeLand. Members of governmental boards, Volusia County land-use planning staff, interested residents and Stetson political-science students were all part of the mixture.

Stetson professor Dr. William Ball organized the forum, assisted by members of his Civic Engagement class.

After a welcome from County Chair Frank Bruno, participants were seated at tables of about 12, with discussions going on at each table.

This reporter sat at a table moderated by Stetson professor Joshua Rust. Participants included Metropolitan Planning Organization staff member Bob Keeth, who noted, "People are frustrated with the system."

Everyone agreed with that.

Mary Swiderski of the Volusia Council of Governments said Amendment 4 might give big developers with money for publicity more influence in the process.

Volusia County Director of Growth and Resource Management Greg Stubbs said additional referendums on the ballot may discourage already-low turnout.

Hank Wenz, who ran for a seat on the Volusia County Council in the early 1990s, said county and city officials are too developer friendly. "People are sick of it," he said.

The Farmton plan, allowing development of more than 23,000 homes, plus millions of square feet of commercial and business space in the middle of some of the most remote and ecologically sensitive land in the county, should have been postponed, Wenz said. There was insufficient data on its impact, he said.

In the end, people at the table came to a consensus Amendment 4 should be passed. Even if it proves not to be viable and should be overturned later, it would wake up both voters and government, initiate a change in the process, and, it was hoped, get more people involved in the decision-making process.

The group at the table also decided that Florida as a people needs to reconsider how it has traditionally defined its economy through continued growth. Florida may do well to look at and encourage more business and industry than fuel continued residential growth.

The group came to a consensus that government and related institutions have the duty to engage in discussion with the citizenry they impact. Residents have the responsibility to become more engaged, as well. Low resident turnout at elections and city and county meetings was noted.

More suggestions from the table, and from other tables, included these:

• Create more civic education in public schools, adult education and citizens' academies.

• Create a new process for citizens and government to work together, addressing the significant level of public distrust of elected officials.

• Get fair, unbiased and competent information out to the public on sustainable-growth issues. Use various media.

Dr. Ball said, "Our goal tonight was to bring together citizens of different views to have a direct discussion with each other as a means to finding the common ground among them."

It appeared his mission was successful.