‘Hometown Democracy’ panelists praise, condemn proposal to control growth

Amendment would give voters approval over changes in growth plans

The measure, which would require voter approval of local comprehensive-plan changes allowing strip malls, housing developments and other major projects, will be on the ballot statewide in November as Amendment 4.

Ryan Houck, executive director of the opposition group Floridians for Smarter Growth, said during a League of Women Voters forum that the amendment to the state's constitution would lead to more economic hardship, bloated ballots and excessive litigation.

"It's a proposal that may be very well-intentioned, but also has dramatic side effects that can be very costly," said Houck, who made the fruit fly analogy.

Lesley Blackner, president of Florida Hometown Democracy, said claims of economic devastation and long, overwhelming ballots had been exaggerated. Blackner, who compared approval of too much development to drunken driving, said voter control is needed after years of unchecked growth.

"We're just going to say, ‘Give the final say to the people and let the chips fall where they will,' " said Blackner, a Palm Beach attorney who has been leading the movement for the past six years.

Amendment 4 wouldn't require voter approval of every new hotel and grocery store, but it would require voters to approve changes that weren't already allowed in development plans. For example, voters would be asked to decide if the use of a parcel of land should be changed from farming to housing.

While Houck, whose group is backed by business and development interests, said the amendment would harm the economy by stalling development, Blackner said government plans already allow for years of growth.

Earlier this year, the Orlando Sentinel reported that if passed, the amendment is unlikely to impact growth for some time in Orange County. Analyses by Orlando and Orange County growth officials found that elected leaders had already approved construction of 93,540 residential units in the city and unincorporated part of the county that have yet to be built—a number close to the 119,323 residential units now in Orlando.

About 50 people attended the forum, co-sponsored by the Leagues of Women Voters in Seminole and Orange counties.

Winter Park Commissioner Beth Dillaha also was panelist. She said that if Hometown Democracy had been implemented before the controversial Carlisle project was proposed, her city might have saved the $3.7 million it spent to buy out the developer of the condo and retail complex, which was never built in downtown Winter Park.

In June, after Blackner's group collected more than 698,000 signatures, the measure was scheduled for a vote this year. A poll that month by the Orlando Regional Realtor Association found that 71 percent of Orange County voters supported the amendment.