An awful lot of development’The Tampa Tribune – Published: March 29, 2010Every legislative session, pro-growth lawmakers try to weaken growth rules. This year the pretext is to restore lost construction jobs, as if a worthy motive validates the false assumption that state and local governments have somehow stopped developers.It was overbuilding, the collapse of the housing and financial markets and the related recession, not growth restrictions that ended Florida’s real-estate boom.Throughout the painful slowdown, developers have been busy applying for, and winning, permission to build. In 2007, 2008 and 2009, according to the state Department of Community Affairs, local governments approved 1,856 changes to their land-use maps.Nearly 600,000 new dwelling units were approved. That’s more than three times the amount needed to accommodate the state’s actual three-year population growth.The new projects may all have been worthy of approval, but they do add to a large capacity for new houses already available in local growth plans, not to mention the inventory of existing homes on the market. Construction has not begun on most of these newly approved, ready-to-go projects, and is not likely to begin this year.Nonresidential capacity also has been increasing rapidly, even as the state’s unemployment rate has gone up. In the last three years, more than 1.3 billion square feet of floor area has been approved for new or expanded stores, offices and industries.That much commercial space is equal to about 13,000 Walmarts.”That’s an awful lot of development,” says Tom Pelham, head of Community Affairs.Most of the nonresidential changes were made last year as developers rushed to get projects approved before the possible passage of a state constitutional amendment called Florida Hometown Democracy (Amendment 4).That cumbersome measure, which will be voted on in the November general election, would require voter approval of any change in local land-use plans.The unpredictability and expense of running everything past voters would be a significant barrier to growth. But the strong push for the amendment by some environmentalists and civic activists is a reaction to frequent changes made in local growth plans.The best way for state leaders to convince voters to reject the amendment is to stand firm on existing growth laws designed to balance the need for growth with protections for taxpayers and the environment.Local leaders can help by being less eager to approve requests for sprawling, poorly designed projects.It can be argued that the development-approval process should be streamlined, but it can’t seriously be argued that state and local rules are to blame for silencing the nail machines, saws and bulldozers.In addition to the nationwide recession and banking crisis, Florida has its own problems.Unemployment is rising and is not expected to peak until this summer. Rates for property insurance have gone up. Lawn watering is widely restricted. Many roads are inadequate for the traffic they carry.Tax reform failed to make the system fair for all homeowners; some still pay much more than their neighbors.Florida is no longer one of the least expensive states in which to live; it is among the most costly. It is a less desirable destination than it was a decade ago.No wonder there are rumblings from voters about seizing more control of growth decisions.Yet Florida remains a special state with enormous appeal. Even a modest neighborhood in an ordinary town offers coveted amenities, including bright winters, swimming pools, palms and live oaks, and year-round cookouts in the back yard.Florida’s economic recovery and future growth depend on how well its leaders deal with the real challenges faced by residents.The state cannot restart the population boom, even if it rezones every pasture and forest for houses and apartments.

The Miami Herald reported today, the passing of a former UEL Board Member James G. Broton. We mourn the loss of Jim, a dedicated community activist from Spring Garden. UEL Vice President Ernie Martin, who lives in Spring Garden, said:”He was a little eccentric, but we loved him. Jim had a quirky attitude about things, but also had a very good sense of humor.”

The Park has been entered in a grant competition sponsored by Edy’s Fruit Bars and the Fruit Tree Planting foundation. The top vote getter will receive 50 fruit trees. The 50 new trees we could obtain with this grant would be a nice addition for the park. We would like to enlist your help in obtaining the trees. All we ask is that you please go to Communities Take Root and vote for the Fruit and Spice Park. You are able to vote daily so please take a few minutes and go online and vote for the Fruit & Spice Park Project. IF THE LINK DOESN’T WORK TRY THIS ONE: http://www.communitiestakeroot.com/Plant/IndexAll of us at the Fruit and Spice Park would like to thank you in advance for your help in this matter.Fruitandspicepark@miamidade.gov

We hope Miami takes a look at the Broward County great program promoting training for green jobs. This is from their website about the OIC Green Training Initiative:What is Green? What is a “Green” industry or occupation? The term “green,” is widely applied to a substantial variety of products, services, and even lifestyle or consumer choices. The green economy encompasses the economic activity related to reducing the use of fossil fuels, decreasing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the efficiency of energy usage, recycling materials, and developing and adopting renewable sources of energy. 1, 2, 3, 4 There are many aspects of work that could be considered green, such as new materials, methods, products, and services. However, we do not yet have a common language capturing the broad and varied nature of green industries and jobs. Several states and many local organizations are working collaboratively to better understand and promote the effects of clean and green technology on our economy.One of the goals of The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 “Recover Act” is to create new jobs and save existing ones. An example of this the Act plans investment in the domestic renewable energy industry and the weatherizing of 75 percent of federal buildings as well as more than one million private homes around the country.The Green Training Initiative provided by Opportunities Industrials Collaborative of Broward County (OICB) will provide training in the areas of: * Energy Efficiency Relates to increasing energy efficiency (broadly defined), making energy demand response more effective, constructing “smart grids,” and other energy efficient activities. * Renewable Energy Industries Relates to developing and using energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass. This sector also includes traditional, non-renewable sources of energy undergoing significant green technological changes (e.g., oil, coal, gas, and nuclear).The Energy Training Partnership Grant and the Pathways Out of Poverty Grant offers training if the above two areas. Employment opportunities for these grants include:Energy Training PartnershipSolar Thermal System Designer and InstallerSolar PV System Designer and Installer – SkilledSolar PV System Installer – Entry LevelWeatherization Technician and InstallersLEED Green Associate Pathways Out Of PovertySolar PV System Installer – Entry LevelWeatherization Technician and InstallersThese grants are part of a larger Recovery Act initiative to fund workforce development projects that promote economic growth by preparing workers for careers in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.

Saturday, March 27Planning for Virginia KeyRusty Pelican, 3201 Rickenbacker Causeway, Virginia Keyfrom 9:00 AM-11:00 PMThe event is free and there will be free breakfast munchies and coffee.email UELinfo@bellsouth.net for further Info.The Urban Environment League invites interested members of the public to the Rusty Pelican for an update on planning for Virginia Key. In addition to efforts undertaken by a coalition of organizations interested in Virginia Key, the group will be joined by students from the University of Miami (UM) who are developing plans for Virginia Key and the Marine Stadium Basin in cooperation with the City of Miami Administration. The Coalition hopes to incorporate the results of the student work in its final recommendations for the Master Plan for Virginia Key, scheduled to be presented to the City Commission in June or July.