On Tuesday, July 15, 2003, 6:00 PM in the County Administration Building, University Ave. and Main St, the Alachua County Commission will hold a special meeting to discuss adopting the "Mediated " Comprehensive Plan.

Read the history of the "mediation"

Read the "Compliance" Settlement language.

Summary

In a process that took years, county staff held numerous meetings and workshops, seeking and receiving information from any and all citizens, including developers, who wished to make comments and suggestions for changes in the comp plan. Based on the collected information and FL State Statutes, staff developed a proposed comp plan that would allow growth to occur in an orderly manner that would avoid sprawl; stop destruction of wetlands and habitat; protect water quality and quantity; and minimize financial impact on taxpayers. Even though they were under tremendous pressure from developers, the then county commission, including current Commissioners Rodney Long , Mike Byerly and Penny Wheat, voted to approve the plan. It was later found to be in total compliance with state regulations.

"Mediation"

After the November elections, Commissioners Rodney Long, Chair and new commission members Cynthia Chestnut and Lee Pinkoson "instructed" staff to give developers what they wanted. The "mediation" ignored all the years of work on the part of citizens and staff. Developers insisted on some major changes and staff did as they were ordered to do. (See The Sun, Dec.3, 2002. From that article:

The Sun quotes Rick Drummond, Director of Growth Management as he referred to the Urban Services Line:

"My bosses [County Commission] have told me this is what we want to do with that line,"

By fiat, Commissioners Long, Chestnut and Pinkoson voted to ignore the legal process and give developers a green light to continue sprawl, traffic congestion and ever-higher taxes for citizens.

Private property rights do not give a few the right to harm the many.

Politicians respond to voter concerns. Let the commissioners know that you want the established legal process to go forward. No developers' rights will be lost if the law is followed. But if three commissioners vote to adopt the "mediated" plan, ordinary citizens will lose the right to clean water, less traffic, and an orderly pattern of growth that makes the best use of natural and financial resources.

Please attend the meeting this Tuesday, July 15th, at 6PM, and tell them in person.

Email Commissioners

Phone BOCC: 264-6903

Address:

     County Administration Building
     Room 209
     12 S.E. First Street
     Gainesville, FL

By Ellie Schwab, July 8, 2003