The Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference

June 1-3, 2005

Singer Island, Florida

Growth Management  in Florida

Growth is inevitable in Florida.  Management of that growth is a key issue, statewide and within our communities.  Governor Bush has been vocal regarding his vision of growth management.  Below you will find an excerpt from the State of the State Address.  State Department officials will be working together with the Florida Legislature on this very important issue.

As we do the right things to create economic opportunities on a long-term basis, we must also take steps to ensure that our growth enhances—rather than detracts from—the quality of life that is the trademark of the Sunshine State.  After many, many years of discussion and drawing on lessons learned as well as best practices discovered, now is the time to create a comprehensive strategy for development in Florida.  Our motto for economic opportunity in Florida has been, “If you build it, they will come.”  But we have to build all of it, including the infrastructure to support them when they get here.  We need true concurrency between new development and the infrastructure needed to meet the demand on roads, schools, and water resources the development creates.  Development must be tied directly to the infrastructure it will use, and growth decisions must be made accordingly.

Key Points of the Governors Plan:

·                Florida’s leaders are facing a reality -- the state’s population is growing and we must take steps to ensure growth enhances, rather than detracts from, our quality of life.

·                We need true concurrency between new development and the infrastructure needed to meet the demand on roads, schools, and water resources.

·                Local governments oftentimes approve comprehensive plan amendments without adequately addressing impacts to infrastructure.

·                Existing concurrency requirements for transportation allow for significant lag times between development approval and availability of the transportation system.

·                Current law does not require school concurrency or water supply concurrency.

·                Proposed legislation provides a closer linkage between planning and development decisions and adequate infrastructure.

The Governor outlined more ideas specific to schools, roads and other facets of infrastructure.  For More information call the association office.