Florida Hometown Democracy

The Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment is a proposed constitutional amendment that would take responsibility for planning away from local planners and elected officials and require the voters to decide on every comprehensive plan amendment. The UUCF Board of Directors have taken a position to support the efforts of the Foundation for Preserving Florida’s Future to keep this proposed constitutional amendment from being placed on the November ballot.

Please take a moment to review the following information as well as the other attachments included on this page. Please help UUCF to help you and other construction industries from going out of business.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF PASSED

• The nations most comprehensive statewide growth management law that requires input from professional planners, two public hearings, a review and an appeals process at the state level and numerous opportunities for citizens to participate in and challenge any changes to the Comprehensive Plan would be replaced by ballot box planning.
• Confusion and/or apathy caused by requiring voters to make complex land use decisions will potentially inhibit a local government’s ability

• to build new roads;
• build new schools;
• expand critical safety services (i.e. fire and police protection);
• maintain environmental areas;
• preserve open space;
• protect water supplies;
• manage disaster mitigation; and
• all other land use changes that positively affect our communities.

• Complex land use changes that sometimes involve hundreds of pages and years to approve would be decided at the polls. In 2003, there were over 12,000 amendments in Florida – in one county alone there were 1,300 plan amendments.
• Waiting for the "next regularly scheduled election," which in some cases is every two years, will make an already lengthy process of approving changes even longer and much more uncertain.
• There are no exemptions for schools, hospitals, libraries, public safety or other important community amenities.
• Individual property owners, small businesses, small community organizations will be forced to run expensive political campaigns in order to make simple changes to their land or expand.
• Wealthy individuals, communities within a county/city and special interest groups with the money to run expensive political campaigns will have greater ease at influencing land use changes on the ballot that protect their interests at the expense of others.
• The proposed amendment will not allow local officials and land use planning experts to make long range plans, which balance environmental concerns with growth and economic development.
• Loss of economic development causes business loss, job loss, and the inability to create new businesses and jobs – all resulting in a loss of county/city revenue.
• Loss of county/city revenue will result in an increase in local taxes and/or a cut in services.

The Facts About Hometown Democracy
What You Need to Know Before Signing Petitions
Florida Hometown Democracy Payroll Stuffers