Unregulated Growth looms in SB 360

Columnist Howard Troxler, of the St. Petersburg Times, writes in an open letter to Governor Crist:

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Dear Governor,

So, how's it going? I bet this time of year, everybody wants to tell you which bills passed by the Legislature you should approve or veto.

Forgive me for adding to all the noise. Still, you really should veto Senate Bill 360, the so-called "growth management" bill.

I know a lot of people want you to sign it and I know their reasons.

The stated goals are good. Help get Florida moving again. "Fill in" our urban areas with new construction.

But, hiding behind those goals, this bill goes way too far. It guts the Growth Management Act of 1985. It basically repeals that law.

Is that your legacy?

___________________________

Do any of us want that to be our legacy?

In Smart Growth News, 1000 Friends of Florida says, "

'While this bill contains important and well-intentioned growth management concepts, we believe it falls far short of the goal of encouraging more and better new growth in already developed areas,'' the 1000 Friends president continued, pointing out that more sprawl means more traffic congestion, ''which already contributes almost 40 percent'' of greenhouse gas emissions statewide.

Specifically, according to the Friends:

• The bill’s definition of “dense urban land area” promotes unchecked and inappropriate urban development in vast tracts of fringe and rural lands
• It automatically qualifies 245 cities and the entire territory of eight of our largest counties for transportation concurrency exemptions and Development of Regional Impact (DRI) exemptions.
• It runs counter to Gov. Crist’s goals to address climate change.
• Instead of being an economic stimulus strategy as proponents argue, it would allow massive new development to the already over-allocated and over-approved development already in existence in our state.

You can read the full text of SB 360 here (PDF)

And give voice to your concerns at the 1000 Friends of Florida website or at Audubon of Florida, among others.