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Protect Clermont from the "4"

The below Myword published in the Orlando Sentinel today is by Nancy Fullerton and is regarding the 6-7000 acres south of Clermont that some members of the Clermont city council want to open up for development. It's excellent and represents the view of a huge majority of the voters in Clermont and the County. The "Clermont 4"s interest in doing what is best for Clermont residents, is questionable at best.

I knew something was up when in late 2008 council member Robert Thompson called me and asked me if I could get the Citizens Coalition of Lake County to support an application for a land fill about a mile from the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern and the Withlacoochee River. Thompson is a likable guy, I've had a couple of beers with him in the past so I told him I'd look into it.

After researching the issue, it became apparent that the applicant was a client of Thompson's public relations/advertising company and "sister" company in the north Tampa area. They apparently had undertaken an effort to try to sway public opinion to support the landfill. Thompson told me he just wanted the applicant to get a "fair shake".

Further research showed that the 150 foot high garbage mountain would have been located in a Karst area prone to sinkholes. Should a sinkhole form under such a landfill, large quantities of leachate could have polluted groundwater, the Green Swamp, and the river.

Audubon of Florida, Hernando Audubon, neighboring landowners, legislators and local government officials joined in a campaign to strongly urge DEP to deny the permit. On Thursday, February 12,2009 DEP issued a formal notice of intent to deny the permit

This is when I first became disinterested in Thompson and formed the opinion that Thompson was more interested in revenue for his company than what was best for the South Lake community. Knowing this, reasonable people may wonder if Thompson's company is getting anything to lead the way on developing South Clermont - to give them a fair shake, of course.

Thompson was elected to the Clermont City Council in 2008 when nobody ran against him. Since there was not an opposing candidate, his name was not on the ballot . His term is up this year ( 11/2010). If he runs again, he'll sign up this summer. I suspect Clermont residents will let him know how they feel.

Nancy's Myword is below:

Protect Clermont   Orlando Sentinel, March 7, 2010

I am disenchanted with the nebulous, irresponsible ideas for development in Clermont proposed by four City Council members — proclaimed the “Clermont Four” by council member Ray Goodgame – and their disrespect for citizen input and disregard of previous visioning for the city.

Mr. Goodgame’s letters in the Orlando Sentinel Jan. 24 and Feb. 28 remind me of a modern-day wild-west gang of land hustlers with bandanas covering their faces bouncing in a huge four-wheel-drive truck over the hills south of Clermont that the county commissioners designated a Rural Protection Area in its new comprehensive-planning document, “Planning Horizon 2030.”

These are the hills of the Lake Wales Ridge, which Ömyregion.org identifies as a Ö“must save” place of Central Florida. These hills are essential to groundwater recharge that help maintain water levels in the Clermont Chain of Lakes and adequate hydration of the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern. These are the hills that would be sacrificed to the red herring “jobs”touted by Mr. Goodgame just as Niagara stated as the justification for its bottled-water plant.

Mr. Goodgame and council member Robert Thompson are leading the raid to annex 5,700 acres of this land between Clermont and the Four Corners. They say they are “protecting Clermont’s future” saying the future rests with the economic growth of the city, not in Rural Protection Areas where nothing can happen.
Well…therein lies the High Noon shootout over two hugely different futures for Clermont:

--The Goodgame Gang’s future of “areas suitable for real economic development at the size and scope of a Lake Nona…”
--The county’s plan for rural protection and sensible, needed growth.

I’ll side with the county and “Clermont One” – Mayor Hal Turville, the only council member who sees the costly consequences of such unneeded development. He respects previous public hearings and council decisions that shot down the Karlton project.

Clermont residents over the years have made their wishes clear. In visioning sessions, including those for the new county comp plan, we have defended our treasured lakes, hills and wetlands and small-town atmosphere.

Citizen input on the Goodgame gang’s “plan” has been zilch — promised but not provided — except for a poorly advertised Feb. 15 workshop.

We must insist on public hearings. We must prevent the future of the Goodgame gang that could further compromise the natural functions of our hills and lakes by intense development, destroy land that cannot be replicated and produce a lifestyle contrary to the wishes of the residents.

