Florida Smarter Growth Land Use Initiative (2010)
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The Florida Smarter Growth Land Use Initiative may be headed to the November 2010 ballot in Florida as an initiated constitutional amendment to the Florida Constitution.
The initiative proposes voter approval of changes to local land-use plans only if 10 percent of local voters sign a petition calling for the referendum. The initiative came as a response to the Florida Hometown Democracy Land Use Initiative (2010).[1]
In December 2008 the Florida Supreme Court ruled that the Smarter Growth initiative met all legal requirements and could proceed to collect the necessary signatures to place the measure on the state ballot. "At a time when many Floridians are concerned about our state's fragile economy, Hometown Democracy is simply not worth the risk. Our amendment is proof positive that there are better ideas out there," said said Ryan Houck, Executive Director for Floridians for Smarter Growth, of the decision.[2]
Supporters of the initiative argue that unlike the Hometown Democracy initiative, the Smarter Growth petition would not place all minor and technical comprehensive plan changes on the ballot. Instead the initiative would place only major issues on the ballot for voters to vote. According to the group, the state of Florida averages 10,600 land use changes per year and to place each on the ballot would only clutter the ballot.[3]
Signatures
As of June 6,2009, the group, Floridians for Smarter Growth, has gathered 443,510 signatures to add its proposal to the ballot.[1] According to state signature requirements, in order to add the question to the 2010 state ballot 676,811 verified signatures must first be collected. The group has until Feb. 1,2009 to collect and certify the required signatures to get the initiative on the 2010 ballot. However, Floridians for Smarter Growth executive director Ryan Houck said his group hasn't decided whether it will pursue getting its initiative onto the 2010 ballot.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Tampa Tribune, "2010 referendum on growth management developing," June 6,2009
- ↑ Jacksonville Business Journal,"Fla. high court: Smarter Growth Amendment can go on ballot," December 18,2008
- ↑ Floridians for Smarter Growth,"FLORIDA SUPREME COURT RULES ON SMARTER PETITION," December 18,2008
- ↑ Palm Beach Post,"Anti-development 'Hometown Democracy' amendment has enough signatures for 2010 ballot, supporters say," June 8,2009
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