State growth regulators sent back Martin's untidy packet of proposals with 48 objections, two recommendations and two pages of inconsistencies with the state's growth plan. State officials' complaints — to read them, visit www.dca.state.fl.us/fdcp/Advisories/Martin County 09-2ER ORC.pdf — echo those of residents. The proposed amendments promote sprawl, omit facts to evaluate needs for roads and parks, allow commercial growth in rural areas and are inconsistent with school planning agreements. The county uses bogus methods to justify opening more land for development.

Despite the county staff's assurances that the changes don't rewrite Martin's growth plan, the amendments railroaded by the Future Group could remake Martin County into Broward County. The Future Group is dominated by people who make their living from the growth industry. The group hijacked the state-required Evaluation and Appraisal Report process, which is designed to update growth plans, not rewrite them.

The commission has three choices: Ignore the Department of Community Affairs' objections and push the amendments through, which could mean a showdown with the state; make the changes the state wants; or drop all or some of the Future Group's proposals.

Richard Grosso, executive director of the Everglades Law Center Inc., said Martin is not alone in its rush to grease the way for growth. The reason is Florida Hometown Democracy, which would give residents a vote on growth plan amendments. "Landowners, builders and local governments are trying to get changes in," Mr. Grosso said, in case voters approve Amendment 4 next November.

Attempts to rig numbers and write in bogus "needs" formulas to show a need for more growth have been topics of recent litigation in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties, Mr. Grosso said, "but DCA is onto that game." DCA Secretary Tom Pelham told The Daytona Beach News-Journal that the fear of voters passing Hometown Democracy is causing "many landowners to seek plan amendments much earlier than they otherwise would." Counties' requests for amendments have more than doubled this year.

Martin developers have 21 requests for growth plan amendments waiting, many dependent on county approval of the Future Group's rewrite. While the DCA makes strong recommendations to fix some of the rewrite's problems, the agency may be too overwhelmed to follow through. That's where residents can help.

Changing the growth plan is a wonky issue, and it comes as residents are caught up in holiday activities. But it's not too late to get involved, via e-mails or in-person comments, to urge commissioners to kill changes that could forever alter Martin. That would be a gift for future generations.

Sally Swartz is a former member of The Post Editorial Board. Her e-mail address is sdswartz42@comcast.net