Paradise Paved? Planning For A Livable Florida
For anyone who has lived in Florida for more than a decade the evidence of urban sprawl is clear. For those who cherish a nearby greenway to commune with nature, the opportunities seem to be shrinking at a quickening pace. Two recent reports shine a critical light on the loss of rural lands and portend an ominous future that few would find satisfying.
1000 Friends of Florida, a statewide growth management watchdog group, has released a compelling report on Florida's future entitled Florida 2060. Based on current development patterns, this report paints a gloomy picture of what may be our future if we do not begin to address growth on a more comprehensive scale. With nearly 18 million current residents, it begs the question, "what will Florida look like in 2060, when its population is projected to reach nearly 36 million?"
Among the more thought provoking findings are:
- The central Florida region will experience "explosive" growth, with continuous urban development from Ocala to Sebring, and St. Petersburg to Daytona Beach. The study projects that the I-75 and I-4 corridors will be fully developed by 2060.
- Seminole, Orange, Brevard, Indian River, Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Manatee counties are expected to build out in the period from 2020 to 2040. The study projects population growth will spill into the surrounding counties and virtually all the natural systems and wildlife corridors in this region will be fragmented, if not replaced, by urban development.
- Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties are expected to build out before 2060, causing an almost continuous band of urban development along the southwest Florida coast. The study projects that population growth will spill over into adjacent inland counties.
- DeSoto, Hendry and Glades counties are expected to experience the most dramatic transformation over the next fifty years as they go from largely rural to largely urban in character. The result will be an almost continuous urban strip linking Ft. Myers to West Palm Beach.
- Southeast Florida will become mostly urbanized, with the exception of some areas north and south of Lake Okeechobee.
- The study projects that all vacant land in the Keys will be consumed by development by 2060, including lands not necessarily accessible by automobile.
- Duval County is projected to be completely built out sometime after 2040, and by 2060 its population is anticipated to spill out into Nassau, Clay, St. Johns and Baker counties, forever changing their rural character.
- Only the Panhandle and Big Bend are projected to retain significant areas of open space, and this is only if current growth and development patterns continue.
The study, conducted by the University of Florida's GeoPlan Center is further amplified by a companion report from the Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development at Georgia Tech, entitled A Time for Leadership: Growth Management and Florida 2060 which outlines steps that need to be taken today to protect the environment and quality of life while accommodating growth.
Recommendations coming out of this report include:
- Expand Florida Forever. Accelerate and expand this highly successful natural-lands acquisition program to permanently protect not only natural lands and open and recreation space, but also agricultural and forestry lands.
- Adopt New Policy on the Conversion of Rural Lands to Urban Use. New public policy should mandate that the conversion of rural land to urban density only be allowed in return for significant public benefit, especially the preservation of natural lands, open space, and agricultural lands.
- Create a 100-Year Legacy Plan. The statewide plan should identify the lands for permanent protection from development and lands that are appropriate for development and redevelopment. All state funding should be consistent with the Legacy Plan.
- Identify Leaders and Galvanize Support. Identify champions to organize and advocate for Florida's vision and plans. Such leadership must come from a broad cross section of Floridians who believe that our future is far too important to just let it happen.
For more information including the full studies and graphics, please visit www.1000friendsofflorida.org.
TRANSPORTATION
On November 30, 2006 the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) held the second in a series of workshops devoted to establishing a vision, framework and implementation plan for future transportation corridors. The Florida Wildlife Federation has joined a number of other conservation organizations in expressing our concerns and making recommendations to the department. Among the recommendations we have raised thus far are:
Revising the process for advancing new transportation corridors. FWF joins those who argue that we cannot correct the planning mistakes of the past by relying on the same means of planning in the future.
Create a long range vision of land use, conservation and transportation for each corridor based on regional planning. Before implementing new corridors we need to know what the people of that region want to accomplish.
FWF joins our conservation allies in urging a draft document that places greater emphasis on a means by which we can set aside conservation lands (both in public and private ownership) for future generations to enjoy. As currently offered, the Corridor Plan makes the assumption that all land will be converted to urban use unless it is already in public ownership. Such a picture of urban sprawl holds little hope for a sustainable quality of life anyone would want to pass on to future generations.
You can review these documents at http://www.dot.state.fl.us/planning/corridor/default.htm
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