SCANNING Sarasota PLANNING

From 1000 Friends of Florida : Managing Growth: Promoting a Sustainable Future Since its inception in 1986, 1000 Friends of Florida has been the state’s leading advocate for managing growth to promote a sustainable, livable and economically healthy future for Florida. This advocacy continues today, as 1000 Friends takes the lead on issues ranging from conserving natural lands and waters, to fighting to restore citizen rights. Background on the 1985 Growth Management Act Florida’s process of managing growth was born in the 1970s and 1980s when – much like today — the state’s population reached 1,000 new residents a day and environmental, water quality, transportation and other associated issues were paramount. Recognizing the serious ramifications for Florida’s quality of life and economy, state leaders put in place a host of new environmental measures over those earlier decades. Beginning in 1972, the state first took serious steps to start managing the many impacts associated with ram...

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 se...

For Immediate Release For more information contact: Shawn Bartelt, President,  League of Women Voters of Sarasota County president@lwvsrq.org From Siesta Key to East County, What You Need to  Know about Sarasota County’s Growth Management. Register here to attend , or  watch on the LWV Facebook page   Wednesday, Jan. 24, 6 pm at Gulf Gate Library For four consecutive years in our annual Sarasota County Citizen Opinion Survey , county residents say growth and development are their top concerns. From Siesta Key to Lakewood Ranch Southeast, changes to our Comprehensive Plan and other growth management policies are impacting our communities.  The League of Women Voters invites you to  attend an informational event  about growth, the planning process and how citizens are getting involved. Presenters include Lourdes Ramirez, the president of Siesta Key Community, and Susan Schoettle, a former assistant county attorney and president of Keep the Country. ...