On October 16^th the Volusia League of Cities, Volusia County Association for Responsible Development (VCARD) and the Daytona Beach Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a community forum to discuss different aspects of Florida Hometown Democracy (Amendment 3, which will appear on the November 2010 ballot). Dozens of Volusia County businesspeople, government officials and citizens attended to listen to the views of a specially assembled panel.  

Panel members included Brian Teeple, Chief Executive Officer, Northeast Florida Regional Council, who spoke on planning; Alan C. Sheppard, Greenberg-Traurig Law Firm addressed legal issues; Charles Lee, Audubon of Florida addressed environmental aspects; and Ryan Houck of Floridians For Smarter Growth who spoke of alternatives to HTD.  It was noted that, despite repeated requests, leaders of the statewide Hometown Democracy initiative had declined to participate. Mark Watts, Cobb Cole spoke of Senate Bill 360, Florida’s ‘Community Renewal Act. Volusia County Chairman Frank Bruno emceed the event.

The Hometown Democracy proposal, which will appear on the November 2010 ballot as Amendment 4, likely will ignite one of the biggest campaign fights of next year's elections. The proposed amendment, if passed, would require that voters decide all future changes to local comprehensive growth-management plans; blueprints that guide development in cities and counties. Hometown Democracy would effectively give the public veto power over development issues that are decided by government officials.

Opponents (including the Chamber) believe Hometown Democracy would create a cumbersome development approval process that could hurt efforts to attract new business to Florida.

Ryan Houck of Floridians for Smarter Growth called Amendment 4 a "sledgehammer solution" and said the state needs to devise strategies to manage growth, not send the issues to election ballots noting, "That's not planning. That's politics."

Hometown Democracy supporters, however, argue elected officials across the state are too closely tied to builders and developers.

HTD has mixed feedback from environmental groups. Charles Lee, a longtime Audubon of Florida leader who appeared on the panel Friday, said his group has remained neutral on the proposal and Lee is unsure of how he will vote on the amendment.

Volusia and Flagler's taxable property valuations dropped about 18 percent and 16.6 percent respectively in 2008, according to preliminary figures recently released by county property appraisers. These declines range from 10.6 percent in DeBary; 16.8 percent in Palm Coast; and almost 24 percent in Deltona and Ponce Inlet. (The determinations are based on property values as of Dec. 31, 2008.)

These figures (and subsequent adjustments) will be used by local governments during the next several months to prepare their budgets and property tax rates for the upcoming year.

VCARD's June 5 forum analyzed this process of assessing property values, particularly focusing on the recent economic downturn's impact on property valuations and the assessment process. The forum include an indepth presentation by Volusia County Property Appraiser Morgan Gilreath. Thanks also to the other participants: Attorneys Mark Watts (Cobb Cole) and Mark Hall; Appraiser Cliff Fisher; and Program Coordinator Ron Nowviskie (Root Organization).

FYI - Legislation passed during the reecnt session (HB521) lends more support to property owners who challenge a county property appraiser's assessment of their property value. The new law refines the "presumption of correctness" for property appraisers when their assessments are challenged, thus giving the impacted property owners equality in the process. Previously, they held the burden to prove the assessor was wrong.

On June 26th, Volusia County Association for Responsible Development (VCARD) will partner with the Volusia League of Cities and the Business Development Partnership to present an educational program on opportunities available through properties designated as Brownfields. Brownfields are select properties whose previous use complicates redevelopment due to actual or "perceived" contamination.

The program will provide valuable information about the lucrative financial and economic incentives available to local governments and development professionals when updating some previously-developed properties. Included in this mix are many tracts within enterprise zones and community redevelopment districts.

Panelists will include representatives from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Florida Brownfields Association, Volusia County Department of Economic Development’s Interim Director Phil Ehlinger, and CobbCole Land Use Attorney Chris Challis.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon in the Daytona Beach International Airport’s second floor Volusia Room. The cost to attend is $23, which includes lunch afterward.

A limited number of sponsorship display tables are available at the program to VCARD member firms wishing to promote their services – particularly consulting firms that work in brownfields development or local government officials who would like to promote their prospective brownfield sites and opportunities. For details, call VCARD at (386) 257-4169.

NOTE: Approval is pending from the American Planning Association (APA) for members of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) to receive certification maintenance credits for attending this June 26 educational forum.