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Politics

Growth plan changes get harder

A rule, which doesn't apply to Hickory Hill, puts one official at odds with his party.

By ASJYLYN LODER
Published October 18, 2006

BROOKSVILLE - Changing the landscape of Hernando County became more difficult Tuesday, as the County Commission passed a rule requiring the votes of four commissioners to alter the county's growth plan.

Commissioner Jeff Stabins proposed the idea, and came under fierce attack Tuesday from prominent local bankers, developers, engineers and real estate brokers.

"It is not an attack on democratic values," Stabins said, defending what he called his probusiness record.

The County Commission voted 3-2 to require a supermajority vote of at least 4-1 to adopt changes to the county's comprehensive plan. The plan maps out land uses to guide the county's growth.

Critics said the supermajority requirement would stymie growth and discourage businesses from moving here. Proponents said it would give residents greater control over their communities, and help ensure that developers pay for new roads, schools and parks.

Commission Chairwoman Diane Rowden and Commissioner Chris Kingsley joined Stabins in approving the new ordinance; Commissioners Nancy Robinson and Tom Hogan Sr. voted against.

Hogan said he hoped that changes to the plan would earn the approval of at least four commissioners.

"That's the way it should be," he said. "The thing that I object to is making it mandatory."

Said Rowden: "I don't think we're doing something so out of the ordinary that it's not going to work for Hernando County." The measure will allow more focus on the public interest, she said.

Thirty people lined up to speak, with the crowd evenly divided between those against the measure and those for it.

"We feel this ordinance is contrary to the principle of majority rule," said John Ehlenbech of Bank of America, speaking on behalf of the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce.

Pam Ward, a Spring Lake growth management activist, countered that democracy doesn't mean that the majority trounces on the needs of the minority.

"In a democracy, we do account for everybody's needs and look out for everybody's needs," she said.

Commissioners changed the proposal in two important ways before approval. First, they eliminated a requirement for a supermajority vote to transmit comprehensive plan changes to the state for review. Transmittal initiates a process that typically includes revisions to the proposed plan and additional public hearings before the County Commission votes to adopt.

Second, they moved up the date the ordinance will go into effect. Originally scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, it will go into effect as soon as it is received by the Florida secretary of state, in about 10 days, said Assistant County Attorney Jeff Kirk.

The new law will not apply to any completed application for a comp plan amendment received before the effective date. That includes the controversial Hickory Hill development planned east of Brooksville.

The ordinance can be reversed in the future by a 3-2 vote of the board. Hillsborough and Collier counties have similar laws in place.

"I'm happy with the outcome," Stabins said afterward.

The supermajority proposal put Stabins on the outs with many of his Republican colleagues. Ana Trinque, chairwoman of the county Republican Executive Committee, helped round up critics of the new law, and stood up Tuesday to voice her own opposition.

After the vote was taken, she approached Stabins on the dais and said, "I'm sorry, Jeff, but you know what this means."

Stabins, who is up for re-election in 2008, said mildly that he didn't know what she meant, and that he had no plans to change parties. "But I hope this doesn't become a partisan issue," he said.

Asjylyn Loder can be reached at aloder@sptimes.com or 352 754-6127.

[Last modified October 18, 2006, 06:50:01]