Hometown Democracy pits environmentalists, businesses

To understand the motivations behind Florida Hometown Democracy and its Amendment 4 campaign, take a drive around central Pasco County.

Over the last decade, ranchers and orange growers sold their land to deep-pocketed developers, who promptly plowed everything under. In place of cattle and citrus rose subdivisions, new roads, schools and strip malls.

Then, the bottom fell out.

Now, once-booming parts of Pasco County host developments more imaginary than real. In unfinished neighborhoods, streets weave among empty lots bristling with exposed plumbing. Established subdivisions are riddled with foreclosed and abandoned homes. In some places, cows have returned to graze among grassy lots that once were pasture.

The scenes in Pasco County are echoed in Hillsborough, Hernando and Polk counties and across the state.

For supporters of Amendment 4, a measure on the Nov. 2 ballot aimed at controlling growth, the runaway construction of the last decade shows that Florida's development needs a brake -- one only voters can provide. They say local leaders have abetted the destruction of their own communities through back-scratching deals with campaign contributors.

"Elected officials are very susceptible to the pressure they feel," said Wayne Garcia, spokesman for Florida Hometown Democracy. "There is this creeping and insidious effect this kind of development has on every Floridian."

If approved by 60 percent of state voters, Amendment 4 would put future land-use changes up for a vote, taking those decisions away from politicians and putting them in the hands of the people those decisions would directly affect, supporters say.

Amendment 4's opponents say the proposal would tie future development in knots. That would cut the legs out from under economic growth just when the state needs all it can get, they say.

"There's a lot of fear out there," said Tampa land-use attorney Jim Shimberg. "Do we want to create more uncertainty?"

Exactly how Amendment 4 would work is unclear.

Supporters say it would apply only to those large-scale projects that require changes to a community's long-range plan. That could amount to a handful of items appearing on a ballot in any given referendum, they say.

Opponents say the amendment's language suggests hundreds of routine decisions usually left to professional planners would be put to a vote, producing ballots dozens of pages long.

The fight over Amendment 4 has remained low-key, overshadowed by the race for governor and other campaigns.

Those invested in Amendment 4 come largely from two camps: the environmentalists and slow-growth advocates on one side and the state's business and development communities on the other.

For supporters, this year's vote ends more than a half-decade spent pushing the amendment toward a referendum. Previous efforts failed to survive scrutiny by the Florida Supreme Court.

Supporters are led by Lesley Blackner, a South Florida environmental attorney who fought construction of the Suncoast Parkway a decade ago. Over the last seven years, Blackner has contributed more than $800,000 to Florida Hometown Democracy's $2.4-million war chest.

Aside from Blackner, large donors include Florida Watch Action Inc., a Tallahassee interest group that has given $90,000 this election cycle, and Davie businessman Steve Rosen, who has given $120,000.

Otherwise, Florida Hometown Democracy has gathered most of its support from individual donors giving small amounts.

"It's a real game-changer for the balance of power," Garcia said.

The anti-Amendment 4 forces have coalesced under the banner of the Tampa-based Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy, which has raised more than $8 million between Jan. 1 and Sept. 24, the most recent date reported.

The group's donor list includes names familiar to anyone who bought a home during the housing bubble: Pulte Home Corp., which has given $567,000 to defeat the measure; Lennar Family of Homes, which gave $367,000; and K.B. Home, which has given $255,000. Chambers of commerce from across the state have also joined the fight against Amendment 4.

The single-largest donor, the Florida Association of Realtors, has given $2.25 million, including a $1-million donation in June.

Shimberg says Amendment 4 supporters overstate the power developers have over local land-use decisions. Residents have more chances to challenge projects than in the past. Things aren't as cozy as they might appear, he said.

"I know people think that's the way it works, but that's not the way it works," he said. "Everything doesn't get built."

Amendment 4

Title: Referenda required for adoption and amendment of local government comprehensive land use plans

Ballot summary: Establishes that before a local government may adopt a new comprehensive land use plan or amend a comprehensive land use plan, the proposed plan or amendment shall be subject to vote of the electors of the local government by referendum, following preparation by the local planning agency, consideration by the governing body and notice. Provides definitions.

Effect of vote

Yes: Land-use changes made to a community's long-range comprehensive plan would be put to voters during election years after being vetted by the community's planning staff and local planning agency.

No: Land-use changes would remain in the hands of county commissioners after review by professional planners, the local planning agency and the state's Department of Community Affairs.