The document opposes a proposed constitutional amendment called "Hometown Democracy" that would require voters to approve every change to local comprehensive land use plans. It argues that this would undermine rational planning, lead to community chaos, and have negative economic consequences by causing delays and legal challenges to infrastructure and development projects. Several organizations that deal with land use and planning, such as 1000 Friends of Florida and the Florida Chapter of APA, also oppose the amendment because it could encourage NIMBYism and piecemeal planning.
5. What Exactly is Hometown Democracy? A constitutional amendment that will forever change the way development is approved … A community vote on every comprehensive plan amendment approved by every unit of local government… * This includes special purpose districts that have plans, too.
6. Hometown Democracy… Mandates the local electorate within a community must approve each plan amendment prior to any development occurring resulting from the amendment.
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22. Tom Pelham, Secretary, Florida DCA, -opposes the HTD amendment Samuel Staley Director, Urban Futures Program, -opposes the HTD amendment
When you have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail! Recognize this as a legitimate concern, with a poor solution. Many don’t really think Hometown democracy is a good idea, but they are frustrated and it is a hammer. The key to winning this debate for us is going to be accurately framing the issue as “Quality of Life” debate. This is not development versus the environment. It is not even the economy versus the environment. This is quality of life versus extreme special interests and extreme measures. Voters are genuinely concerned with school over-crowding, lack of water, congested roads, the high cost of housing, etc. Rather than dismissing the concerns, we need to acknowledge the problems and offer solutions for greater citizen involvement and better decision-making. Voters want smarter growth, not no growth at all and it’s important that we present them with alternatives to Hometown Democracy which we are doing and that’s something I’m going to mention a little bit later. The other concerns that we need to be aware of are that for the first time voters are very, very concerned about infrastructure and overcrowding in schools. There is an all time sensitivity over housing costs including taxes and insurance. These are at an all time high and as a result this is fueling frustration over the current system. Despite the fact that voters don’t really want Hometown Democracy, they don’t in and of itself think that it’s a good idea. It is a hammer and they may just use that hammer if it’s the only alternative that they have. The key to winning this debate for us is going to be accurately framing the issue. This is not development versus the environment. It is not even the economy versus the environment. This is quality of life versus extreme special interests. Now the people behind Hometown Democracy are in every sense of the word extreme special interests. They do not even have the support of mainstream environmental groups like the Florida Audubon Society, like A 1000 Friends in Florida. They have been deafening in their silence on this issue. So it’s important that the voters know that. This is not a mainstream environmental issue. In fact these folks really represent a very radical no growth agenda.