| After what many consider one
our nation's most divisive presidential elections, there is good news to
report at the local level in Florida. Voters in a number of counties
directly approved measures intended to limit sprawl and protect
environmental lands. Audubon took a position on a number of these and
helped mobilize our members and the public to vote yes. These results
show that when voters and taxpayers are personally involved in
decision-making, they vote to protect the environment.
Here are some examples of local
conservation efforts around Florida that made waves.
Miami-Dade: Building
Better Communities bond referendum. Item #2 was passed with over 58% of
the vote. This bond program will provide funding $40 million for
Miami-Dade's Environmentally Endangered Lands program. Funding will go
towards acquisition. The EEL acquisition priority list includes land
prioritized for preservation and restoration in coastal Everglades
habitat.
Read more about this program.
Martin County: Lands
for You II, 1% sales tax referendum. This proposal was narrowly defeated
by 51.5% of the vote- a loss by 2,150 votes. While not successful, this
close defeat shows that, despite economic losses suffered as a result of
the 2004 hurricanes, citizens are gravely concerned about the continued
loss of wildlife habitat and green space. If passed this initiative
would have raised an estimated $70 million for acquisition of local land
preservation and passive recreational land over three years. This vote
coincides with a County Commission election that may continue to
maintain poorly planned growth decisions that have increased the number
of developments in controversial areas.
Lake County: Local
voters passed a small increase in property taxes by an enormous 71% that
will fund land acquisition (from willing sellers only) efforts for the
County. Geographically important for conservation efforts to protect the
Green Swamp and Wekiva watersheds, this initiative will go far in
protecting remaining wildlife habitat and water resources. The Green
Swamp is designated by the State of Florida as an Area of Critical State
Concern, which is a major source of replenishment for the Floridan
Aquifer. Protection of the Green Swamp and Wekiva watersheds are
priority Audubon of Florida conservation issues.
Read more about the Green Swamp here....
Also in Lake County, voters in Groveland approved a charter amendment
limiting Green Swamp development by over an overwhelming ballot return.
Led by local advocates- Citizens Coalition of Lake County, this
successful charter amendment aims to limit growth in the Green Swamp to
1 house on every 5 acres.
Brevard County: In
another local move to protect conservation lands, voters approved the
extension of a significant environmentally sensitive land acquisition
program. Passed by 69% of the voting electorate, this EEL program has
targeted over 70,000 acres of lands, including important endangered
Florida Scrub Jay habitat.
Palm Beach County
voters returned a firm NO on threats to the Everglades in western Palm
Beach County by passing a voluntary annexation referendum with a vote of
54%. Aggressively fought by development interests and local cities, this
measure creates more County Commission oversight of decisions that could
convert rural agricultural and environmentally significant lands into
sprawling high-intensity housing and condos in the Everglades
Agricultural Area.
Read more about this issue here...
Seminole County
voters passed, by 56%, a unique approach to conservation of rural areas.
Fed up by municipal zoning that often favors poorly planned growth,
citizens approved a referendum measure that establishes a "rural area"
in the eastern part of the county and makes it more difficult for cities
to annex into the area. This new designation enacts a requirement that
county approval is needed for new municipal annexations that might open
the way for development in rural portions of the county near the St.
Johns and Econlockahtchee Rivers.
Indian River County
voters approved by 67% a 1/2 mill increase in property taxes to fund a
$50 million environmental land acquisition bond issue.
A landmark turnout of voters in
Volusia County helped to approve an urban growth
boundary in the county's charter. This referendum was heavily opposed by
development interests, but voters decided in favor of this Audubon
supported proposal by 70%.
Read more about Audubon of Florida's position on Growth Management.
Osceola County
realized a well-timed conservation victory with voters approving a new
environmentally sensitive lands bond referendum. Led by a small group of
forward thinking developers and a strong 67% voting block, Osceola
County residents passed a bond referendum to acquire and manage
important wildlife habitat and green space. Supported with a small
property tax levy, the bond program aims to raise $60 million for
environmentally significant lands otherwise lost to sprawl and bad
growth management decisions. |
