Fernandina Beach News-Leader

Dec. 07, 2009

City ponders stand on Hometown Democracy

By Angela Daughtry

Local residents at a Tuesday city workshop spoke out mostly in favor of Florida Hometown Democracy, a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution intended to control development.

Amendment 4, if approved by state voters in November 2010, would give citizens veto power regarding changes in local comprehensive plans that address land-use policy.

City staff had recommended at a previous meeting that city commissioners take an official stand against the amendment - but commissioners delayed that vote in favor of the workshop to discuss the merits or problems the amendment could bring.

Up until the current recession, Florida's economy had been based on population growth. The infrastructure needed to support that population had created jobs and brought much wealth to the state.

But the rapid growth also brought traffic congestion, suburban sprawl and ecological destruction in its wake. Florida Hometown Democracy, or Amendment 4, seeks to slow down development using voter input.

Marsh Lakes resident Bob Weintraub said Hometown Democracy is "the only thing we have left." He told commissioners it is a mistake to think the amendment will require a vote on each and every land change. Rather, only changes in density, intensity and future development would be up for referendum, he said. Density is the number of residents per square mile, while intensity refers to the type of activity allowed on a property.

Another fear regarding the amendment, he said, is the potential loss of jobs, but Weintraub said that is unfounded because new homes for millions of people have already been approved but not yet built.

"To say (the amendment) will stop construction and development is just specious," Weintraub said. He also maintained that approval of Crane Island for development is an example of elected officials ignoring the wishes of the people.

"People lined up outside City Hall against Crane Island (development), yet it was still approved," said Weintraub. "When the government abuses power, it's the people's right to take that power back."

Ron Sapp, a former mayor and city commissioner, said he favors the amendment but is "under no illusion that I'll change anyone's mind." Sapp said elected officials have failed to manage growth and this will allow the people to "have a say in what the state of Florida looks like."

"People are saying, 'We want to be involved in growth management,'" said Sapp. "Look at the state of Florida right now. Do you like it, or do you want it to be a different way?"

Lynn Williams, the only resident at the meeting who opposed the amendment, said Hometown Democracy might have "unintended consequences," such as what happened in California with Proposition 13, which holds down property taxes and wrought havoc on the state budget.

"I have more confidence in elected officials that they have read these (land use) plans," said Williams. "I don't like it when it's a popular thing with a lot of flag waving."

Resident Mike Spicer said he approves of the amendment because it will not allow just three city commissioners (out of five) to approve changes in land use. He also noted that Senate Bill 360, approved in June, has already removed many restrictions on land use.

That bill, which was meant to stimulate the economy removes transportation concurrency requirements for dense urban areas and makes certain aspects of land development easier for developers.

"This (amendment) is good because it encourages growth management ... and gives people as much say in government as possible," said Jan Cote-Merow. "How lucky we are that we can see the ocean on this island. I hope we would allow the people to voice their feelings on any major changes in the future."

"I think everyone has feelings that there have been instances when development has not been meted out appropriately," said Tom Cote-Merow. "Amendment 4 is to reverse that trend."

"Thank God for the (slow) economy," he added. "Development has ground to a halt, and we can take a breather to figure out what we want."

Community Development Director Marshall McCrary said it is not clear how the comprehensive plan would be presented to voters for referendum.

"Is there rule-making that would have to be applied for voting on (the comp plan)?" McCrary said. "There would have to be direction to local governments ... these questions are not clear." But, he said, the amendment would not have any effect on the community development department's responsibilities or approach to its tasks.

He added that "voter participation is typically not that great ... I don't think it will change much if (the comp plan) goes to ballot. (Voters are) not very interested in educating themselves before voting."

"At the end of the day, you hope elected officials would represent the people a little better," said City Commissioner Tim Poynter.

"I think in our city we've done a pretty good job (with development)," said City Commissioner Ken Walker. "The process is there to make your arguments, make your persuasions. I've got confidence in the system we have now."

"Our predecessors have done a great job locally conserving the land," said Vice Mayor Eric Childers. "We're doing the right thing, headed in the right direction."

adaughtry@fbnewsleader.com