Nancy Fullerton of Clermont is an elected member
of the Lake County Water Authority's Board of Trustees and is a resident of Clermont.

County Commissioners Vote to Send 2030 Comprehensive Plan to State for Review

As described in the article below from the Orlando Sentinel, the public hearing for transmittal of the 2030 comprehensive plan was intense but everybody was well behaved. More than 50 people spoke for and against the plan. Developers and homebuilders spoke against the plan. Retirees, environmentalists, and the general public that has been concerned about the eroding quailty of life in Lake County due to overbuilding, spoke in favor of the plan.

Elaine Renick and Linda Stewart worked hard to try to ensure a number of important issues were retained in the plan. The plan recommended increasing the protection of the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern by prohibiting the expansion of sand mines and new mines but allowing for mining the existing site plans which would last for approx. 10-15 years. The mining industry lobbied hard to ensure they could keep mining the Green Swamp. Commissioners Renick and Stewart supported the recommendation. Commissioners Cadwell, Hill and Conner did not support the recommendation so it was removed.

Commissioner Cadwell then recommended (and the Comimssion approved) inserting language in the plan to keep the existing policies in place and to form a committee to make recommendations on the issue within the next 18 months. During this period of time there will be no expansion of mines or new mines.

There were a number of other issues as outlined in the article. In general the meeting went well. No groups got everything they wanted but the 2030 Plan has a good balance of land for economic development (not focused on houses) and protection for rural areas, sensitive areas, and quality of life in Lake County.

By Stephen Hudak, ORLANDO SENTINEL

3:08 p.m. EST, January 19, 2010

TAVARES - TAVARES – Lake County commissioners voted unanimously this afternoon to transmit a massive planning document that is expected to guide the county's growth for the next two decades to the state Department of Community Affairs.

Earlier, commissioners heard arguments from about 40 people who came to the all-day meeting to make their cases about the plan, which grew out of dozens of meetings with the public and was strongly supported by the environmental community. It was generally opposed by developers, who believe that too much property will be too tightly restricted under the provisions.

Among the topics discussed were whether to expand mining in the Green Swamp, considered one of the state's primary recharge area, and whether to lift a rural protection area from nearly 11,000 acres south of Clermont along U.S. Highway 27. Private property-rights advocates also had their say on the 388-page document known as Planning Horizon 2030.

How Much Should Lake County Grow By 2030?

Reported by Heather Sorentrue
source: Channel 13 News

TAVARES -- Lake County Commissioners spent the day Tuesday listening to some upset residents and business owners concerned about the county's plans for future development.

It has taken six years of debate just to get to this point.

Lake County Commissioners voted unanimously to send off their blueprint for growth to the state.

But there are still plenty of critics.

The county's current map has 5 percent of land set aside for commercial development.

The staff said their new plans nearly double that by the year 2030.

“We have to be prepared,” said Commissioner Linda Stewart. “When businesses or industry come here, we have to have the places for them to go. So that's very important. In talking to some business people and planners, we have, in our comp(rehensive) plan, provided enough space for them for us to grow economically.”

Critics argue Lake County's plan is too restrictive, bad for job creation and does not provide for as much economic growth as it sounds.

“There's no doubt there's more commercial shown on the map now than there was in 1992. However, much of it is already built, and I'm not sure that we've done enough,” said Tim Greene from the Lake County Chamber Alliance.

Others said you could argue it's never enough and believe the county has struck a good balance between preserving the environment and creating spaces for businesses to thrive.

“It's a very good plan, but it’s not focused on home building or it’s not focused on construction. So I think that's where a lot of the controversy in Lake County comes from,” said Rob Kelly from the Citizens Coalition of Lake County.

“Diversifying our economy is the most important thing we can do right now, and this comp plan works toward doing that,” Stewart said.

Once Lake County submits the comprehensive plan to the state, the state has 60 days to review it and make comments or criticisms.

Depending on what they say, the county has anywhere from 60 to 120 days to make any changes.

Lake County's growth management director said in a best case scenario they hope to have the final adoptive hearing for the plan by June.

The county charted out its growth plan based on a prediction that the population will jump to around 410,000 people by 2030.

