Reality Check review and images

[riverkeepered]

Blinders prevent you from seeing reality.  I am advocating for taking off the blinders.  It also depends on your intentions and how you respond to both situations.  If you are wrong and underestimate, at least you may the opportunity to adapt and make corrections to accomodate for those changes.  I am sure that the folks at Rivertown wish they had been more conservative in their speculations.  Take a drive down SR - 13 to this planned community this weekend, if you want to see what I am talking about.  Just don't get run over by the tumbleweeds.

[tufsu1]

I am very aware of Rivertown....and I am sure St. Joe regrest some of their decisions....of course some things were date certain requirements by state and local agencies as part of the Development Order.

[Charles Hunter]

I've heard that, because of the "certainty" of RiverTown, northern options for the Outer Beltway, were rejected.

[riverkeepered]

That is the one thing that I hope we can avoid - "regret".   We are in need of a paradigm shift in how we build and plan our communities.  Much of our previous "planning" efforts and mistakes have unfortunately  often resulted with regret.  We regret that we allowed sprawl to consume the state and cause the majority of rivers, streams, and lakes to become impaired.  We regret that we have overallocated our groundwater water resources and are now forced to look for other sources.  We regret that we have destroyed over half of the wetlands in this state and many of our springs are in decline.  We regret that we have vacant stripmalls and condos, empty lots, and foreclosures throughout the state.

Part of the reason for our mistakes is because we failed to utilize all of the information and facts that were available to us at the time and to honestly assess our needs and impacts.  We simply must begin to make more informed, honest and prudent decisions.  If reality check or any other exercises like it is going to help us to plan and grow smarter, then it must be transparent, open, and make use of the latest and most credible information.  

[tufsu1]

I've heard that, because of the "certainty" of RiverTown, northern options for the Outer Beltway, were rejected.

semi-true....St. Joe was adamantly opposed to the Outer Beltway traversing their property...had FDOT decided to go that route, they would have had to acquire the land via eminent domain...and you can imagine the cost for that.

and riverkeepered, having worked on development projects from both sides, I can tell you that the questions you raised above are often part of the discussion....but remember that nothing is black & white...their are pros and cons to almost every decision...and I am sure that there are many folks in Florida (not me) who think that the positives of the state's development over the last 50 years far outweigh the negatives.

[riverkeepered]

Reality Check may need to "check" its future population projections:

According to a recent St. Pete Times article, Florida is losing population for the first time since World War II.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/economicdevelopment/article1026447.ece