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Times off mark on growth plan in Brooksville

Re: Brooksville should not exploit growth law, Aug. 31 Times editorial:

Once again, the Times' has managed to subjectively miss the point in its editorial concerning a recent growth management workshop held by the Brooksville City Council.

At that meeting, fundamental requirements and mandates of the new growth management legislation (Senate Bills 360 and 444) were reviewed and discussed at length. This new legislation has provisions that allow local governments to establish Urban Service Boundaries to address and plan for public infrastructure and service needs associated with anticipated growth in and around their communities.

Although no final determinations were made by the council at the workshop, there was discussion and consensus concerning the need for Brooksville to plan for anticipated development and redevelopment that may occur within the city, as well as future development that may occur around the city.

Discussion included the development of a long-range plan that would establish an Urban Service Boundary. It was acknowledged at the meeting that the city would need to coordinate with the county and various other agencies in creating such a plan. In the course of creating said plan, the city would examine several existing features associated with property located within the defined area.

Data related to existing and future land uses (as established by Hernando County), topography, soil types, vegetative communities, drainage, environmental features, etc., would be collected and analyzed to help determine where development might occur or be proposed. Ultimately, this information will help the city establish a plan for providing public infrastructure and services to support the anticipated development.

The city has already coordinated with the county in establishing a utility service area. The area discussed by the city at the recent workshop as a potential Urban Service Boundary is the same area in which the city has, through an interlocal agreement with the county, established as its "first right to serve" area for providing water and sewer utility services.

The city's purpose in having this workshop was to informally discuss how the city may plan for its future. The Times suggested that the city's plan to address growth issues in and around its incorporated area as a "shameful land grab by a city that is reinforcing its reputation as a pushover for developers ..."

The city is not grabbing land. It is simply initiating a planning process to deal with growth that is coming, like it or not. And yes, the city is looking at including areas outside of its boundary in its planning processes because development that occurs in those areas will have a major impact on the city's infrastructure and services, regardless of whether the property is ever annexed into the city.

Much of the infrastructure and service issues that the city is dealing with today are due to the tremendous growth experienced by Hernando County outside of the city limits. A large portion of the traffic impacts on city roads, use of city parks and attendance at schools in and around the city are generated from the growth that has been approved by the county outside Brooksville. It makes a great deal of sense for the city to pay attention to that growth in the unincorporated area and generate a plan to deal with it.

As to the reference of being a "pushover for developers," the city is a land-use authority that has codes and standards very similar to its adjoining jurisdiction. The city is a charter government that recognizes the economic need for inducing quality development to support fiscal governmental responsibilities.

Repair and replacement of aging infrastructure is not cheap, and is better supported by an expanding tax base rather than having to rely solely on the existing tax base to pay for it. The city is a proponent of smart growth-planning concepts, and is ready and willing to work with the county, the school district and the numerous state agencies that all play a part in the shaping of our community.

It is hoped that the Times will be more objective in its observations at public meetings, and cease with its attempts to stir the pot to get the citizenry and elected officials to react to what only can be described as a knee-jerk opinion.

EDITOR'S NOTE: We appreciate Mr. Geiger's comments. However, we are obliged to point out that editorials are inherently subjective. That's why they, like letters to the editor, are published on a page clearly labeled "Opinion."

Pasco County resident asks for Hernando bus service

I live in Pasco County. Our bus system has isolated the people of eastern Pasco County to the area of Zephyrhills, Dade City and Trilby.

I ask Hernando County transportation planners for THE Bus to consider extending the service to Ridge Manor.

I am sure the people who want to get to the other bus systems would be glad to use this way of getting there.

Since gasoline is so expensive, people who cannot afford to drive then would be able to use all public transportation.

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[Last modified September 7, 2005, 13:14:34]