It's currently just over 300,000.

Florida's problem luring jobs isn't taxes — it's loopholes and lack of direction

Source: Orlando Sentinel

Florida's problem luring jobs isn't taxes — it's loopholes and lack of direction

Mike Thomas

COMMENTARY

10:37 PM EST, January 18, 2010

As our top political minds ponder the task of rescuing Florida's dying economy — a scary thought indeed — let me propose a good start: Sell the Florida Chamber of Commerce to Mississippi.

Maybe we could get a couple pounds of fried catfish for it.

The Florida Chamber has become a parody of itself, a sham outfit devoted to the Third Worldization of the Florida economy.

For public consumption it gives us grandiose reports on bringing Florida into the 21st century. Then, in the backroom, it resorts to its hayseed, parochial roots of promoting the stagnant status quo.

The chamber typifies what critics of President Obama say about him — great on the soaring rhetoric but sorely lacking follow-through.

Given that Republicans often get their economic talking points from the chamber, and their contributions from chamber members, we then get trickled-down, dumbed-down economic policy. This was in evidence last week at the great economic summit in Orlando called by legislative leaders.

Not surprisingly, the focus was on more tax cuts and less regulation. But taxes and regulation are not why Florida is wandering aimlessly in our financial desert.

Florida has less government than Somalia.

For every state regulator, there are five lawyers to get you around the regulations.

According to the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan organization devoted to educating people about what they pay the government, Florida ranks 47th nationally in state and local tax burden.

There is a reason Tiger Woods lives here.

When it comes to business taxes, Florida ranks 45th nationally.

We are the nation's tax haven.

If lowering taxes and shrinking government were all it took to lure in high-wage businesses, we would be knee deep in six-figure nerds curing cancer and inventing 3-D interfaces for iPhones.

To get businesses, you need direction. You need smart taxes invested wisely.

Allow me to quote the Tax Foundation: "Good state tax systems levy low, flat rates on the broadest bases possible, and they treat all taxpayers the same."

Instead, Florida levies high tax rates on a narrow base of the economy. The chamber has been very much involved in pushing us in this direction.

It backed Amendment 1, against the advice of almost every economist and Florida TaxWatch. This property tax measure further exacerbated the distortion in property taxes created by Save Our Homes. It will further sabotage the economy by shifting even more of the tax burden on businesses, investors and new homebuyers.

The chamber has not supported closing sales-tax loopholes. One of these protects many Internet businesses from charging the tax, giving them an unfair advantage over local businesses.

Again, quoting the Tax Foundation: "A principled approach to (sales) tax policy calls for all … goods to be included in the tax base, to keep the base broad, rates low, and prevent distortions in the marketplace."

We give tax breaks to everything from ostrich feed to bottled water to Super Bowl tickets. We are one big, distorted mess, with legislators and special-interest groups intervening in the market by picking the winners and losers. It's almost as bad as the federal tax code.

And then, to lure in new businesses, we distort things even more with tax incentives just for them.

Our economic model is based on giving every member of the chamber its personalized tax break, and then bribing other businesses into moving here with their tax breaks.

Florida needs a good, equitable business climate for all.

And if you believe the chamber reports, it needs modern infrastructure, an educated workforce, a good quality of life and, most of all, top-flight schools from pre-K classrooms to university research programs.

Most recently, the chamber signed on to a Council of 100 report calling for major reforms and big investments in education, which include doubling university funding in the next five years.

It is an excellent report. As we've seen in states from California to North Carolina, quality universities are major economic engines.

Full speed ahead, says the chamber, while at the same time demanding more special-interest tax cuts and devoting itself to the proliferation of more rampant growth.

It would be nice to see the chamber stand behind its words, to stand up for equitable, conservative tax policies capable of funding the things it says we need.

For once, I'd like to see the Florida Chamber of Commerce put up or shut up.

Mike Thomas can be reached at 407-420-5525 or mthomas@orlandosentinel.com.

Copyright © 2010, Orlando Sentinel

Builders push projects in Orange in case rules change

This is a good article highlighting the major projects that developers in Orange Co. are trying to get approved. The glut of residential and commercial has resulted in officials backing off from supporting new approvals.

