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 Amendment 4 (formerly the Hometown Democracy amendment) would require voter approval on all changes to local growth management plans, rather than having those plans approved or rejected by the city or county commission.  This amendment will result in the voting process becoming unmanageable, costly and it will subvert a well established open, accessible, and democratic process.

 

 

This amendment would essentially turn every Florida land-use decision into a political popularity contest.  Popular land uses, such as large homes on multi-acre lots, might be readily approved by a majority of voters, but practical but unpopular uses, such as gas stations, apartments, grocery stores, and any number of other essential services might have little hope of winning a majority of the popular vote. This amendment would result in short-term thinking, invite lawsuits and retard economic development.

 

Business and community leaders established Floridians for Smarter Growth to combat this dangerous and costly amendment, almost guaranteed to solidify the loss of nearly 500,000 Florida jobs.  Companies will find more accommodating locations to build and thrive outside of Florida – locations that don’t have this type of issue holding them back.

 

If we have any hope of recovery from these troubling economic times, this will surely thwart any efforts or successes to this point.