Rick Scott strips DCA of "regulatory functions" and plans to merge agencies

[CityLife]

As if Florida doesn't have enough problems with sprawl....

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20110201/ARTICLES/110209986/1109/sports?p=1&tc=pg

[dougskiles]

In 2009, the Florida population decreased by 58,000.  I haven't seen the numbers yet for 2010.  I imagine his team will focus on the 2010 census numbers and the population increase since 2000 (18%).  Will they acknowledge that most of that growth occured in the first half of the decade?

He talks about providing jobs - and clearly he is talking about construction jobs.  But if nobody is buying the product, who is going to be lending the money for developers to build more houses?

[north miami]

 a link to:

"Relationship Between Growth and Prosperity in 100 largest U.S. Metropolitan Areas"
can be found at    www.fodorandassociates.com

Fodor & Associates,a consulting firm based in Eugene Oregon and specializing in studying the fiscal,econiomic,and environmental impacts of urban growtrh and land development.
                                                   * * * *
The latest update from Hometown Democracy (Amend 4) begins:
"The hand-wringing of newspaper editorial pages continues over the promised demise of the Department of Community Affairs.Of course,the media lied through their teeth about Amendment 4,and now it's back to business as usual."

The Hometown update also notes a proposal is being floated to preserve 150,000 acres north of lake Okeechobee.
www.palmbeachpost.com/news/stste/turning-ranches-into-one big-refuge-1218687. html

Up here in Jacksonville there is a companion proposal centering around an emerging conservation ethic embracing "working" forests,ranch/ag and large scale rural and natural areas,interconnected state wide.
See various sites relating to Osceola to Ocala (National Forest),Conservation Trust for Florida

[dougskiles]

Great find, north miami.  Here is a direct link:

http://www.fodorandassociates.com/Reports/Growth_&_Prosperity_in_US_MSAs.pdf

[Jumpinjack]

And in Volusia and Brevard counties, 59,000 acres of trees and rural lands are getting ready to be bulldozed for the Farmton Development. Volusia  county has approved 23,000 homes and 1.4 million square feet of commercial space.

[Garden guy]

The ilk coming from this idiot is amazing...when are you people out there going to see that this jack ass gov. is ruining this state and is a thief an liar? impeach the governor now or we are all in trouble.

[Doctor_K]

And in Volusia and Brevard counties, 59,000 acres of trees and rural lands are getting ready to be bulldozed for the Farmton Development. Volusia  county has approved 23,000 homes and 1.4 million square feet of commercial space.

Just what Brevard County needs - more suburban and exurban sprawl.  Just about the entire county is nothing but that.  And it isn't even necessarily a "suburb" of an "urb!"

[tufsu1]

keep in mind that the "regulatory functions" are mandated by state law....merging of agencies can be done fairly easily....the other stuff requires major legislative action

[north miami]

And in Volusia and Brevard counties, 59,000 acres of trees and rural lands are getting ready to be bulldozed for the Farmton Development. Volusia  county has approved 23,000 homes and 1.4 million square feet of commercial space.

Ghost images,naked emperors revealed.

The Farmton area is composed of "working" forests,ranch/ag and popular hunting leases-a natural/rural landscape of regional proportions,a crown jewel for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission,Water management District, right leaning outdoor interests and classic GOP constituency....and they are all awe struck....like a deer frozen in bright lights.

We will have to weather Scott as if gigantic tropical storm.A lot of junk will litter the beach when it is over.

[Jumpinjack]

If it were only junk that we could pick up and clean up. Somethings will be gone for good.

[north miami]

If it were only junk that we could pick up and clean up. Somethings will be gone for good.

Yea-and this epic storm will be just like in the pioneer days before modern weather forecasting.
Think about it.

[Dashing Dan]

Over the past 20+ years the DCA become a very effective manager of growth.  When growth is well managed you can expect a high rate of growth. 

Conversely, I believe that the historic rate of growth in FL would have been much lower if it weren't for the DCA, given what they've done to centralize the growth management process and to make it more predictable.

If you take the wheels off the bus, as Scott proposes, then the rules for growth management will be set and enforced by hundreds of individual local governments, instead of by a single state agency.  From a local government perspective, that's not really such a bad thing.  Some of them will continue to manage growth very well.  But at the same time, with so many players playing by their own rules, it will become much more difficult for developers to know what to expect.  Uncertainty will lead to indecision, and in turn, indecision will lead either to inaction or to Georgia.

Although I do believe that growth in Florida will be unintentionally suppressed under Scott's new "growth leadership" rules, I am concerned that the growth that does occur will be more disruptive than it would have been if Scott had left the DCA well enough alone.

[ChriswUfGator]

Yes, you have a point, all Scott is doing is transferring expense from the state level to the local level so he can falsely claim "Look, I saved you money!" as though that money doesn't now have to be spent by another entity at the county/municipal level. It's really ludicrous.

[dougskiles]

According to the report posted above (by Fodor & Associates), a high growth rate is not necessarily good for a community.  Sure it puts money in the pockets of the builders and developers, but it also leads to a lower average income level for the entire community.

This study examines the relationship between growth and economic prosperity in the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas to determine whether certain benefits commonly attributed to growth are supported by statistical data. The annual population growth rate of each metro area from 2000 to 2009 is used to compare economic well-being in terms of per capita income, unemployment rate, and poverty rate. The study finds that faster growth rates are associated with lower incomes, greater income declines, and higher poverty rates.

Check out the statistics in the report.

Growth just for growth's sake does not lead to a stable economy.  That some of our politicians are suggesting we go right back to what caused much of our recent decline is mind-boggling to me.

[Jdog]

Enterprise Florida names new president at Scott's urging


F. Gray Swoope Jr. of the Mississippi Development Authority was hired Monday as president of Enterprise Florida, the organization announced.

Swoope, 49, had the backing of Gov. Rick Scott, who wrote a letter to Enterprise Florida vice chairman Hal Melton urging the board to "move as expeditiously as possible" to hire him. Scott wants Swoope to also serve as head of a new state commerce department that would house all of Florida's economic development efforts.

Swoope's contract was not final, but the board discussed an annual salary of $130,000 that with incentives would not exceed $300,000, said Enterprise Florida spokesman Stuart Doyle.

"As you get to know Gray, I am certain you will be as excited as I am about the role he can play in helping Florida businesses expand, recruiting new industry to our state and, ultimately, creating new jobs for our citizens," Scott wrote in the letter to Melton.

Last month, Scott fired John A. Adams Jr. as president of the public-private business development arm of the state, saying he wanted to take the group in a "different direction." Adams was owed at least $132,000.

Swoope is credited with bringing Toyota, PACCAR and GE Aviation to Mississippi.

Michael C. Bender can be reached at mbender@sptimes.com.


http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/enterprise-florida-names-new-president-at-scotts-urging/1154415