The situation is similar in Lake County - millions of sq. ft. of commercial land use is approved at the Turnpike/27 exchange and in Minneola, Leesburg, Groveland, and Clermont that is unbuilt. Ten's of thousands of homes are approved (close to 100,000) in Lake County and unbuilt.

Supply and demand economics proves that if projects continue to be approved, the viability of projects already approved decreases. This results in a lack of community focus, disappearing rural areas without demonstration of need, and the quality of life in Lake County erodes. 

Many of the requests are being made under the guise of "economic development."

Source: By David Damron, Orlando Sentinel

12:29 AM EST, January 12, 2010

Builders are racing to line up development rights on major new housing and commercial projects before the proposed state constitutional Amendment 4 heads to voters this fall and, if passed, takes control of growth decisions away from elected officials.

But the current glut of unsold homes and commercial real estate is conspiring against would-be developers. They're also running up against new data showing that tens of thousands of residential units — and millions of square feet of commercial and industrial space — have already received development approval but are unbuilt.

As a result, even Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty, whose promotion of additional development has included construction of the Innovation Way corridor in east Orange County, has said it's time to take a breather. Crotty last week said he would oppose three massive projects in east Orange that are expected to seek County Commission approval this year.

"These were hard calls," Crotty said of his decision, noting that all three are outside the "urban-services area" of existing roads, water and sewer systems. "But I had to look at the big picture."

Analyses by Orlando and Orange County growth officials, requested by the Orlando Sentinel, show that elected leaders have approved construction of 93,540 new residential units that have yet to be built by developers. That's almost as many new residences as the 119,323 that exist in the city of Orlando today.

An additional 68 million square feet of office and commercial space has been approved but not built, the analyses showed. So has 51 million square feet of industrial space, and 83,732 new hotel rooms.

Development consultants and government planners caution that these "eye-opening" totals count maximum development capacities, which often never materialize. In some cases, they say, the projects got their approvals years ago and may be defunct; others won't be built out for years or decades.

Still, all sides agree that the total of already-approved projects is substantial. And the data add fuel to the long-standing debate as to whether growth is being regulated properly now.

"I hope this opens some eyes," said Suzanne Arnold, a leader of the Lake Mary Jane Alliance, a growth watchdog in Central Florida. "The county commissioners are certainly hearing from residents about this."

Given what's already approved, Arnold said, "they obviously need to put the brakes on."

Developers fear that the so-called "Hometown Democracy" measure could sharply constrict future developments by requiring voter approval of major changes in a government's comprehensive plan. So despite the glut of unbuilt (and unsold) properties, they plan to come before elected officials this year to ensure they won't have to seek voter approval.

This is especially true in east Orange, where vast expanses of pasture and woodlands would be transformed into subdivisions, town centers, and industrial and research parks under current proposals. Some would serve the "medical city" being built just north of Lake Nona; others would jump-start the proposed high-tech corridor that Crotty has dubbed Innovation Way.

At least four major projects — which would add 20,440 residential units, and millions of square feet of commercial and industrial space — are poised to come before the County Commission, including:

Innovation Way East, a mixed-use development that includes about 8,000 proposed residential units and 1.2 million square feet of office, commercial and industrial space.

Camino Reale, which seeks 4,000 residences and 1.6 million square feet of office, commercial and industrial space.

Rybolt Park, which plans for 5,000 new residences, as well as a 1.1 million-square-foot research park, and more than 1 million square feet set aside for office and retail.

International Corporate Park project, which envisions 1 million square feet of commercial property, 10.4 million square feet of industrial and office space, and about 3,440 residential units.

Crotty now says he will urge that only the ICP project be considered this year, in hopes it will attract new companies — and jobs — to the county.

The others, he said, should wait until at least 2012, when the economy hopefully will have improved and the recently approved SunRail commuter-rail project will be coming online to improve transportation and job opportunities.

"It's not the time to be focusing on sprawling development," said Crotty, who's term-limited after this year.

Jim Lewis, a real-estate-market consultant for the Rybolt Park project, said leaders should note that east Orange County is not suffering from the same housing oversupply issues affecting the rest of Central Florida.

