Gov. Jeb Bush signs bill making it easier to turn farms into subdivisions

[seafan]

Gov. Bush signs bill making it easier to turn farms into subdivisions



By Andy Reid
June 21 2006

Gov. Jeb Bush signed a new state law Tuesday that makes it easier for subdivisions and shopping centers to replace farms and ranches across Florida.

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Environmentalists and local governments opposed the legislation, saying it limits the ability to control growth into rural areas.
Bush vetoed a similar version in 2004, citing concerns that it encouraged sprawl and took land-planning power away from local governments.

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"What we were trying to do is bring fairness to the farm," said Ben Parks, legislative director for the Florida Farm Bureau. "Everything a farmer has is based on his property and his property values. That is his bank."

But instead of protecting farmers' rights, the law threatens to open more land to development, said Charles Pattison, executive director of the growth watchdog group 1,000 Friends of Florida. "It can lead to the premature converting of agricultural lands statewide," Pattison said. "What it says is you get automatic consideration. Local government then has no flexibility."

The push for the legislation came as Callery-Judge Grove owners were running into opposition from Palm Beach County officials about plans to build 10,000 homes on citrus groves split by Seminole Pratt Whitney Road and surrounded by The Acreage.

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The law limits the time period for local governments and representatives for the properties to try to reach agreements on the amount of development allowed on the land. That creates "more burdens" for local governments, which could lead to more litigation, Palm Beach County lobbyist Todd Bonlarron said.

The law applies to unincorporated areas, but cities will feel the consequences of increased traffic that comes from more development of rural land, Palm Beach Gardens Mayor Joseph Russo said.
"Western development if it is not done properly can destroy the quality of life we have here," said Russo, who called on Bush to veto the legislation.

Jeb continuously touts how *good* he's been for Florida.

Somehow, this is not unlike burning the city out of spite when the conqueror feels threatened by the citizens' army of opposition.

Now that Jeb is being forced out of power in January, he will extract his pound of flesh against all perceived opposition.

[sam sarrha]

1. its because he got a BIG campaign contribution from the Soylant Green Corp

soon to come out with Soylant Chinese Flavor...

[justice1]

2. Today is the 3rd year anniversary of my mother-in-laws death.

She had a farm that a developer wanted, and ended up dying under suspicious circumstances. Even before she was buried, we started hearing rumors that the developer owned the property. The family farm that was supposed to go to my boys ended up with the developer. To add insult to injury, I have to pay for that mother fuckers water and sewage to be hooked up to the lake I live on.

Do you think I could find one decent person in the state of Nebraska to help? Fuck no!

I have to get off of here, the more I think about it, the more pissed off I get.

[Deja Q]

3. Hmmm, flip-flopping within a 2 year period.

So why is it a good thing now when it wasn't only 2 years ago?

20 years with a solid explanation, maybe.

What a turkey. "Fairness to the farm"? Betcha his actions will have the opposite effect; though the corporate think that as long as they get the goods in the end, it's never unfair.

[HuffleClaw]

4. ??? he VETOED the same thing two years ago ???

wonder who changed his mind. i'm guessing it was ben franklin, ulysses s. grant and andrew jackson.

[Mika]

5. But but but .. its the democrat DEATH TAX that is killing farms.

NOT!

[struggle4progress]

6. Today's so-called "Farm Bureau" is an anti-environmental racket --

and it ain't controlled by ordinary farmers ...