Florida Hometown Democracy

An initiative promoted by a group called Florida Hometown Democracy has a goal to have an amendment on the November 2008 ballot that would allow voters to regulate changes in land use decisions, manipulating comprehensive plans to restrict unwanted development. It appears to be more of a safeguard against local governments making what some would call poor decisions for the county. Of course, builders and businesses fear the worst, foreseeing construction and growth coming to a halt, ruining the local and state economies. Hometown Democracy has a petition quota to meet before the amendment could be placed on the ballot, and then requires a 60% vote for passage.

I think many of us residents question growth patterns as approved by our county commissioners, especially when new subdivisions are approved time and again, with few denials. It appears the general consensus in the current process allows passage whenever the Planning or Zoning Commission finds no legal issues. Most of us don’t see the reasoning behind the growth decisions because of the number of existing homes sitting unoccupied, dead on the real estate market. Another concern is seeing more subdivisions partially built with no assurance they won’t become economic eyesores.

The process to redirect political direction is by petition, which requires signatures by February 1, 2008. Go to http://www.floridahometowndemocracy.com/ to read, print, sign and return the position.