The growth around the University of Central Florida, including military and simulation-research industries as well as the "medical city" development around nearby Lake Nona, points to future housing needs there, he said.

"A blanket moratorium [on approving development] would be a mistake," Lewis said.

Crotty is not proposing such a moratorium, but the mayor's opposition to the projects in the short term could have that effect.

Three of the leading candidates to succeed Crotty as county mayor next year — County Commissioners Mildred Fernández, Bill Segal and Linda Stewart — said last week that they largely agree with Crotty and likely would oppose the same three projects.

"We have so much in the pipeline and in foreclosure, it is very hard for me to conceive of approving any new major development," Fernández said.

David Damron can be reached at ddamron@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5311.

Copyright © 2010, Orlando Sentinel

1/7/2010 Program: The Green Swamp; What is it? What new threats face it?

 

THE ALLIANCE TO PROTECT WATER RESOURCES - Program Announcement

What better way to start off the new year than an hour+ program on one of Lake County's most valuable jewels? The vast majority of Lake County folks understand the value it provides as one of the last intact ecosystems in Florida. Click here for interactive info on the Green Swamp provided by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. It's pretty cool!

 

 

The Green Swamp is widely regarded as the second most important ecosystem in Florida just behind the Everglades. A large portion of the Green Swamp is right here in Lake County and we are responsible to protect it with the highest standards possible for future generations. After all, there are some folks that lick their chops to develop the Green Swamp.

 

THE ALLIANCE TO PROTECT WATER RESOURCES - Program Announcement

 

"The Green Swamp; What is it? What New Threats Face It?

 

Join us on Thursday, January 7th, at 7pm, at Jenkins Auditorium, in downtown Clermont to enjoy an interesting and informative program on the Green Swamp and The Area of Critical State Concern, presented by Green Swamp advocate Peggy Cox. We will learn about the necessity of the Area of Critical State Concern and the natural beauty and habitats encompassed by the Green Swamp. 

Peggy Cox is a member of the Alliance, past President and recent Conservation Chair of Orange Audubon Society, and a recent director on the Audubon of Florida Board of Directors.

 

Looking ahead, The Alliance will be hosting awarding winning journalist and author, Craig Pittman, of the St. Petersburg Times at our February meeting.

For more information on or meeting or directions to Jenkins Auditorium, please call 321-436-4932 or 352-394-1839.

 

Crofton: EDC will consider verifying jobs numbers

Beth Kassab, Business Columnist of the Orlando Sentinel published an article December 20th related to the ongoing EDC problems that several Central Florida counties are experiencing. For several months we have reported on the issues which include the EDC providing inaccurate job creation numbers to Lake, no accountability or measurements for success in the Lake/EDC contract, and certain EDC activities that are extensions of the Lake County government and therefore required by law to operate under Florida's Sunshine Laws, but currently do not.

Beth's article focuses on Meg Crofton, the president of Walt Disney World who took over the lead role on the EDC's board in September 2009.

Crofton: EDC will consider verifying jobs numbers
Beth Kassab

Business Columnist

December 20, 2009

Meg Crofton, the chairwoman of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, says the agency is reconsidering its policy of not verifying the number of jobs it says it helps create each year.

The agency has come under fire since this column reported last month that its job creation figures are unreliable. When the EDC reports its year-end accomplishments to the four county governments and the city of Orlando that it relies on for $2 million — or 35 percent of its annual budget — it gives a number that is based on multiyear projections from companies and never confirms the claims.

Crofton, the president of Walt Disney World who took over the lead role on the EDC's board in September, sat down with me last week to talk about her philosophy on economic development and diversifying Orlando's industries.

Her remarks about how the EDC should consider confirming its own numbers are a departure from EDC President Ray Gilley's position that taking the time to verify the figures is a waste of staff resources.

She said she understood that, in the past, the practice was not considered the "highest and best use of our resources."

"That said, maybe we should going forward," Crofton said. "We've already said we will endeavor to be even more precise and make sure our constituencies understand the numbers that we're reporting. But we've heard loud and clear from some of our stakeholders that maybe that is something they want us to do, so we're talking about it now."

