Tuesday, October 22, 2013

It's a case of the glitches dealing with growth management | The Florida Current

Another glitch growth management bill is being filed in the state legislature this year. Again, this is in direct reaction to the over-zealous attempt by some in instituting "Hometown Democracy" in 2010. Here's a good summary of what has happened.
The Legislature got involved after proposed the "Hometown Democracy" amendment to require citizen votes on changes to comprehensive land-use plans was voted down by 67 percent of voters statewide in 2010.
In 2011, the Legislature approved a sweeping bill scaling back state oversight of growth management while also prohibiting those referendums.
In 2012, the Legislature approved HB 7081, the first "glitch" bill exempting local governments with prior charter language allowing referendums. That led Yankeetown and a few other cities with charter language to drop a lawsuit.
During the 2013 session, the Legislature passed HB 537 after a circuit judge in Palm Beach County ruled that the 2012 law changes were broad and allowed Boca Raton residents to challenge an apartment complex.
HB 537 allowed votes that dealt affected five parcels or more. But Mooney-Portale said the requirement raises the question of whether any new development is allowed under the charter requirement for a referendum.
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