Comprehensive land use amendment could hurt county

The 2008 presidential elections was one of the most crucial moments in American history. This November will be Florida’s turn to vote on an essential issue that could make or break the future of the Florida unemployment rate.

Adam Babington, a legislative council member for the Florida Chamber of Commerce was the guest speaker traveled to Pace’s Oops Alley to attend the county update breakfast hosted by the area Chamber of Commerce Thursday to talk about a vote that could make or break how growth develops in the state of Florida. 

Amendment four, formally known as the “vote on everything” amendment, brought on by special interest groups, is an initiative that would force Floridians to vote on every comprehensive land change.

“There is going to be so much on the ballots this year...and this is one of the bigger issues,” Babington said.

The amendment would increase costs as well as add more time onto the building process for businesses looking to break ground right away. 

“The only thing we can see come out of this is higher taxes, fewer jobs, and more lawsuits,” Babington said.

The amendment would require a referendum on any change to a comprehensive plan such as roadway improvements, hospitals, schools, or even traffic signals. 

If a business owner wanted to purchase an old run down grocery store, or whether they wanted to build a new one, a vote would have to be made before the business could be open.  Unfortunately, that means they would have to wait for a decision that could take years.

Under the vote on everything amendment, citizens would have a say on what land could be considered industrial and business, and whether certain properties could be zoned as such.  Babington said that might sound good to some, but the voting process, which would take place every two years, would not be timely for business seekers.

This would mean that Santa Rosa County voters would have a say in whether they wanted a business, whether it be on the north or southern end of the county. 

If passed, it would mean that businesses in Gulf Breeze or Navarre would have the opportunity to vote on whether to open a new business in Milton or Pace, or vice versa according to county commissioner Don Salter. 

“If this amendment passes, it will turn community members against each other,” Salter said. 

Salter said if the amendment passes, property in the county might never be zoned into industrial or business land.  If a business came to Santa Rosa County, they would have to wait up to two years before they could be allowed to build on a certain property. 

Not only would this potentially mean slow growth, but it would mean a longer waiting line for those wishing to open a business in Santa Rosa County. 

“They would vote on the land every two years,” Babington said. “If someone wants to break ground in 2 months, they would have to wait.”

 The “vote on everything” amendment took several years to rally up enough signatures to get itself on the November ballot.  According to Babington, even if the amendment doesn’t pass, it could come back for another round once it gained enough signatures around Florida. 

“This vote needs 60 percent to pass,” Babington said. “If it does not pass, they have every right to gather more petitions to work on it again.”

Several dozen people turned out to the meeting, including commissioner Salter, and Milton City Planner Randy Jorgenson, who called the amendment “asinine”.  

The information session, which lasted about an hour, gave citizens an understanding of what was going to be on the ballot in November.  The next county update breakfast will be held on April 15.