Published: January 17, 2010
NEW PORT RICHEY - They say nothing focuses the mind like a deadline.
On the third floor of the West Pasco Government Center, the deadline focusing everyone's minds is Nov. 2. That's the day Amendment 4, commonly known as Hometown Democracy, goes to the voters in a statewide referendum.
The ballot measure would amend the state Constitution to force any change to a county's long-range comprehensive plan to go to voters for approval.
Supporters see the measure as a way to wrest control of development from the hands of well-heeled and well-connected builders and put it in the hands of the people whose communities will be changed by those builders' projects.
"It's intended to balance the undue influence that developers have on land-use decisions," said Janet Stanko, a Jacksonville-based campaign organizer for Hometown Democracy.
County planners say the proposal is a blunt instrument that could turn even the most benign procedures related to the comprehensive plan into ballot measures.
"You want to know how many different ways you can amend the comp plan?" said Richard Gehring, Pasco County's chief planner.
Stanko cited Citrus Ridge, a hotly contested housing project proposed for Dade City's western border, as an example of why Amendment 4 is needed.
"In the case of Citrus Ridge here in Dade City, citizens will come forth and give their statements in opposition to a proposed land-use change or development and the answer will still be 'yes' to go forward, the answer from the commissioners," Stanko said.
As a constitutional amendment, supporters say, Hometown Democracy will strip developers of their most potent weapon against local government: the threat of a lawsuit.
Pasco commissioners just ended two lawsuits brought by developers who argued the county had unfairly restricted the use of their land. They're unconvinced Amendment 4 will prevent deep-pocketed developers from suing if they come out on the losing side of a land-use referendum.
"I honestly don't know if it's going to solve the problem," said commission Chairwoman Pat Mulieri.
In recent months, Gehring's office has produced a blizzard of paper aimed at adjusting the comprehensive plan before Election Day. Those changes have ranged from corrections of typographic errors to the kind of land-use changes Amendment 4 supporters hope to block.
More changes are in the pipeline this year. Some of them relate to commissioners' attempt to redraw the way the county will grow in the coming decades in a way that reflects recommendations the Urban Land Institute made in 2008.
"We're cognizant of the deadline," said Carol Clarke, Gehring's second-in-command.
All those changes must go through multiple public hearings at the county level before going to the state Department of Community Affairs for consideration. Planners worry if they don't get the current round of changes in place before Nov. 2, they may never do so.
Clarke said that pressure has accelerated the pace of work in her office.
"This year, instead of having stuff adopted by the board Dec. 15, we'll have it adopted Nov. 1," Clarke said.
The rush to pin down comprehensive plan changes reflects one fact that permeates Pasco's government and its development community: Few will bet against Amendment 4 passing.
"My clients are telling me 'get it done,'
" said planner King Helie.
Pasco commissioners were prepared to publicly oppose Amendment 4 last week, but backed off.
Land O' Lakes resident Clay Colson, an outspoken opponent of development in central and east Pasco, warned commissioners they would be violating state law by using public money to take a stand against Amendment 4.
Mulieri said she canceled the vote because the board wasn't prepared to take a stand on the measure. She's unclear how much support Amendment 4 has in Pasco.
"Do I get e-mails on it?" she said. "From a select group."
While Pasco commissioners remain generally opposed to Amendment 4, they're also convinced the odds are in favor of it passing.
"It's unfortunate that it has to come to making development and property rights an issue at the ballot box," Hildebrand said. "But that's where we are."
Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 731-8168.
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