Having grown up in central Florida in the 1960s and 1970s, I witnessed the sad toll that explosive growth and land development extracted on the environment and quality of life. Since then, I have witnessed the impacts of poorly planned land development throughout Florida. I have been extensively involved in advocacy of “growth management” issues, including years as a staff attorney for the Florida Department of Community Affairs responsible for land use planning matters.
	I respect Florida’s progressive land planning laws and agree with the their premise on the importance of public participation in the planning process. Citizens need to help shape the long-term blueprint for their communities – to decide how they want their neighborhoods and regions to be for their children and for future generations. A valid criticism of Florida’s planning efforts is the focus on accommodating short-term development interests, while poorly considering the long-term future uses of land, resources and public facilities such as schools and transportation systems. Plans have been amended too often to increase development density and intensity without regard for future demands upon natural systems and infrastructure. Often, citizens have failed to effectively prevail upon their local elected representatives to refrain from capriciously amending local comprehensive plans. State law has been weakened to allow for many exceptions to the twice-per-year limit on plan amendments, including an exception for “small-scale” amendments. In 1995, the Legislature limited democracy by prohibiting any local initiative or referendum on any development order or on any local comprehensive plan amendment or map amendment that affects five or fewer parcels of land. (See, Ch. 95-322 amending Section 163.3167, Florida Statutes). Florida’s Hometown Democracy Amendment will encourage citizens to be accountable for the future of their communities. The tremendous potential inherent in Florida’s land planning laws will be better realized by having citizen’s vote on whether or not to change plans that have been adopted and approved by the State. All existing opportunities for public involvement in land use planning will be retained, as will the legal right to challenge planning decisions. The highest courts of Florida and the United States have recognized that citizens have the right to direct democracy for land use plan decisions. It is time for Floridians to take more responsibility – at the ballot box – for the long-term future of their hometowns.