I recently discovered that Florida Hometown Democracy Inc. is circulating a petition statewide in an attempt to place local and county land-use plans and amendments on a ballot to be approved by the residents of a municipality or county.

With the actions of the Polk County Commission and other local governments in Polk County, I have to agree that this action be passed in a statewide constitutional amendment vote in 2008. It is evident that our commissioners are looking at dollar signs and not looking at the end-run impact the urban sprawl is causing to our wonderful county and state.

I have lived in Florida all my life, and in Polk County off and on since 1968, and what I have seen in growth makes me sick. We are losing too many groves and wetlands to urban development. This growth has to stop now.

I can remember when I could go to Clearwater and Indian Rocks and go on the beaches just about anywhere. Now there is hardly any access to the beaches over there due to under-controlled building. God forbid that a hurricane makes a direct hit on these same beaches. It would annihilate most of these structures there.

So, please, spread the word about this important petition. It can be printed from www.FloridaHometownDemocracy.com. The group's phone number is 866-779-5513.

John C. Anderson

Polk City