Orange County fights back against huge developers - how they're doing

Sound advice from folks fighting developers in Orange County Florida -- Craig Pittman in the Florida Phoenix:


  • Use the talents of your neighbors. Bonilla had expertise in marketing, for instance, while other Save Orange County board members were versed in biology and other fields that became important to opposing any zoning changes.
  • Attack from every angle. Save Orange County used everything from social media to Change.com petitions to door-to-door campaigns to spread the word about their crusade to stay rural.
  • Don’t expect the paid government staff to take your side. They have likely been holding closed-door meetings with the developer and his or her consultants — who are probably former government employees.
  • Weigh down your opponent. Even on that one project where they lost, they persuaded county officials to impose a host of conditions that has slowed construction.
  • Point out how the development will damage existing homeowners. For instance, filling in wetlands is likely to send the water that the wetlands once absorbed cascading onto adjacent properties.*
  • Be sure you vote for candidates who share your vision of the area’s future. When their own commissioner betrayed them, people voted for Bonilla.
  • Be prepared to put yourself on the line. Bonilla, after two terms as commissioner, is not allowed to run again. As a result, Semrad is now a candidate for her seat on the county commission.

*This is a key issue for the Horton proposal at the Celery Fields - the entire area is in a Flood Zone, according to this FEMA map:





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