In Seminole County, for example, the EDC said 902 new jobs came to the county in the financial year that ended in September because of its work. But calls to the 11 companies the EDC said created those jobs determined that only 211 new positions could be verified.

In this economy, where unemployment is at its highest level in more than 30 years, it's more important than ever that the EDC's figures be trustworthy.

"Any business is about getting to a point of how great we can be and continuous improvement. So if part of continuous improvement is to look at this verification process, we will absolutely do that."

Read the complete article.

Orlando a top 10 hardest City to find a job

 Orlando is #10 in the top 10 hardest cities to find a job with 8.92 people unemployed for every advertised job.

Job search engine Juju.com ranked the cities that are the toughest places to find a job based on the number of unemployed in a metro area vs. the number of jobs available. 

The rankings (and rates) were determined by using government data on the number of unemployed people in each city and then divided by the number of jobs posted online in thousands of employer job Web sites and career portals. 

Check out the ten cities where jobs are the hardest to find - CNBC.com posted a slideshow. 

Orlando is #10
Miami is #3
Detroit, MI is #1

Source: Juju.com 

Posted Dec. 29, 2009 CNBC.com 

Update 1: The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission just doesn’t get it

This morning we posted a story from Lauren Ritchie's blog at the Orlando Sentinel regarding the EDC throwing a party at the Bella Collina clubhouse for volunteers who served on the EDC Advisory Council.

According to Lauren's update, the EDC got back to her and indicated that the cost to the EDC is estimated at up to $1,500.  The agency had a bigger turnout than expected. Its vice president for marketing and communications, Maureen Brockman, called the party “a most worthy investment.”

So we are giving the EDC our hardearned taxpayer money and the EDC is using some of it to pay for parties for a select few. It doesn't get much better that that in Lake County. You bet it was a "most worthy investment". Now the EDC can ask all of these people to pressure the Lake County Commissioners to continue funding the EDC next year.

The Lake Commissioners recently unanimously approved approximately $300,000 in funding for the EDC with no more than a statement that the EDC will "promote Lake County." (we paraphrase) There were no goals and no standards of measurement. We have a hunch the Commissioners approved such a contract with the intent of skirting Florida's Government in the Sunshine Laws which requires transparency when a government contracts out it's own functions.

Ray Gilley, President of the EDC receives salary and bonus of $326,759 a year. Gilley and the vice president combined took home $537,827.

The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission just doesn’t get it

Posted on Lauren Ritchie's blog today. The EDC just continues to not have a clue. Even if taxpayer money is not used for their lavish party, the message it sends is very wrong.

posted by lauren ritchie on December, 17 2009 9:44 AM

Tonight, the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission is throwing a party at the clubhouse at Bella Collina, the subdivision that is the Lake County poster child for property flipping and mortgage foreclosure.

In addition, the party is to honor volunteers who served on the Economic Development Advisory Council, a group that has drawn criticism for secret meetings and is to be the subject of a commission discussion in January over whether it should meet in the sunshine.

Just another swift move by the agency that gets nearly $300,000 a year in taxpayer dollars to bring jobs to the county.  Well, and to party a little, too.

Only one Lake County commissioner seems to have a glimmer of why this is so very wrong. It’s like everyone on that elected body is snorting the eggnog.

Elaine Renick got the invitation and sent back this message: “I don’t mean to be ugly, but I believe that this is really inappropriate.”

She went on to remind EDC officials that economic times aren’t so good in Lake.

“It is my opinion that at a time when so many other companies are scaling back their parties or donating the money budgeted for these things to food banks, this decision was misguided.   This does not mean that I do not appreciate the work of the Economic Development Advisory Council.  I do.”

EDC officials tried to ease Renick’s concerns by telling her that private sponsors allowed the EDC to “defray associated costs” of the event at the swanky clubhouse.  Officials haven’t yet responded to an inquiry about whether any EDC (read that: “taxpayer”) money is being used.

Regardless, Renick is right. There’s no need to thank volunteers with a fancy reception at an exclusive clubhouse.  And if a penny of taxpayer money went into this, it’s not just ill-judged. It’s flat wrong.