News & Public Affairs

Hometown Democracy Debate at Tiger Bay listen

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Tags: Hometown Democracy Amendment, Voting, land-use change

Hundreds of thousands of Florida voters signed the petition for Amendment 4, the Hometown Democracy amendment, which requires voter approval on changes in land use. Advocates on both sides of the issue duked it out today at the Tiger Bay club in Tampa. Dan Lobeck, a Sarasota attorney specializing in land use decisions, spoke in support of the amendment.

The Comprehensive Land Use Plan determines maximum densities and intensities of a community. The plan also maps out other rules for the fu...

Sarasota to vote growth on measurenext week will they require unanimous vote by County Commission to change urban service boundary? listen

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Tags: Sarasota County, urban sprawl, election, land-use change

Sarasota County may soon have more strict controls on growth in rural areas. One of the two questions on the ballot during a special election next Tuesday asks voters whether County Commissioners should unanimously agree to any changes to the comprehensive plan outside the urban service area boundary (USB).

The ballot initiative has support among environmental, business and community activist groups. If passed, it will amend the Sarasota County Charter to require a unanimous vote of County...

Lowes receives change for Tarpon Springs store listen

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Tags: Tarpon Springs, Pinellas BOC, environment, wetlands, land-use change, traffic

Pinellas County Commissioners today disregarded the recommendations of their staff and the staff of the Pinellas Planning Council (PPC) by unanimously approving a change in the county’s land use plan.

The amendment will allow construction of a Lowe’s big box hardware store on property previously zoned for industry on U.S. 19 in Tarpon Springs. Lowe’s will be required to spend about $4-million on traffic changes on the site.

David Healy, executive director of the PPC, told Commissioners ...