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Now that Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty has announced his opposition to several mega-projects, it's a good time for a couple of questions.
Question No. 1: Why didn't these projects die years ago?
Crotty says he won't support three developments on the far east side of the county that are slated to come before the county this year. Good for him. Much of his campaign contributions have come from the development industry, so one can only imagine the pressure that has been put on him to pony up now.
But how in the world did these developments -- replete with expensive consultants and fast-talking backers -- get this far? One of them is Camino Reale, which would have 4,000 homes and 1.6 million square feet of office, residential and commercial space just west of the treasured Econlockhatchee River. Hmm. Sounds familiar because it is familiar.
Camino Reale tried to sneak through four years ago when the county approved the Innovation Way project, which actually is visionary in that it requires clustering of development so things like transit could work in a corridor between the University of Central Florida and Orlando International Airport. But Camino Reale should never had been part of that vision. It went too deep into the rural area and, among other things, threatened the river.
Camino Reale backers, though, realize that you never give up in Florida when it comes to a new development. There will always be an eager new commissioner ready to cozy up to the vision of more campaign donations.
The second project, Innovation Way East, was laughed out of the commission chambers more than a year ago when its backers couldn't coherently explain what their proposal was all about. Well, ladies and gentlemen, they are back, and it still doesn't make any sense. About 8,000 homes and 1.2 million square feet of nonresidential development? At a time when Orange already has approved 94,000 other residences that haven't even been built yet?
The third monstrosity is even worse. It's called Rybolt Park and its 5,000 homes and 2 million square feet of other development jump to the east side of the Econ River, a move that the county for years has said is off limits to citylike development. It not only threatens the river but opens up sprawling rural acreage to urban development.
Of course, we all know why the developers are crowding the commission chambers now. It's so they will have their approvals before voters weigh in on Amendment 4 -- Hometown Democracy -- next fall.
If it is approved, voters could veto projects like these because they aren't part of the county's plan for growth. By opposing these projects now, Crotty is signaling that he won't be partner in a deal to upstage voters.
That's more than elected officials in other counties such as Volusia and Brevard, have done. They are walking lock step with developers to let them get in under the deadline with massive projects like Farmton and Restoration.
Question No. 2: Will the next mayor cave?
Crotty will be term-limited out of office in November, and no doubt these developments will be back. Mayor wannabes on the commission -- Bill Segal, Linda Stewart and Mildred Fernandez -- all say they also are inclined to oppose these projects. For now. But how firm will that commitment be if they win with lots of donations from developers?
The mayor's support or opposition is always key because the mayor oversees the planners who make the recommendations. In fact, the staff actually entertained the idea of both Camino Reale and Innovation Way East. When Crotty made clear his opposition, that support withered. What a coincidence.
The pressure on the next mayor will be tremendous. Electing one without the backbone to stand up to campaign contributors could be devastating for Orange. That's why voters need commitments now that unplanned growth is not on their agenda.
You can contact Jane Healy at janehealy49@gmail.com. She'd like to hear about public officials who need their feet kept to the fire.
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